Are there no rodeo people here?

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I know what you mean. I've done a few gymkhanas on my Arab mare (in a snaffle) and if I ever dreamed of kicking her or whipping her, I'd probably be eating dirt pretty fast - I just hang on and let her do her thing!

I'm excited to be working Jynx for barrels, I've never done true barrel racing, just on my Arabs that never had any real barrel training (and I still place well with them, imagine that, they didn't even need barrel training!) and they're agile horses but they just don't have the pick up off the barrels to be in true contention for bigger rodeos.

It's nice to know that there are people coming into barrel racing that don't believe that the more you kick and yell the faster the horse goes.

Lol Tennessee we posted at the same time :P
One of the barns I ride at breeds arabians. One of the geldings I ride for sporthorse is like that... When you're riding him, you're HIS partner. If he doesn't want to work with you, he's not going to. And he's NOT going to deal with anything harsh you do to him. Too smart for their own good :p

I doubt my horse will be big race material, but that's OK because I like to focus on more than one discipline anyway :)

I don't really do rodeos, cause there arent any other than the one at the 4h fairgrounds once a year. But I grew up western riding, my first horse was a cow horse from New Mexico(I really do miss living there), I still have, and ride in, the same western saddle I got for my 5th birthday.
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I guess it depends on what you mean by "rodeo." Barrel racing, pole bending, key holes, those sorts of sports and events are so much fun to watch and participate in and I loooooooooove play days and gymkhanas!!!!

I think English and Western horses and riders can benefit from having some fun and attempting these stimulating and difficult tasks even if it's just for fun and to test your communication with your horse!

When I think of rodeo, however, I think of bucking bulls and horses and little calves being roped and hog tied and all the dangerous and often (unfortunately) abusive and violent things that go along with it.

I was under the impression that barrels/poles/gymkhanas were very far removed from rodeos? I live in Los Angeles though so clearly I'm a little ignorant on the lingo!

Around here, for the most part, the only places you're going to find gymkhanas is at the rodeos. Barrel racing is also considered a rodeo sport, the only rodeo sport for women really and is sanctioned by the Canadian Rodeo Association for example.

There are a few local organizations that have their own little playdays, but anything offering money or prizes is typically found at the rodeos hosted around here.

I love the broncs and bull riding, best part of the show!

Hm. I guess you're right, barrels/cow work are usually the only "rodeo" sports...

I guess I assumed we were talking "horse rodeo" with all the horse sports.
I personally don't like calling bronc riding or roping or tying horse sports, because they don't really focus on horsemanship (I have nothing AGAINST them, but I don't call them horse sports). Cutting and the sports like it ARE tests of horse/rider harmony thought IMO.

I agree. It is the most exciting events.

Plus, who can't help but love all of those cowboys?

I don't know Tennessee, I hope yours are better looking then ours! I usually focus on the horse or the bull because they're so dagone ugly here!

Eliz - I get where you're coming from, but I disagree - I definitely think roping falls into that category. It may be a little different, but a roping horse has to be just as well trained and the cowboy has to depend on that training when he leaves the horse standing alone. I'm not fond of watching the little calves get hurtled through the air either, but I still think it IS a "horse sport".

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There's no doubt that the horse is well trained (I just watched a breakaway roping horse being ridden without a bridle on youtube) but I mean the horse doesn't do much LOL

But maybe I'm partial, because like you said, those little calves get thrown around