The Tuscon Rodeo is the largest outdoor winter rodeo in the west. It pays out over $300,000 in prizes and attracts some of the best cowboys in the business from throughout the USA and Canada. And, it is this week and BJ and I decided to go to the rodeo as neither of has ever been. This is about a 10-day event and we went on the next to the last day which was apparently the last of the elimination rounds!
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| A Happy Crowd |
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| Make way for the star performers |
It was a great day to be out. Sun was shining in a cloudless blue sky; temps in the mid 70's and a happy crowd was there to see the action.
Opening up the show was a squad of cowgirls, the Quadrille de Mujeres, on fast horses doing some intricate drills on the field.
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| The field is ready! |
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| Quadrille di Mujeres |
Theses talented horsewomen perform through out the West. Their entrance
to the arena is at full gallop and they immediately start their routine
which involves some detailed maneuvers and lots of excitement. The
ladies and their horses are as one! Wish I had a video of it to show
you, but afraid not!
First event was the Bareback Riding. The object was to stay on the horse for 8 seconds and in the right form. I did not realize there was certain ways to hold on and where your legs were supposed to be during the ride. I thought it was just an easy game of holding on for dear life! No - you got to focus on holding the proper form while holding on for dear life - and the horses don't care. They just want to dump you!
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| A rough ride! |
After that there was steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding.
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| Saddle bronc ride! |
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| The rodeo clown was there too! |
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| The ladies did the barrel race! |
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| Bull Riding seemed to be the toughest ride! |
We really enjoyed the day and stayed until the very end as did most folks. Very few people got up and left before it was all over.
One unexpected treat was some beef brisket we had from one of the vendors. With all due respect to my good buddy and dive partner back home, Bill Allen, this was out of the world brisket. Bill has a recipe he make every year for the dive club Christmas Party and I love his brisket, but this was just too good. I asked for their recipe and they said they would give it to me if I could stay on the Phantom Menace for 8 seconds! That is the Phantom Menace in the picture above! He is the big 4-legged guy! Guess I will continue to enjoy Bill's recipe!
We expect we will see some more rodeos before we leave the West for awhile next Fall and head back to the East Coast.
Always at home, no matter where we are!!
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