History of Rodeo
The American English word rodeo is taken directly from Spanish rodeo . The most common English
translation is “Round up”. The Spanish word is derived from the verb “Rodear”, meaning “To
surround or go around” and is used to refer to a pen for cattle at a fair or market It is derived from the
Latin “Rota or Rotare”, meaning to rotate or go around. In Spanish America, the rodeo was the
vaqueros' process of gathering up cattle for various purposes, such as moving them to new pastures,
separating the cattle owned by different ranchers, or gathering in preparation for slaughter. The term
was also used to refer to exhibitions of skills used in the working rodeo. It was this latter usage which
was adopted into the cowboy tradition of the United States and Canada. The term rodeo was first
used in English in approximately 1834 to refer to a cattle round-up. Today the word is used primarily
to refer to a public exhibition of cowboy skills, usually in the form of a competitive event. Many rodeo
events were based on the tasks required by cattle ranching. The working cowboy developed skills to
fit the needs of the terrain and climate of the American west, and there were many regional
variations. The skills required to manage cattle and horses date back to the Spanish traditions of the
vaquero. Early rodeo-like affairs of the 1820s and 1830s were informal events in the western United
States and northern Mexico with cowboys and vaqueros testing their work skills against one another.
Following the American Civil War, rodeo competitions emerged, with the first held in Cheyenne,
Wyoming in 1872. Prescott, Arizona claimed the distinction of holding the first professional rodeo, as
it charged admission and awarded trophies in 1888. Between 1890 and 1910, rodeos became public
entertainment, sometimes combined Wild West Shows featuring individuals such as Buffalo Bill
Cody, Annie Oakley, and other charismatic stars. By 1910, several major rodeos were established in
western North America, including the Calgary Stampede, the Pendleton Round-Up, and the
Cheyenne Frontier Days. Rodeo-type events also became popular for a time in the big cities of the
Eastern United States, with large venues such as Madison Square Garden playing a part in
popularizing them for new crowds. There was no standardization of events for a rodeo competition
until 1929, when associations began forming. In the 1970s, rodeo saw unprecedented growth.
Contestants referred to as “The new breed” brought rodeo increasing media attention. These
contestants were young and chose rodeo for its athletic rewards. By 1985, one third of PRCA
members had a college education and one half of the competitors had never worked on a cattle
ranch. Today, some professional rodeos are staged in large, air-conditioned arenas; offer large
purses, and are often telecast. Many other professional rodeos are held outside, under the same
conditions of heat, cold, dust or mud as were the original events.
The American English word rodeo is taken directly from Spanish rodeo . The most common English
translation is “Round up”. The Spanish word is derived from the verb “Rodear”, meaning “To
surround or go around” and is used to refer to a pen for cattle at a fair or market It is derived from the
Latin “Rota or Rotare”, meaning to rotate or go around. In Spanish America, the rodeo was the
vaqueros' process of gathering up cattle for various purposes, such as moving them to new pastures,
separating the cattle owned by different ranchers, or gathering in preparation for slaughter. The term
was also used to refer to exhibitions of skills used in the working rodeo. It was this latter usage which
was adopted into the cowboy tradition of the United States and Canada. The term rodeo was first
used in English in approximately 1834 to refer to a cattle round-up. Today the word is used primarily
to refer to a public exhibition of cowboy skills, usually in the form of a competitive event. Many rodeo
events were based on the tasks required by cattle ranching. The working cowboy developed skills to
fit the needs of the terrain and climate of the American west, and there were many regional
variations. The skills required to manage cattle and horses date back to the Spanish traditions of the
vaquero. Early rodeo-like affairs of the 1820s and 1830s were informal events in the western United
States and northern Mexico with cowboys and vaqueros testing their work skills against one another.
Following the American Civil War, rodeo competitions emerged, with the first held in Cheyenne,
Wyoming in 1872. Prescott, Arizona claimed the distinction of holding the first professional rodeo, as
it charged admission and awarded trophies in 1888. Between 1890 and 1910, rodeos became public
entertainment, sometimes combined Wild West Shows featuring individuals such as Buffalo Bill
Cody, Annie Oakley, and other charismatic stars. By 1910, several major rodeos were established in
western North America, including the Calgary Stampede, the Pendleton Round-Up, and the
Cheyenne Frontier Days. Rodeo-type events also became popular for a time in the big cities of the
Eastern United States, with large venues such as Madison Square Garden playing a part in
popularizing them for new crowds. There was no standardization of events for a rodeo competition
until 1929, when associations began forming. In the 1970s, rodeo saw unprecedented growth.
Contestants referred to as “The new breed” brought rodeo increasing media attention. These
contestants were young and chose rodeo for its athletic rewards. By 1985, one third of PRCA
members had a college education and one half of the competitors had never worked on a cattle
ranch. Today, some professional rodeos are staged in large, air-conditioned arenas; offer large
purses, and are often telecast. Many other professional rodeos are held outside, under the same
conditions of heat, cold, dust or mud as were the original events.
"They may forget what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel"
Rod MacBeth
Professional Rodeo Announcer
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