Steer Wrestling

[JaredB]

In the followup post to my previous rodeo post on calf roping, I have another rodeo favorite of mine - steer wrestling. I would probably put this event in a slightly more dangerous category than calf roping, but it still requires some great horsemanship, strength and timing to be successful.

Some of these steers can be extremely stubborn and just refuse to go down. The cowboys really have to combine good technique with brute strength to get the steers down quickly - which is the point of the exercise - how quickly you can get the animal down.

I'm beginning to read more and more about the history and the origins of these events and it is really quite interesting. Alot of the current events in the sport of rodeo actually stem from things that cowboys have to do when dealing with large herds of cattle. I think that is an important thing to remember.

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100044/106030/6-9-20050141949.jpg

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100044/106030/6-9-20050136632.jpg

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100044/106030/6-9-20050151173.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[Lisa]

Jared:

I just love these! Do you shoot rodeos as well? If so, please post them when/if you do. Do you have horses?

I don't know how these guys do this...:eek:

[JaredB]

Jared:

I just love these! Do you shoot rodeos as well? If so, please post them when/if you do. Do you have horses?

I don't know how these guys do this...:eek:

Lisa,

These are actually from the Eagle, Idaho rodeo that takes place every June. It is one of my favorite events to photograph due to the action and drama that can be captured.

I do not have horses at my home right now - but my father owns a ranch in Eastern Idaho and we have horses there that we get to ride all the time. I really want my kids to grow up around animals like horses so that they can gain a respect for them.

Thanks for your kind words Lisa.

[Lisa]

Jared:

Well, then you must post the barrel racing shots! I find that so fascinating. I have a palomino quarter horse mare and am considering another horse for the very reasons you mention. Most likely a smaller quarter horse gelding, though. I wouldn't go the mare route with kids:eek:

[Harv]

Jared, these are really fun shots. I'm enjoying them a lot. In the first shot, the look on the steer's face is almost as if he's saying "Who does this dude think he's kidding? He's not going to get me down."

[mdephoto]

Jared, great images. Thanks for showing me close-ups of another sport that I would much rather watch that have any desire to participate in (man, it seems that there are getting to be more and more of those every time I turn around)......

[JaredB]

Jared:

Well, then you must post the barrel racing shots! I find that so fascinating. I have a palomino quarter horse mare and am considering another horse for the very reasons you mention. Most likely a smaller quarter horse gelding, though. I wouldn't go the mare route with kids:eek:

I think that I have some barrel racing shots - I will have to look through the archives and see what I can find. I enjoy that event as well, that is for sure. I grew up riding a quarter horse gelding called "Tea Berry" and he was a wonderful animal - great with kids.

We mostly have raised quarter horses for the most part - although we did have a few Arabians at one point - they were a very different animal to ride - that is for sure.

[JaredB]

Jared, these are really fun shots. I'm enjoying them a lot. In the first shot, the look on the steer's face is almost as if he's saying "Who does this dude think he's kidding? He's not going to get me down."

Funny you mention that - that it what my wife has said numerous times and it does happen sometimes. The cowboy will twist and pull and that thing will simply not go down. Some cowboys will stop trying almost right away if it does not look good - where as others will keep at it, kind of pride thing for them even though their time in the event will be horrid.

Thanks for the comments Harv! :D

[JaredB]

Jared, great images. Thanks for showing me close-ups of another sport that I would much rather watch that have any desire to participate in (man, it seems that there are getting to be more and more of those every time I turn around)......

Thanks Mike, and I am with you all the way as far as participation in the events goes. I LOVE being a spectator!

[Ann]

Super Shots! I'm enjoying these!

[JaredB]

Super Shots! I'm enjoying these!

Thanks Ann - that is good to hear. I really enjoyed capturing them as well.

[Jeff JTPhoto]

Awesome images Jared...
Well we don't get rodeos around here no more, just the odd horse show. Totally agree with growing up with animals to learn from and respect. My four children have grown up with horses. We have had as many as 11 Appaloosas including stallions. When people say a dog is mans best friend I beg to differ. You can't beat a good horse..

[JaredB]

Awesome images Jared...
Well we don't get rodeos around here no more, just the odd horse show. Totally agree with growing up with animals to learn from and respect. My four children have grown up with horses. We have had as many as 11 Appaloosas including stallions. When people say a dog is mans best friend I beg to differ. You can't beat a good horse..

Thanks for looking Jeff - I appreciate that. It's great that your children have been able to grow up around these animals as well. I try to get my son especially in front of or on a horse as much as possible. I love Appaloosas, we have never owned any but I have ridden a few. They are the state animal of Idaho, just for a little trivia for you.

I think its sad, but rodeos may be on the decline in the country. The animal rights crowd does not dig them I am sure and most likely thinks that they are cruel to the animals. That stems from not understanding rodeos to me. Some of the most well taken care of animals in the country are those that are part of rodeos - I can guarantee you that.

I have a dog and love him as well - but I agree - would take a horse any day.

[Bobby]

Hey Jared, those animal rights activists should take a long hard look at Bull riding if they're looking for cruelty. Only the cruelty is is the other way around. Those bulls are just too,too much. I have watched events on television and can't believe cowboys would do this. They retired a bull once that had never been ridden and in fact was destroying all the riders. Love your rodeo shots, put some more up.

[Jonathan]

Jared, well done! I don't get to see this action where i am from so its a nice treat

[JaredB]

Hey Jared, those animal rights activists should take a long hard look at Bull riding if they're looking for cruelty. Only the cruelty is is the other way around. Those bulls are just too,too much. I have watched events on television and can't believe cowboys would do this. They retired a bull once that had never been ridden and in fact was destroying all the riders. Love your rodeo shots, put some more up.

LOL - I would agree Bobby - bull riding is not a fair fight by any means and the deck is stacked against the cowboy - that is for sure. I have a cousin who was a professional bull rider for a couple of years and then just had to get out - he was so banged up that he was going to be paying for those "rides" later in life.

Thanks for your comments - very much appreciated.

[JaredB]

Jared, well done! I don't get to see this action where i am from so its a nice treat

Thanks Jonathan. I'm glad that you are enjoying them and I will post more as I can find the time to do so.