6 Facts About Rodeo That Will Impress Your Friends

Whether you’ve never been to a rodeo, you recently attended your first, or you are a rodeo regular, there is always more to learn about the sport. We’ve rounded up six facts you should know about the rodeo.

• The first recorded rodeo is somewhat mysterious.

Believe it or not, there is no record of the first official rodeo anywhere. While most recognized rodeos and rodeo organizations were established in the first part of the 20th century, there are some records dating back to the mid-1800s. Many cities have claimed to hold the first rodeo, but much of what we know today about the sport of rodeo evolved from the Prescott Rodeo, first held in Prescott, Arizona on July 4, 1888.

• Wade Leslie was the first bull rider to score a perfect 100, and no one has done it since.

As many school-aged kids will understand, earning a perfect score can be difficult. Same goes for bull riding! With the judges basing the score on both the rider and the bull, there is a lot of pressure on the rider to not only stay on the bull, but sync up with the bull’s movements too. And if these two skills weren’t hard enough already, try adding in the “rankest” bull of all time, Bodacious. Well, Wade Leslie accepted the challenge in 1991 and rode Bodacious perfectly for eight seconds, receiving the first and only 100-point score in rodeo history. Click here to read more about Wade Leslie’s Ride.

• The official state sport of both Texas and Wyoming is… Yep, you guessed it, Rodeo!
  

It may not seem like a big surprise when we say that Texas’ state sport
is rodeo, but did you know it’s also Wyoming’s? Wyoming actually holds a lot weight in rodeo’s history (and the sport today). Wyoming is one of several states that claimed to hold the first rodeo in 1872 after the Civil War, despite many people recognizing the Prescott Rodeo in Arizona as the first. Whether or not Wyoming really held the first rodeo, it actually plays an important role in modern rodeo by hosting the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Mountain States Circuit Finals in October.

• Bull riding has become rodeo’s most popular event.

Bull riding has emerged as one of rodeo’s most popular events. Who doesn’t love the unpredictability, a time crunch, and 2,000 pounds of wild animal? Because the bulls are selected at random for the riders, this event truly tests the rider’s “bulls”manship. Bull riding is considered the most dangerous rodeo sport and one of the most dangerous professions out there. If you’re curious to learn more about what it takes to be a bull rider, visit the PRCA website.

• Trevor Brazile is the Michael Jordan of rodeo.

No doubt about it, Michael Jordan is a legend, and in many ways he has become the standard by which we measure top performing athletes. Well, meet the Michael Jordan of rodeo, Trevor Brazile, who is a 12 time PRCA All-Around Cowboy World Champion! Trevor, who also played basketball, ran track, and dabbled in gymnastics and martial arts, says that being an all-around athlete helped him become the most decorated all-around pro cowboy ever.

• Bodacious – the “rankest” bull of all time!

Weighing 1,600 pounds and known to knock pro bull riders off in less than a second, Bodacious certainly earned his name! Because half of the points in a bull rider’s score are attributed to the bull, and Bodacious had a reputation for racking up points, many riders were eager to take on the challenge of riding him. But along with the prospect of a higher score, the riders knew they had to stay on him for eight seconds, which turned out to be quite difficult. Bodacious is still known in the world of rodeo as the “rankest bull of all time”; he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1999. To learn more about Bodacious’ career as a rodeo bull, check out this video.

Can’t wait for more rodeo action? Check our event schedule to see when our next rodeo is and when tickets go on sale. Between the action-packed rodeo events and the family-fun activities, you won’t want to miss the rodeo when it comes to town!