Sunday, January 18, 2015

Super Shootout Rodeo at the Denver National Western Stock Show




Yee Haw! It is rodeo time at the National Western Stock Show, held at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado! The bucking broncos are ready, as well as the strong and skillful cowboys!


There are 16 days of rodeo action at the National Western Stock Show, and we chose a date to see one of them--the Super Shootout Rodeo comprised of rodeo stars from all around the country and Canada.  Are you new to the rules of rodeo?  See this page for rodeo 101 rules and skills required for all the rodeo events.  Boyd Polhamus was the rodeo Master of Ceremonies and did a wonderful job as usual. He leads the crowd in prayer, then the United States National Anthem was sung.


This collage shows the continuation of the bareback riding cowboy I showed in the first photo. 


Another bareback cowboy. Bareback riding is one of the most challenging and physically demanding events in a rodeo.


Their rides are only eight seconds long!


A bareback rider is judged on his spurring technique, the degree to which his toes remain turned out while he is spurring and his exposure or willingness to lean back and take whatever might come during his ride.


This rodeo also had cowgirls performing in the barrel races. Barrel racing requires horse and rider to cross a start line on the run, follow a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels without knocking them over, then dash across the finish line. It takes years of practice for rider and horse to perfect speed and accuracy.


In many rodeos, there is a pause when children as young as five participate in "mutton racing."  The children hold onto the back of a running sheep as long as they can.  They are well protected with helmets and face masks. Most children hold on for only about eights seconds. Every child that participates receives a trophy for their effort.s


An event that takes speed, agility and super cowboy, called a bulldogger, strength is steer wrestling. A cowboy races off alongside a running steer, and throws himself off his horse onto the steer and wrestles the steer--which often weighs twice his weight--to the ground.  The record for this event is 2.4 seconds! This is rodeo's fastest event. Many of the cowboys we saw during the rodeo we attended had a problem either catching the steer or wrestling it to the ground so it is definitely a difficult event.  The steer all popped up quickly afterward and was not harmed.



You can see how fast this happens in the Picas auto enhanced motion photo above.


Rodeo's most dangerous event is bull riding.


Like bareback and saddle bronc riders, a bull rider may use only one hand to stay aboard the bull during his hoped-for eight-second ride. If he touches the bull or himself with his free hand he receives no score. Riders are judged on their ability to stay aboard the twisting bucking ton of muscle and rage.  Balance, flexibility, coordination, and fearlessness are the stuff of which good bull riders are made.


It definitely is intense to watch!  Many of the riders were thrown off the bulls quickly. I have to give praise to the rodeo "clowns" who rush in to distract the bulls away for a fallen rider to help prevent the rider from being injured by the stomping hooves of the bull.


As you see in this action photo, the bulls spin and kick so quickly!

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The clowns are almost as brave and skilled as the riders, without the glory!


The winning team of the Cinch Super Shootout Rodeo by total points for all the events was Calgary Stampede from Alberta, Canada! They were awarded $5,000 each and a wristwatch by Cinch Jeans and Shirts. The names and hometowns of all the team members and all the award winners can be read on this link. Congratulations to all for a job well done!

My husband and I really enjoyed seeing a rodeo and we know it will be something we look forward to seeing in years to come, as well as other National Western Stock Show Events. 

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39 comments:

Anonymous said...

A rodeo is something that I have not experienced yet. Looks like an action packed time!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat, the rodeo looks like a fun show to see. The cowboys do look skillful, I would be lucky to stay on a calm horse, lol! The photos are awesome, great action shots. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Wonderful photos. There is nothing quite like " Stock Show" time!!! Thanks for sharing!! Have a grand week!!

Michelle said...

You captured the spirit of a rodeo very well. They are always so much fun to watch.

Lorrie said...

Yay for Calgary! Rodeos are filled with intense action and your photos really captured it well!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Good post on rodeo events. I work with guys who enter rodeos. Mainly the steer wrestling and calf roping. I grew up with girls who did the barrel racing. I hadn't been to a rodeo in ages but I love them. I want to go see one now.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful rodeo moments, captured very well.

ann said...

Reading your post brought back such good memories. Grandpa always bought the family Stock Show tickets, then when I was old enough my girlfriend and I would go on our own, wandering around, looking at all of the exhibits before the rodeo. She showed once in horsemanship. I never was brave enough. Come to the Greeley Stampede next summer for more good rodeo in the summer. Loved the post.

Anonymous said...

Whoah..so scary but nice post..It's nice to be back after 4yrs of being not active on blogs. Nice to see beautiful posts again.

diane b said...

