I had never been to a rodeo before---and I was so surprised to learn that rodeos were such a big deal here---so here was a real opportunity to educate myself.
Let me tell you how big rodeos are here in Kissimmee---Osceola County Schools close for Rodeo Day on the Friday before President's Day---but we reopen and have school on President's Day when the rest of the country is off---that's how BIG.
Well, as you know, President's Day weekend is in February, and even though the winters are mild here, generally in the high 60s and 70s, it can get very cool at night. So I suggested to Ana that we go to the Sunday afternoon rodeo when, at least, the sun would be shining and we wouldn't get so cold sitting in the stands. That's when she told me, oh, no, no, no---not to worry---the rodeo is inside.
The Silver Spurs Arena is huge---once again, a testament to the influence of the rodeo in Osceola County. It's very nice inside---very clean---with a wide-open common area at the entrance. In the common area, just inside the door, there is a photo-op corner where, for $10, a gentleman will take your picture sitting on a real stuffed bucking horse or a real stuffed bucking bull---your choice. I decided to forego that experience for myself, but the British visitors to the rodeo were lining up like crazy for this ultimate in American vacation pictures to show to their friends back home. To the side, next to the stairs, western-wear outfitters had set up shop to entice potential customers to browse and, perhaps, make a purchase before the show started. I took the opportunity to window-shop a little while I waited for Ana to arrive. In fact, there was a pair of boots (just my size), calling my name, telling me they wanted to go home with me---but I resisted, telling myself I'd look again at the end of the rodeo---which I did---but they didn't have a price tag on them (a bad sign) and I couldn't find a salesperson to help me at that moment, so I walked away. But now that I look at them again,
I'm thinking maybe I need them after all---they are so pretty!
Anyway, while window-shopping, my cell phone rang---it was Ana---she was there---where was I? I told her I was standing at the front door---she said she was at the front door---I looked around---I didn't see her anywhere. There were a lot of people there, so I told her to meet me at the stuffed bull. She didn't know what I was talking about---that's when we figured out she was at the North Entrance and I was at the South Entrance---like I said, this is a pretty big place.
All seating is on the second floor, which is a good thing, because that means you are above the action and there are no bad seats in the house---you can see the whole show from anywhere. Also, there are no reserved seats, so the choice is yours---as close or as far away as you want to be. On the second floor, there is a wide concourse that goes completely around the arena. Ana told me to stay put beside the concession stand, that she would come around and meet up with me.
I've always been a little leery of carnival food---although it smells good, the people preparing it often look a little shady in the health-code-requirements-department. But these were really nice concession stands---there are four of them, two on each side of the arena, near the top of the stairs. The people working them were all local rodeo association (can't think of the name of their organization) volunteers---they all looked like real cowboys and cowgirls to me. They served regular concession-stand food (hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, etc.) that was reasonably priced; Ana got a hamburger that she said was good---I passed because I had eaten before I came---and we both got coffee, which was hot and delicious. One more thing about the arena before I get on to the show---girls, there are plenty of bathrooms---clean and no waiting. I don't know about the guys' facilities, but I assume they are the same.
The show starts when the lights go dark and they place a spotlight on the west gate entrance. The "Orange Blossom Special" begins blasting over the loud speaker---with the music as a backdrop, the rodeo announcer makes the introductions over the PA system as a parade of all the riders, riding clubs, and rodeo queens enter, galloping, waving, and smiling at the crowd. They circle the arena at break-neck speed, and then line up smartly for the national anthem. After honoring our nation, the announcer leads everyone in prayer. The "amen" no sooner leaves his lips, than loud western-horse-riding music---I think it was the theme from The Magnificent Seven movie---the Marlboro Man music, for us older folks who remember cigarette commericals---bursts from the speakers and the riders take off again, galloping as fast as they can, grinning like they are having the best time. They make one final circuit of the arena before exiting through the west gate in a cloud of dust.
Ana and I checked the program and saw that the contestants were from all over the United States. We decided we would cheer for all the riders from Florida. Upon closer inspection, I saw that one of the contestants in the steer wrestling event was from Dunn, NC! I have relatives in Dunn. His name was Brian Barefoot. I told Ana we had to cheer for him because I was kin to some Barefoots and he might be my cousin.
The events go really fast because these bulls and bucking broncos do not want to be ridden. Each event has a time limit that cannot be exceeded in order to qualify to win. There is a jumbo-tron that tells the contestant's name and time if you're interested in keeping score. The bull riding event started the show.
Steer wrestling was next. In this event, the rider and the calf are released at the same time. The rider must catch up to the calf, jump off his horse, grab the calf by the horns (or ears or something around the head), and wrestle the calf to the ground---the side of the calf's face has to be touching the ground---and all this has to be done in about 10 seconds---well, I think you at least have to catch the calf within 10 seconds or the elimination horn will go off and you're out. If you catch the calf within the time limit, the clock keeps ticking until you actually get him down---then you're still in the running and that will be your final time in the competition. Anyway, this was Brian Barefoot's event---the guy from Dunn, NC---maybe my cousin---so we were ready---and when the gate flew open, Ana and I were screaming our heads off for Brian to go--go--go--go, Brian!!! Git 'im, Brian, git 'im!!! But-------------I don't think Brian was expecting to hear anybody in Kissimmee cheering for him------I think we might have startled him a little bit----and I think maybe we might have messed him up----got his timing off a little bit----because he didn't even come near catching the calf before the horn went off-----oops! Sorry, Brian. If you're my cousin, I hope you're not mad at me.
