Have you ever wanted to ride an animal that weighs about a ton, has two sharp horn and enough power to crush your head or dislocate your arm with one kick?

I love Redeos. Watch guys that weigh about 150 lbs try to stay on a one tone piece of muscle referred to as a bull. 90% of the time the cowboy is thrown into a wall, slammed into the ground or is left swinging around a bull because they can't get their hand free. This is very interesting. When this happens, these guys wearing clown outfits, run in and try to save the cowboys life by helping him free his hand. Now that is a crazy job, but my favorite event

The next contest was calf roping. This poor, innocent little calf gets loaded into a chute. The door opens and he runs. The cowboy chases him down, throws a rope over the calf's head, (while he is running full speed) and jerks the rope, causing the poor calf to fly about 5 feet in the air. Similar to a hanging except they are not finished yet. Then the cowboy gets off the horse, runs to the calf (who's neck has been jarred loose) and proceeds to tie 3 of its legs together. So, the calf is on the ground, rope still around his neck, 3 feet tied together. After 6 seconds or so, 2 people came in and freed the calf.

This event is kind of funny, but I do feel sorry for the calf. Several times the calf just lays there or is so dazed, they can't tell where to go. Kind of like Boooooya on a Friday night.

Bronco Bucking is the next event. In this event, a cowboy is to ride a horse that is trying to "buck" the cowboy off him. What they do is to start shocking the horses privates and he will buck. If someone shocks me there, I would throw the person on the ground and ram my hoof through their head. Also, while the privates are being toasted, the cowboy is ramming his spurs into the shoulders of the horse. Kind of a strange event, just like the Bobbit case.

Barrel racing used to be one of the humane events at the rodeo. Imagine running a horse at full speed, circling 3 barrels without knocking them down and leaving the arena in less than 15 seconds. The last rodeo I went to was at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. One girl and her horse knocked down all three barrels. I have never seen anyone do this, but she stopped the horse in the middle of the arena (before she finished her time) and began swatting her horse with the fly swatter in front of a few hundred people. (Did someone say Horsey Abuse?) At the same time, she is pulling on the reigns. Putting myself in the horses shoes (get it... horse shoes)hahaha., I wouldn't know what to do. She is swatting me to go and pulls my reigns to stop. I would have to buck her off.

Rodeos today even have an event for kids. They round up all the young cow pokes and line them up in the arena. On the count of three, they release a cow with a ribbon tied to his tail into the arena. I hate to keep putting myself into the animals position, but pretend your the calf. A swarm of kiddies are running toward you, grabbing at something a guy tied on your tail. I'd freak! After a few seconds, the ribbon is pulled and the contest is over. What? No violence? But it is cute!

Rodeos are fun. If you get a chance to see one, GO! During the contests, put yourself in the animals shoes. They really are a good time.