I Believe in Rodeo by Joe Lintt

Have you ever wondered why cowboys get bucked off of a Bronc and or a Bull and still want to get back on? To realize how much guts it takes to look at death as a fun sport. Nobody understands this sensation until they actually cowboy up and jump on a steer. For this I believe in Rodeo. I will talk to you about the ride in rodeo, the fall, and the reward.

Staying on the bull or bronc is hard, this is the reason why they have the 8 second concept. 8 seconds seems like a short period of time but when you are actually riding it feels like a lifetime. Some people think that there is a saddle or a mesh of curtain straps on the bull. On broncs it is optional to have a saddle or not most of the time it is bear back. When there isn't a saddle there is usually two straps the main bull rope that you hang onto. The second strap that is on the animal is optional this is called the flank strap. The reason why I say it is optional to have this strap is because if you already have a crazy animal that will buck you off why go through the hard work of putting it on.

Some of you my think that riding is the hard part, but truly it is one of the easier things to do in the rodeo. The hardest part I believe is the fall. Not only is it a ways up there when you fly off, but when you hit the ground you need to be quick. One of three things or all three things could happen as soon as you hit the muddy surface. First, you could fall and hit the ground the wrong way and hurt yourself very badly. Second, if the rodeo clowns do a good job of distracting the Bull or Bronc then you could run for cover, then you only escape with minor injuries. Or the third thing could happen. The bull could realize that you are off and start to trample you and hit you with its head leaving major injuries.

People look at the rodeo as cowboys risking there lives with huge bulls or broncs just to get a little money. If you ask a professional bull rider if it was worth to ride death for that $50,000 pay check every last one of them handicap and all will tell you it was 100% worth it. Some of you may wonder how they can become so addicted to the game they call Rodeo.

In conclusion, maybe you won't see rodeo as the same perspective as you do right now or maybe you do. But how ever you do see the insane sport called rodeo crazy, stupid, or cool this sport is what separates boys from men and wimps from cowboys.