Saddle bronc riding and bareback riding are about the same. One event is with a saddle the other is without. Both events are scored the same as steer riding---stay on for a certain amount of time and you don't lose---stay on for a longer time than anybody else and you win. Check the jumbo-tron for the results.
Barrel racing is an event just for girls. And let me tell you, these girls and their horses are fast! The horse stands poised with his front hooves on the start line---the rider is crouched low in the saddle---her head almost level with the horse's---and when the starter pistol fires, they leap into action---galloping real low and fast---leaning low, low to the ground as the horse rounds all the barrels----and after rounding the last barrel, the horse explodes with speed---sprinting so fast, his tail and the rider's long hair is standing straight out behind them like flags in the wind---hunkered down, hooves pounding, they fly across the finish line kicking up buckets of dirt in their wake. Someone will have to tell them later what their time was, because at the speed they're clocking, they will be well out the doors of the arena before their momentum will allow them to stop to see the score on the jumbo-tron.
Beauty queens of all ages abound at the rodeo. But these girls are not just pretty, they are expert riders, too---even the little ones. At least ten states were represented by rodeo queens. About halfway through the show, one of them came and sat down in the row in front of Ana and me. We knew she was a rodeo queen because she was decked out---all sparkley and glitterey--in her western rodeo queen outfit---her make-up, hair, and nails were all just perfect. She unipped a small, pink, rodeo-queen attache' case and started leafing through 8x10 color glossies of herself---some head shots, some full-length shots---all beautiful---trying to decide, I guess, which one to put in the next rodeo program brochure. I watched her for a little while out of the corner of my eye. She got out her I-phone (pink, of course), checked her messages, texted someone, then gathered up her pictures and started packing everything back in the attache' case. I knew then I was about to miss my chance---I told Ana that I would never forgive myself if I let my one and only opportunity to speak to a rodeo queen pass by---that I was going to talk to her. So I tapped her on the shoulder and said in my most courteous-tell-me-your-whole-life-story-southern drawl, "Excuse me----hey--(smile)----my name's Margaret Roland---and I just wanted to ask you...........are you a rodeo queen?" She flashed her lovely pageant smile and answered very demurely, "Yes..." I said I knew it---that I could tell because she was so pretty and her outfit was so glamorous---and I told her that I saw her looking at her rodeo queen pictures and that they were all gorgeous---that any one she picked would be just perfect. She blushed a little and thanked me----then we really got to talking---she is 19 years old and she is Miss Rodeo Illinois. She'd been in Florida for a week and she enjoyed it because she got to go to the beach one day, but she would be glad to get back home. This was the last rodeo event for her until April, when things would begin again in earnest. She was scheduled at rodeos all through the spring and summer in the midwest and western states (she named them all)---in the fall and winter, she would be in the southern states. She was looking forward to competing for the Miss Rodeo America title in Las Vegas next January. Her reign as Miss Rodeo Illinois would end this time next year. She has a boyfriend---he's in the rodeo too, but on a different circuit---she goes to Black Hawk College, majoring in business management---but being a rodeo queen has been a good way for her to travel around the country and see everything. She was a real sweet girl--beautiful and smart, too. I asked if I could take her picture---and, of course, she obliged---after all, that's what rodeo queens do best!
Cassandra Lynne Spivey
Miss Rodeo Illinois
I think the most interesting rodeo competition event is Team Roping. This is where two riders take off, lassos swirling, after one calf. One rider ropes the calf's horns, the other rider ropes the calf's back feet and winds his end of the rope quickly around his saddle horn. The cowboy who roped the feet then jumps off his horse to wrestle the calf to the ground, while the first rider backs his horse up, keeping the rope stretched taunt between him and the calf's horns. The interesting thing is that the horse that the rider jumped off of has a job, too----and he knows exactly what to do---and does it every time. His job is to back up, just like the other horse, keeping the rope stretched taunt between him and the calf's feet, so that the calf will be disabled, flat on its side, while his cowboy swiftly ties up all four hooves of the calf. It really is a team effort---and the riderless horse is a major component of the team---he has to think and respond expediently, because if he doesn't do his part, his team loses. Horses are so great---they are such beautiful animals---they just love to be with humans and they love to help humans---and they are so loyal to the humans who care for them..
The rodeo lasted 3 - 4 hours, and I will say with complete honesty that no animal was hurt or abused in any event of the show. I say this because when I was driving into the parking lot earlier, there were PETA animal rights people picketing outside the gates, shouting and waving signs saying that rodeos promoted cruel treatment for animals. From what I saw, that's nonsense! If those PETA people had gone inside, they would have seen, firsthand, that these rodeo folks love their animals---and it is in the best interest of them and the rodeo to keep their animals healthy and safe.
Well, the rodeo was really a great show---and I'm so glad I went. I learned so much---saw cowboys and cowgirls on beautiful horses in fast-paced action---met neat people---enjoyed good company---it was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. A real slice of Americana. I would recommend it to everyone.
Until next time.......
Yeeee---haaaawww!
Peace and fried chicken...
Margaret
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