Down the Open Road: Wild Western Rodeo in Wisconsin

Stanley Rodeo Days is always held the weekend of Father’s Day, and this was the first year that we were going to finally make it. Stanley WI is about an hour’s drive east from our home. We pulled out our cowboy hats, boots and western shirts and packed up some food and drinks for the day. Now that we are both retired we are making time to enjoy events, so we were pretty excited.

Maybe you too will learn something that you didn’t know about this sport. Enjoy!

The arena with about 3 inches of mud to play in

Dodge Ram, the major sponsor

Bareback Bronc Riding

The rider begins his ride with his feet placed above the break of the horse’s shoulder. If the rider’s feet are not in the correct position when the horse hits the ground on its first jump out of the chute, the rider is disqualified

A "hazer" in action helping a rider off his horse

Through the 8 second ride, the rider must grasp the rigging (a handhold made of leather and rawhide) with only one hand. A rider is disqualified if he touches his equipment, himself or the animal with his free hand. He is judged on his control during the ride and on his spurring technique. The score also is based on the rider’s “exposure” to the strength of the horse; therefore, the horse’s performance accounts for half the potential score.
Calf Roping

Like bronc riding, calf roping is an event born on the ranches of the Old West. Sick calves were roped and tied down for medical treatment. Today, the luck of the draw is a factor. A feisty calf that runs fast or kicks hard can definitely foil a roper’s finest efforts. The calf is given a head start, horse and rider give chase. After roping the calf, the rider dismounts and runs to the animal.

After catching and flanking the calf, the rider ties all four of the animal’s legs together using a “pigging string” he carrier in his teeth until needed. Once completed, the rider throws his hands in the air as a signal to the judge. He must then remount his horse and allow the rope to become slack.

Saddle Bronc Riding
Rodeo’s “classic” event has roots that run deep in the history of the Old West. Ranch hands would often gather and compete among themselves to see who could display the best style while riding unbroken horses. It was from this early competition that today’s event was born.

Each rider must begin his ride with his feet over the bronc’s shoulders to give the horse the advantage. Spurring action begins with the rider’s feet far forward on the bronc’s point of shoulder, sweeping to the back of the saddle, or “cantle” as the horse bucks. The rider then snaps his feet back to the horse’s neck a split second before the animal’s front feet hit the ground.

Disqualification results if the rider touches the animal, himself or his equipment with his free hand, prior to the buzzer which sounds after 8 seconds.

Bull Riding

Upper body control and strong legs is the key to riding bulls. The rider tries to remain forward or “over his hand,” at all times. Leaning back could cause him to be whipped forward when the bull bucks. Judges watch for good body position and other factors including use of the free arm and spurring action. Although not required, spurring will add points to a rider’s score.

Rider Down!!!

All I can say is, are they crazy?

Other events that were way too fast to snap a good picture for you. . .

Steer Wrestling

The steer wrestler on horseback (also known as a “bulldogger”) starts behind a barrier and begins his chase after the steer has been given a head start. The bulldogger is assisted by a “hazer” - another cowboy on horseback tasked with keeping the steer running in a straight line. When the bulldogger’s horse pulls even with the steer, he eases down the right side of the horse and reaches for the steer’s horns. After grasping the horns, he digs his heels into the dirt. As the steer slows, the rider turns the animal, lifts up on its right horn and pushes down with his left hand in an effort to tip the steer over. The clock stops when the steer is on his side with all four legs pointing the same direction.

Team Roping

This event grew out of the ranch chores of the past. Larger cattle would have to be immobilized for branding and doctoring by two ropers due to their strength and size. Today, team roping is a timed event that relies on the cooperation and skill of the cowboys and their horses.

Two riders are involved in team roping. The first, known as the header, ropes the head of the cattle and the other rider, known as the heeler, ropes the heels or legs. Once the catch is made and all completed the clock stops when there is no slack in both ropes and the horses face each other. Team work is the key to its success and so much fun to watch.

Clown/Barrel man
I don’t think we need to say much on what they do…making the rodeo so much more fun to watch. They do an amazing job at distracting an angry bull once he’s thrown his rider into the dirt, or just plan entertaining the audience. They are wonderful!

What's a rodeo without the clown?

Amateur Barrel Racing
The horsemanship skills and competitive drive in this fast and furious event definitely draws the crowd participation. First of all, the contestant enters the arena at full speed on a sprinting American Quarter Horse. They start the pattern which triggers an electronic eye that starts the clock. The racer rides a cloverleaf pattern around 3 barrels and sprints back out of the arena, tripping the eye and stopping the clock as the horse and rider leave.

A future rider!

Boot Scramble

What’s an event without getting the kids in the audience involved?

All of the children participating take off their footwear and walk to the middle of the arena. Here they deposit their shoes and then walk back to a starting line, where once they are given a signal, they run to the shoe/boot pile and try to find theirs. First one to get back gets a prize! Watch out for the mud!!!!!

Okay, so now where is my other shoe....I see it!!!

The special flag ceremony by the FFA and Stanley HS football team for a local, fallen Cowboy.

Bringing out the American Flag

The Flag extended. . .quite a sight

The fallen rider's horse

Cowboy’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pause, mindful of the many blessings you have bestowed on us. We ask that you will be with us at this rodeo and we pray that you will guide us in the Arena of Life. We don’t ask to draw around a chute-fighting horse or to never break a barrier. Nor do we ask for all daylight runs or not to draw a steer that won’t lay. Help us, Lord, to live our lives in such a manner that when we made the last inevitable ride to the country up there, where the grass grows lush, green and stirrup high, and the water runs cool and deep, that you, as our last judge, will tell us that our entry fees are paid. ~Amen

Other fun sights. . .