Rodeo
Horses, bulls, goats and cowboys all going wild! Does this ring something familiar to you? Of course, we are talking rodeo the sport which is especially popular in Alberta, Canada, not to forget the western states of USA. Wyoming and Texas are the states where this sport has official status. The State of Wyoming has a registered trademark showing a kicking horse and rider thus attaching big significance with this sport. Alberta however is still undergoing some legislations on the ruling of rodeo becoming an official sport.
The sport has an interesting background. It is basically cattle herding in Spain, Mexico and then in the USA, Canada and Australia which gave rise to this sport. The then workers had to master certain skills enabling them to round up the herds of cattle. The skills required for that kind of job were very dynamic and thus the sport of rodeo evolved through that process. The Western world of USA, Canada and Mexico was where these cultural practices were prevalent. The current sporting event comprises of events where horses and other livestock are used to test the expertise and agility of the cowboys and cowgirls. The events can be categorized into two, those that require time and others that are rough stock events. Some rodeo events also include goat and bull tying, breakaway roping or pole bending.
In North America, expert rodeos are governed by professional authorities different for cowboys and cowgirls. Rodeo season runs traditionally from spring through fall. On July 4th, the sporting events conclude while the modern professional rodeo circuit runs longer and final shows are held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the end of the year. The animal rights associations have been severely opposing Rodeo on the grounds that several acts of the sport involve animal cruelty. The American rodeo associations however have improve their welfare of the rodeo animals with special focus on medical care and rules that cater to the protection of rodeo animals. Still, the animal care associations in Canada and USA continue opposing this sport. UK and Netherlands have banned this sport while other European nations have put ban on certain practices.
Cattle ranching in the US required some specific tasks requiring lot of hard work and labor. Those tasks have been brought to life in Rodeo the sport as a cultural illustration with rich diversity. The cowboy had to cultivate many skills to fit the climate of the American West. These cattle and horse handling traditions are not just part of the American West but cover the Spanish traditions of the vaquero as well.
Rodeo and similar events are being practiced in the big cities in the Eastern United States and several venues are promoting this sport. Before 1929, the rodeo events were carried out in different routines at different places but then the associations regulated the sporting events. A fresh air was included in this sport in The 1970s and media contributed new hype to this game. At present, the sport is being played in colossal arenas, with more money involved and media coverage.
|
