Today, it is a sporting event that involves horses and other livestock, designed to test the skill and speed of the cowboys and cowgirls. American-style professional rodeos generally comprise the following events: tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, Steer roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, bull riding, and barrel racing.
The events are divided into two basic categories: rough stock and time. Depending on the sanctioning organization and region, other events such as breakaway roping, goat tying, and pole bending may also be part of some rodeos. The “world’s first public cowboy contest” was held on July 4, 1883, in Pecos, Texas, between cattle driver Trav Windham and roper Morg Livingston. Rodeos are the official state sport of Texas! Texas Rodeos are held every month of the year, from El Paso to Amarillo, east to Fort Worth and Texarkana, and south to Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and at various locations in the Rio Grande Valley.
American Rodeo
American rodeo, prevalent today throughout the western United States and in the Canadian province of Alberta, is the official state sport of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas. The iconic silhouette image of a “Bucking Horse and Rider” is a federal and state-registered trademark of the State of Wyoming.
In the United States, professional rodeos are governed and sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). In contrast, other associations govern assorted children’s, high school, collegiate, and amateur or semi-professional rodeos. Associations also exist for Native Americans and other minority groups. The traditional season for competitive rodeo runs from spring through fall. In contrast, the modern professional rodeo circuit runs longer and concludes with the PRCA-NFR in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is held every December.
Rodeo has provoked opposition from animal rights and some animal welfare advocates, who argue that various competitions constitute animal cruelty. The American rodeo industry has made progress in improving the welfare of rodeo animals, with specific requirements for veterinary care and other regulations that protect rodeo animals. However, some local and state governments in North America have banned or restricted rodeos, certain rodeo events, or types of equipment. Internationally, rodeo is banned in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with other European nations restricting certain practices. Source: Wikipedia