A sport for cowboys

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The cowboy has always been part of the mystique of the American West.  Self-reliant, and answering to no one, the cowboy has developed a bit of a reputation as a daredevil.  And no wonder - they are frequently called upon to be brave and reckless at a moment's notice.  A calm herd of cattle can turn into a stampede in a matter of seconds, and if the herd isn't contained, then the cattle may be rustled, or go over into a deep gully or into a river that they cannot swim.  If any of these things happen, the rancher doesn't get paid, and the cowboy who contracts out to him doesn't either.  Add to this the element of primal fear, knowing that if he doesn't act quickly and appropriately and luckily, he could be trampled and killed. 

So what do cowboys do for fun?  Well, they put themselves in danger, of course.  And I've heard that there's nothing like the adrenalin rush of riding a bull. But rodeo isn't all dangerous.  Have you ever seen trick roping?   

And cowgirls get in on on the fun, too, especially with barrel racing and trick riding.

There are also the troubadours of the rodeo, who always travel along, even if only in the CD player of the truck.  Chris LeDoux and Garth Brooks are both well known for their songs about rodeo, and George Strait, the undisputed king of country music, is frequently heard in the background of the bars where the cowboys and cowgirls go to relax.

So ride on the wild side (vicariously) a little, and pick up one of our great books or movies or CDs about this great American sport!

And in the meantime, enjoy this poem that Cody Lambert reads near the end of 8 Seconds, THE best rodeo movie ever made.