Great action shots. We have rodeo's here too in our country towns. I can see the challenges for the men, women and children must be invigorating but I can't help feeling sorry for the animals. Even though none of them are supposed to get hurt, they still don't look like they are enjoying it.

Jim said...

Terrific capture

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

The skill and bravery of these cowboys never ceases to amaze me. I feel like I've just gone back to Texas for a moment. You fun such fun in Colorado!
Sam

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Such fun, thanks for sharing these events Pat. I can't imagine riding bareback although on a mutton looks rather cushiony. :-)
Yay for team Alberta!
Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.

SmilingSally said...

Hi Pat,

Great action shots! I remember the rodeo we visited when we went to CO--Pike Peak's Rodeo. We loved it!

Happy Blue Monday!

Pamela Gordon said...

I was thinking of the Calgary Stampede as I read your post only to find the team was the winner! Our daughter and family lives in Calgary and we'd love to attend the Calgary Stampede sometime when we're out. It occurs in July so we'd have to plan our visit for that month. It won't be this year. Great photos!

Donna said...

When I lived in AZ I saw a rodeo...lots of great action!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

DianeB Don't worry--the animals are well treated as they are an important investment for the rodeo This is their job, and they do it well. If they did not have this job who knows where they would end up?

Fun60 said...

Have never been to a rodeo so I was gripped by your photos. How on earth do they manage to stay on at all never mind 8 seconds!

Powell River Books said...

Being a horse lover, I've always liked going to rodeos. - Margy

Bethany Carson said...

Enjoyed the photos; the rodeo must have been a lot of fun to watch. I've never been to one, but I've been able to watch similar action in the old Westerns.

LV said...

We are having our stock show and rodeo is going on now as well. I am sure it is nothing compared to this one.

Anonymous said...

What fun shots!

Jeanne said...

Love this post Pat, I feel like I was at the rodeo again. Your photos are so good. You really captured the action. I'm not surprised Calgary won big. Rodeos are big in that part of Canada. I can see that this rodeo and stock show is a big deal in your area too.

Have a great week.
xo, Jeanne

miss-red-fox said...

Wow, this looks dangerous! But you got really good action pictures! Have a nice day!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Grew up with rodeo (idaho and Oregon) but no longer a fan at all. However your photos are newspaper worthy! Really good. Bill worked as a newspaper photographer while he was going to college. One time at the Lewiston Roundup a bull chased him straight up a fence. I hope you didn't have to go to those extremes :)))

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! What an event! Great action shots!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

Annesphamily said...

I love a good rodeo! Always have! I prefer the Colorado State Fair at my hometown of Pueblo! Not a fan of the Cheyenne Frontier Days. The stock show is an experience I have had once. Lots to do in Denver every day! Thanks for sharing.

Al said...

That looks like fun - I always think about going to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo but haven't yet made it.

Claudia said...

May I just say how much I love that the Brooklyn-Pat has so immersed herself in the west. You certainly did capture the spirit of the rodeo and some of it's stop-breath qualities!

Barb said...

Pat, you action photos are wonderful. You've really given us a flavor of the rodeo. We saw a lot of cowboy hats and boots in Denver this weekend - it was ranch time in the city!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I had never attended a rodeo until I lived in Texas (1988-2000). They had a huge rodeo every year in February ---and we would go on occasion. With the huge rodeo, they included concerts by well-known country musicians... We loved those concerts...

Great set of pictures.
Hugs,
Betsy

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

I've never been to a rodeo. Looks fun and a little scary too...ouch!
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY.
Blessings,
Cindy

Poppy said...

Hi Pat,

Wow! That's a lot of amazing and suspenseful stuff! Your action packed pics, I'm sure do this rodeo justice! Thanks so much for sharing all the interesting and challenging activities that are done at such an eventful happening!

Poppy

AdriBarr said...

Oh my, but look at the bucking broncos! I honestly do not see how those guys stay on all those animals as long as they do. 8 seconds may not seem long to me while I sit at my computer, but i bet it is a lifetime on the back of a frisky horse. And the bull riding event, well those guys just must be nuts. Thrill seekers for certain - not to mention exceptionally skilled. For a city girl like me, these shots are really quit exciting. Thanks for the rodeo tour, and Happy New Year to you!

Beverly said...

Of course girls love rodeos. At least I do. And, we must love all of those cowboys. They are much braver that I could ever be.

Happy Pink Saturday, dear Pat.♥

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat, I am just stopping back to say thank you for linking up your post. Have a happy weekend!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

WOW! Fabulous action photos. Have a great week.

A Colorful World said...

Great rodeo photos! Enjoyed the "action" shots!

Hannah said...

Great Rodeo photos! The kids look like they are having a lot of fun riding the sheep.