Behind the Scenes of a Rodeo

Sorry about the really late follow-up post to the rodeo. this was an OOPS! I forgot it was in the draft file. 

I have been attending rodeos since I was a youngster. My Dad liked a good rodeo and if the timing was right on the farm, we would attend one of the performances (usually kids get in free night) July 2-4 of the Sitting Bull Stampede in Mobridge SD. That rodeo has been going on for 77 years; the Deadwood rodeo was 100 years this July.

As much as I enjoy the events of the rodeo, sometimes it is what is happening behind the scenes that is just as interesting. The Deadwood rodeo is structured so attendees can walk along the corrals and see the animals. Parking might be amongst the horse trailers. Families might be camping on the rodeo grounds for most of a week because events start on Wednesday and it takes many hands and bodies to get ready for events as big as the Days of '76.

These horses were used in either the bareback or saddle bronc events. Most of the time, they are very calm while awaiting their turn for the chute. Some of them are extras, in case a re-ride is needed.

This little guy got into the mix of the horses for the chute because his mama was chosen for one of the riders.

The bulls do more moving and milling around while awaiting their event. I chose this photo because the cut of his horns reminded me of the earrings some guys wear in the lobe of their ears. I noticed most bull's horns tips have been trimmed to a blunt edge. At least they were in the case of this stock producer.

I asked these kids if they were training the pony. The little girl replied, "He's already trained." It gave the kids something to do as I am certain it wasn't their first day at the rodeo grounds.

While I was waiting for Hubby, I watched a family leave the rodeo grounds in a rig similar to this one. A rig that has family living quarters in the front and animal quarters in the rear. The driver stopped to empty the living quarters sewer tank.

This is the tack closet. Three horses, four or five saddles and other riding equipment.  

This family was leaving because the wife got overheated the day before while doing their jobs (helping with the re-enactments) at the Friday rodeo. I watched three horses step into the trailer. I expected a ramp to be lowered, but the horses all stepped right up without any fuss. Once they were secured in their stalls, the family of four climbed in the truck and headed home. 

This is the line-up of four bachelorette parties at the Saturday night performance. The rodeo clown organized a relay race for them. They removed their shoes in the center of the arena, ran to the grandstand wall, ran back to their shoes, put them on, then ran towards the rodeo clown's assistant on the reserve side of the arena to give at high five. The first lady to do so won chocolates from Chubby Chipmunk (excellent chocolates by the way) AND a free marriage ceremony by the mayor of Deadwood. What the ladies did not know was the assistant did not stand in place to receive the high five but as a bull fighting clown, he dodged and ran all around while the young ladies chased him. It was a crowd pleaser to say the least.

The rodeo must be a bachelorette destination because on Friday night there were SIX parties attending. (The clown and the announcer both said they had never had that many in attendance at any rodeo, ever.) I did not take a photo, but that night the clown organized a relay event with the bride and her two fastest bridesmaids. (Okay. Two persons from the bridal party willing to participate!) It was a true relay. The bride and her chosen lined up in the middle of the arena. The bride ran to the far end where the roping events take place, touched the fence and ran back for the handoff to the second runner and then then third person. Again, it was certainly a crowd pleaser. The contestants took off their shoes to run in the soft dirt. The one who did not did a face plant, but her second, a bride's man made up for a lot of the lost time during his run to the fence and back. Her team did not win, but they did not come in last. The winning team got Chubby Chipmunk Chocolates. 

They were all good sports! They were young and having a good time, which is the purpose of a bachelorette party. They certainly entertained the crowd.