0
0
As a British person, that is not in the horse world, visiting a rodeo was a totally alien experience for me. One that is linked only to American movies, books and obviously Yellowstone. I lost my rodeo virginity in Tooele Utah. And it wasn’t like the movies.
I wasn’t sure where I stood on rodeo, but it is a way of life for many. So after spending $18 each on tickets off I went. And of course, I had to wear double denim but generally had no idea what to expect. The first time at the Rodeo doesn’t need to be overwhelming. We were given a program with all the events and the names of the riders. This helps if like me you have zero idea to what is actually happening.
How much does the rodeo cost?
The Tooele Bit n Spur rodeo ticket cost $18 per adult. Parking was free and we spent a around $20 on snacks and drinks. Rodeo prices do vary from state to state. Don’t be shocked if for your first time rodeo you pay less then 2 fancy cocktails for an evenings entertainment.
5 things to wear and bring to the Rodeo
- A blanket to sit on. Belchers are hard to sit on after a few hours, and I was very jealous of the folks with either thick blankets on fancy little chairs that slid on and had a backrest.
- Cash. A few of the vendors were cash only. You don’t want to miss out on that bag of popcorn.
- Sunscreen if you’re outdoors. (Self-explanatory)
- Dress comfortably. There were LOTS of denim. Jeans, shorts, shirts, jackets, hats.
- If you have cowboy boots/cowboy hat great, if not a baseball keeps the sun off your face.
What happens at the Rodeo
There is Racing. Riding. Roping. Wrestling.
Bronc Riding
A single-handhold, eight-second ride without touching the horse with their free hand. It is rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse that attempts to throw or buck off the rider.
Calf Roping
Also known as tie-down roping. Is for the folks of a first time rodeo, an event that features a calf and a rider mounted on a horse. The goal is for the rider to catch the calf by throwing a loop of rope around its neck, dismount from the horse, run to the calf, and restrain it by tying three legs together. All this in as short a time as possible. There is real skill in this and my favourite event.
Bull Riding
A rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider. About as traditional of a rodeo sport that you can thing of.
Team Roping
Also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer (cow) and two mounted riders. The first roper is referred to as the “header”, the person who ropes the front, usually around the horns, but it is also legal for the rope to go around the neck. Once the steer is caught by one of the legal head catches, the header must dally (wrap the rope around the rubber covered saddle horn) and use his horse to turn the steer to the left.
The second roper is the “heeler”, who ropes the steer by its hind feet, with a five-second penalty assessed to the end time if only one leg is caught.
No first time rodeo guide is complete without …
The question of would you go again? Yes I would. The best part of the rodeo for me, was just people watching. Listening to folk and the admiration they had for the riders and adnimals. In smaller town ameraica you can see that the rodeo is a way of life and not just a glamoursised HBO series.
Check out my other Utah Guides – A Guide to visiting Sundance Resort Utah and A Daytrip to the Great Salt Lake.
