The American Cowboy

5 Pages 1268 Words

(No one knows for sure just how long rodeo has been going on, but at least 100

years one form or another. Rodeo grew into a sport from actual work of cowboys.

In ways such as breaking horses and working cattle. In 1920 the Rodeo

Association of Americans(RAA) was formed. It wasn’t until 1936 that cowboys

united to demand equality in prize money and judging in ability. This lasted until

1945 when it was then changed to the Rodeo Cowboys Association. In 1975 the

name was changed Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Now the

PRCA boasts more than 11,000 members and sanctions over 700 rodeos

through out the U.S. and Canada annually.) (Las Vegas Sun Newspaper)



Visions of the old west, long cattle drives across rugged plains, the allure of the

vast frontier, are all images rooted deep in the American psyche and have been

personified by countless Western movie heroes and legends in the rodeo circuits. The real

cowboys of past years however, struggled to sharpen their skills and endure the lifestyle

of the ranch hand. During these early ranching days great values were placed on the

cowboys ability to use a lariat rope, a skill essential to everyday ranch work which

included branding cattle and doctoring them as well. Tasks also included breaking and

training horses for the use on the ranch. A cowboy’s life was filled with long and often

lonely days. His work was an endless chore starting before day break and often lasting
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through the night. For his hard work and lonely existence he could expect in a months

time to earn possibly a dollar a day. Before the turn of the century these common

chores became a contest of skill. Soon a friendly competition among local ranchers to

showcase the talents of the cowboys sprang up. The western corral became a public arena

and rodeo was born. The chall...