Part 1 (published Jan. 2, 2024) includes background information about the Rodeo, and contains descriptions and photos of four Rodeo events: Lead Line, Sheep Riding, Calf Riding, and Steer/Bull Riding.
See Part 1 by scrolling down to the post below this one.
In this post I'll describe and illustrate three more Rodeo events: Pole Bending, Steer Daubing, and Roping events. I'll also share some additional aspects of the Rodeo.
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Pole Bending - This event is like a slalom on horseback. Speed, agility, and control are vital. Riders gallop to the end of a line of poles . . .
. . . then turn around . . .
. . . and weave their way around the poles back up the course.
There they turn around once more and weave their way back down the course . . .
and after the last pole turn around again and race back to the start.
The younger riders take it slow and steady, usually at a walk . . .
. . . and occasionally they need a little coaching:
Steer Daubing - Working against a clock, riders try to mark a steer using a pole with a mop head filled with chalk on the end. Horse and rider break from a gate at the same time the steer is released from a separate chute. Speed, balance, timing, communication and teamwork between rider and horse are required.
Roping - As with daubing, horse and rider are working against a clock. They break from a gate when the calf or steer is released from a separate chute.
Then the rider tries to lasso the animal, not just mark it.
A few of the more experienced participants actually jump off the horse and tie the legs of the calf if they succeed in lassoing it.
The roping events also include pairs.
While photographing the roping events, I tried to capture the beauty, power, and concentration of the riders and horses. Most of the time I would shoot with a fast shutter speed to stop the motion as the riders burst out of the gate . . .
. . . and as they pursued the calf or steer . . .
At other times, I would use a panning technique (slow shutter speed while moving the camera) to convey a sense of motion:
As the ropers and daubers gallop in pursuit of the cattle, it's always a challenge to keep their hats on:
And out in the parking lot behind the grandstand, the next generation of ropers is already practicing for the big time:
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At the end of the rodeo season, there's an awards banquet to celebrate the participants and the event winners. Bruce and I were honored to be invited to the banquet, held in the gymnasium of the Mountainair Elementary School. Over 300 people attended -- kids, parents, grandparents, and friends.
Lunch consisted of a huge slab of brisket and spoonsful of baked beans and creamed corn . . .
. . . and multiple tables filled with dessert items provided by the attendees.
Awards (primarily beautiful belt buckles) were handed out by the Rodeo Queen and Princess . . .
. . . to happy winners and proud parents:
The younger kids were charmingly uncertain about the procedure . . .
The mid-age kids were mostly calm and self-assured:
. . . and the older kids ranged anywhere from joyful to exuberant:
Finally, in anticipation of the banquet, I created a 4-minute slide show with music using many of my photos from the Rodeo. We played it during the banquet, and you can watch it here:
Beyond the photography opportunity, it was gratifying to see what a genuine family and community event the Rodeo is. Bruce and I were obviously "not from around here" -- what with our funny non-cowboy hats and Bruce's Volvo parked amid the pickups and livestock trailers -- but we were welcomed graciously by everyone.
If you would like to see the video and photos from this post in a larger format, please visit my photography website, Todos Juntos Photography, by clicking here.
Looking for a change of pace from landscape photography, my friend, Bruce, and I traveled on five occasions last summer to Mountainair, NM, for some action photography at the Mountainair Gymkhana Rodeo.
Incorporated in 1903, Mountainair is a small town (pop. approximately 880) about 75 miles southeast of Albuquerque. During World War II it was the center of a farming area that supplied the United States and its military with pinto beans and employed hundreds of people. The end of the war coincided with a long drought, which effectively ended the industry. Today Mountainair's primary economy is ranching in the surrounding area.
The Mountainair Gymkhana Rodeo began in the mid-1980s as an after-church Sunday afternoon activity for local ranch kids. In the early 2000s, the rodeo obtained state funding to build an arena, complete with animal pens and chutes, grandstand seating, and lights. The rodeo has grown in popularity to the point where the events now begin on Sunday mornings to accommodate the increased number of participants. In 2023, the Rodeo had 75 participants, some from as far as 100 miles away.
Photo courtesy of Mountainair Gymkhana Rodeo
The Rodeo has different events for age and skill levels. They include
Lead Line
Sheep Riding
Calf Riding
Steer/Bull Riding
Pole Bending
Steer Daubing
Roping Events
In this post, I'll explain and illustrate the first four. In Part 2, I'll explain and illustrate the remaining three, plus share some other elements of the Rodeo.
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Lead Line - The very youngest (as young as 1 or 2) sit on horses while their parents, grandparents, and/or siblings lead the horses on a course around the arena.
Sheep Riding - For young riders old enough to hold on.
You can see my friend, Bruce, in the background with his camera.
Calf Riding - For the next age group above sheep riding . . .
You may notice the rider is a girl. Girls are eligible to (and do) participate in all Rodeo events.
Some riders barely make it out of the gate . . .
Steer/bull Riding - For the older kids . . .
. . . with some dramatic dismounts . . .
. . . including this one:
Fortunately he wasn't hurt. Then you get up, brush yourself off, and wait for your next ride . . .
More to come in Part 2.
In the meantime, if you would like to see these images and more in a larger format, please visit my photography website, Todos Juntos Photography, by clicking here.
