The rodeo has deep ties to American history. Today, the rodeo is a spectacle which we commonly take for granted – rough and tough cowboys riding bulls and competing in other events while fans look on. However, the rodeo did not always look like it looks today. As with anything else, it has developed over time to turn into the attraction that draws so many to stadiums across the country each year.
Many of the things which are now considered rodeo events were simply tasks that needed to be completed on the ranch. For instance, jobs like roping, riding, and herding were not competitions of any kind – they were just jobs. Today, cowboys take part in rodeo events which are based closely on those ranch tasks. If you have ever watched a professional cowboy compete in team roping or bronc riding, for example, you are seeing something which has its history in legitimate ranch work.
It was in the early 1800s when the cowboy persona really started to develop in the American West. However, it wasn’t born out of thin air – instead, what we now think of as the American cowboy way of life was a blend of many different influences, including Spanish vaqueros, Texican cowboys, and more. The cattle drives which came out of the west required a great deal of skill and stamina from the cowboys, and those skills developed over time into what would one day become the organized rodeo.
Gradually, informal competitions began to pop up as a way for cowboys to test their skills against one another. Often, rather than individual cowboys competing, it would be teams from various groups across the west which would work together to show off their talents. Thanks to the development of the railroads, it quickly became unnecessary to drive cattle by hand across many states, as they could simply be transported by rail car. So, with many of the cowboys no longer occupied by that line of work, there became a need for some of them to make a living. That living became possible through the early Wild West Shows.
The Wild West Show would become the first formal sign of the modern rodeo. While it was slightly different from what we know today, there were competitions included along with performances, and the entire thing was meant to be a money-making venture. Some of the legendary cowboy names that are still recognized today – such as Buffalo Bill Cody – were made famous by the Wild West Show. As time went on, it was the competitions that proved to be the most popular, which is why they are still held today as the modern rodeo.
It is safe to say that the rodeo has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Based on real work performed by tough cowboys in the early American west, the rodeo has developed into a modern spectacle which is televised and enjoyed by millions of fans. Each time you enjoy the impressive performances that take place in the modern rodeo, think back to those early cowboys who made it possible.
