"It's boots and chaps, It's cowboy hats, It's spurs and latigo..."

"...It's the ropes and the reins,  and the joy and the pain, and they call the thing Rodeo."

The Grand National Rodeo, to be specific.

For Lucas' birthday this year, we gave him a trip to the Grand National Rodeo at the Cow Palace. After an unexpectedly eventful trip down, involving an unplanned detour, we made it to the Cow Palace. As we approached the building, we had to move past many animal rights activists protesting the rodeo.

Finally we made it into the Cow Palace and we were immediately surrounded by swarms of boot and cowboy hat wearing people- some far more authentic than others. Inside the building there were vendors selling hats and jackets, spurs and bits, rhinestone studded halters, bridles and other tack, and my favorite, cowboy art. There were two types of bulls to ride: a live one to get photos on and a mechanical bull for those who want a taste of bull riding. (Just a small taste really, seeing as it is missing the fear being gored or stepped on you when you fall off.)

After wandering for a bit, we found our seats and were able to enjoy several rounds of Team Penning before the evening show began. This sport is probably my favorite of the team sports. For some reason, it is not included in the 'performance' part of the evening show. Team Penning consists of a team of three people on horseback whose job is to cut three cows of the same number (a number assigned) out of the group of numbered cows and herd them across the arena into a pen. There is much strategy involved and we were able to see some incredibly skilled competitors and horses. 

After the Team Penning finished up, the rodeo performance began. There was an 'opening ceremony', which included mounted police, the national anthem and a salute to military men and women, and then the events started. Bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping, bull riding were among the events. We got to see a Clydesdale barrel race! That was quite amusing. After seeing many compact Quarter Horse type horses running the barrel course, the Clydesdale looked incredibly out of place. He enjoyed himself though, and got so excited that he and his rider narrowly missed ending with a 'bang' in the fence at the end of the arena.

In between events, there were miscellaneous performances, including an Arabian costume show, trick riding, Clydesdales, and the most eventful- the pony class.  Many ponies wearing English tack and bearing young riders came into the arena and began their track along the rail of the arena. Somehow, a bull escaped the pen. Suddenly, what should have been a very uneventful little pony class became a very tense and stressful few minutes, while the ponies huddled on one side of the arena and the catch riders tried to herd the bull away. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the bull exited the arena.

We didn't get many good photos, but these give you an idea of the location and crowd. Also, our view included these cowboy hats. :)

We were thankful that it was a safe and enjoyable show and all thoroughly enjoyed the time! 

Hope you enjoyed a brief account of our time!