Hey there princess!
Today marks day two of the Parker Country Sheriff's Posse Rodeo here in Ft. Worth. I thought it would be fun to delve into the history of rodeo, and while I'm at it, dig out some fun vintage photographs of the men and women who know just how the west was won.
The beginnings of the rodeo can be tracked back to the ranches of the early 1700s, which were owned by Spanish cattlemen, or vaqueros. In places like California, Texas, and the New Mexico Territories, land was plentiful and just itching to be settled. So, vaqueros and other ranchers developed new techniques for herding and roping the steer that were to be sold to folks out east.
At the end of a long cattle-drive, the first American Cowboys would hold informal competitions to see which of them was the best rider, roper, and all-around best drover. These competitions later developed into Wild West shows, which were basically the Toddlers and Tiaras of the early American frontier (see divas below).
Today, much of the competition style is the same (though there may be a little more bling involved). So saddle up your best pony and put on your stetson! It's rodeo season here, and I hope to see you at my local roundup! Yeehaw!!!
