Cowboy cowboy riding in a rodeo, can I ride along with you

Horsies horsies horsies, that was the plan for last sunday!


We started the day by getting up at 5 am and driving to Rancho Sacramento to pick up Imperial.

Unloading Imperial at a very busy street waiting for our connection

crazy ticos

Rancho Sacramento

Loading the horse in a truck full of horses and cows, Costa Rican style! :p

Once arrived Imperial was hurt badly during the transportation so we brought him to a friends place where he could recover.

Back to the competition scene.

How's that for a burn mark! :p

First discipline we saw: Team penning. A cow is set free and a team of two riders have to catch it at the same time.

Only one rider caught the cow...

Hello mister! (talking to the horse :p)

Second discipline, for the girls: Barrel Racing. Three barrels are set up in the arena and the rider has to manage the horse around every barrel and then race back as fast as possible

My favorite cowgirl, really a team with her horse instead of unnecessary pulling in the horse's mouth

In the meanwhile cowboys warming up :-D

Third discipline, again for the girls, Agility stuff: a row of poles and you have to ride to the end, come back zigzag between the poles, again forth between the poles and race back as fast as possible.

Next discipline is the rodeo, no need for much explanation here I think.You have a bull that does crazy jumps and just try to stay on its back as long as possible

Security ^^

Once the guy is thrown of the back the bull is restrained and put back into the pens.

Now that's a view :-D Cowboys everywhere

Last but not least, roping.

1. The calf is restrained in a small box and the cowboy waits behind the line. Once the calf is set free the cowboy rides out and the clock starts ticking

2. The calf is caught and the rider jumps off the horse while the horse is braking.

3. The horse brakes so that the rider can go over to restrain the calf

4. The cowboy has to lift up the calf completely and then put it on the ground on its side

5. Then the four hooves are tied together and the clock is stopped

 First time I have been to a competition like this so very cool!

Did anybody order a over the top handsome stallion :-D

Ropes ropes and more ropes :-D This is the equipment for the roping discipline

weird protectors...