Your Opinion of the Rodeo

First off: Cla, Drum, we can work out a schedule for Trevor. Can I have him Mondays and every other Friday?

Second off, on a more serious note, people tend to judge off what they see. In a lot of sports they don't see the behind the scenes "abuse", the shooting up of drugs and steroids, the "corrective shoes", the whips, the bad training techiques....Therefore it makes all of us look bad.

Just like when you see a show jumper do something questionable, suddenly the entire sport is bad for five minutes while we organize a debate. Then everyone goes on with their lives and forgets about that one rider.

LOL Girl, there's only one little problem in our plan...His wife!

Pffft Drum, details.

What a lot of people don't realize is that the horses, bulls, etc are these cowboy and cowgirl's livelihood. Rodeo is usually a big chunch of their income and the payout is quite good when they win - why would they treat the animals that allow them to win badly? Rodeo animals are treated like gold, not to mention worth A LOT of money. Top bronc horses can go for 100k+ just because those who ride them win big the majority of the time. And they are very well taken care of, some top bulls and broncs are in their teens and seasoned competitors in the sport. Think of rodeo animals as athletes, like show jumpers or racehorses - they need to be conditioned and trained to do what they do best. So for them to be treated poorly would just be a waste of time and money for everybody involved.

I live in Calgary and even though I am a show jumper (I compete at Spruce :) ), I enjoy going to the Calgary, Olds and Okotoks rodeos because they are so much fun. The animals look like their treated amazingly, they are so happy and relaxed when you see them out of the ring, and they look like they actually like what they do. You really have to experience a rodeo first hand, don't go off the crap on youtube saying "zomg he hurt the pretty poneh when he bucked!!!". These animals like what they do, and it shows when they preform for the crowd and succeed in bucking the cowboy off. Haha, I always cheer for the bull/horse. ;)
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Thank you everyone. So much insight!

I really need to see it for myself don't I? :P So maybe in a couple of years, I will.

Think of it this way: A bucking horse bucks for eight seconds, then they go back inside for the day. (And I might add I think they get better accomodations than I do when I go to a show or a barrel race and stay in a hotel.....)

I havent read the whole thread but personally I love going to rodeos. One of my best friends rides Bull's, he is amazing at it and is even going overseas for it. I love going to support him. I love the atmosphere, getting dressed up and seeing a new discipline :)

I grew up outside of Calgary and still live here. I also grew up in a rodeo family with one brother riding bareback horses, the other saddle bronc and I barrel raced.
If you come to Calgary there is the Calgary Stampede rodeo but if you really want to see up close rodeo I don't recomend that one. It is just too big and security keeps you from really getting close to the action or anywhere near behind the chutes without the proper passes. There is also Airdrie Pro Rodeo over the July 1st weekend which while still pro it is a lot closer and more personal.
The animals used in rodeo are worth a great deal of money, from the bucking stock to the competitors horses. They are very well taken care of. Yes calf roping can look cruel, but the cowboys are fined if they jerk down a calf (when the calf hits the end of the rope and flips). And it really does have its roots in true ranch life. Roping a calf to doctor it and depending on your horse to stand there and hold the rope tight while you get off still happens today. Every precaution is taken to make sure all of the animals used do not get injured, but like everything else we encounter every day accidents do happen.
Along with the rodeos in the Calgary area this time of year there is also Spruce Meadows which others have mentioned.
At the Stampede there is chuckwagon racing, working cow horse, team penning, extreme cowboy challenge...the list goes on.

I enjoy going to the rodeo
And yes there are accidents too that goes with the territory
Like with all sports
Bull riding, saddle bronc and barrel racing are my favorites
This year the Calgary Stampede is 100 years old

I live 5 minutes from the Cloverdale Rodeo and Fair Grounds
Next week is the May long weekend, there is the bed races, chili cook off
Parade a fair, and rodeo