California Rodeo Salinas is back. Study up on the different events.

There are those who enjoy rodeo, those who live the Western lifestyle, a number who come for the atmosphere and the concerned people who consider it inhumane to animals. Differences aside, when it comes to California Rodeo Salinas, all can agree that it’s a lot to take in.

Rodeo consists of a series of competitions that spring from gates in rapid succession. Many of these are based upon routine ranch work. Some, like barrel racing, are tests of speed and agility. Bull riding teeters between bravado and insanity. In moments when the action slows, rodeo clowns, trick riders and other bits of fun fill the space. Alongside the rodeo itself are other distractions. For the children there are stick horse races, mutton busting and an area set aside for games. The carnival is traditional family fun, with rides, fair food and amusements. It all starts with a horse parade down E. Alisal Street on July 18 at 3pm. [DF]

California Rodeo Salinas: Thursday, July 18, 6-10pm; Friday, July 19, 6-10pm; Saturday, July 20, 1:15-5:45pm;
Sunday, July 21, 1:15-5:15pm

EVENTS

Bareback Riding

The most hopeful face the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association can put on bareback riding is comparing it to “riding a jackhammer with one hand.” Yet there are style points, as riders must employ a certain spurring technique. The cowboy is judged on proper technique, the ferocity of the horse and completing a full eight seconds on board.

Barrel Racing

While barrel racing is a timed event, with fractions of a second separating the competitors, the sport itself is a demanding test of the cowgirl’s ability to handle her mount and the horse’s speed and agility. Riders break from the line at full gallop and then maneuver a course around barrels. Any mistake is costly. And it happens fast.

Breakaway Roping

In this timed event, a calf gets a head start and is chased down by horse and rider. The cowgirl tries to fling a rope around the calf’s neck. However, the point is not to bring the calf to ground, but to control both rope and horse. Once the rope nabs its target, the rider brings her horse to a quick stop. The rope breaks free.

Bull Riding

As the most iconic of rodeo events, bull riding generally needs little explanation. The cowboy scores points only after hanging on for eight violent seconds.

Saddle Bronc

This event may look wild and untamed—indeed, it was born from the need to break horses for the saddle—but it is all about the rhythm of the eight-second ride. The cowboy must rock with the horse as it bolts and bucks, holding the reins with one hand and keeping the free arm high for balance.

Steer Wrestling

All rodeo events happen fast, but the world record in steer wrestling is 2.4 seconds. And that’s for one cowboy to slide off his galloping horse and bring a sprinting steer to the ground. The sport is a measure of speed and strength, certainly. But the cowboy must be agile and precise—and leverage that strength.

Team Roping

In all timed events, speed is the key. In team roping, this must be balanced by teamwork and deft roping. Essentially, two cowboys chase a steer. The header must rope—or catch—the animal, ideally around both horns, but one horn or the neck is also legal. He then turns the steer to bring its hind legs in line with the heeler, who must capture both legs with the rope. The clock stops when both horses face each other. This is one of the events that originated out of ranch necessity.

Tie-Down Roping

Another event that evolved from ranch work, where cowboys had to secure calves for treatment. Horse and rider work together in every event, but this teamwork is more evident in tie-down. Once the cowboy catches the calf with his rope, the horse stops and draws back any slack. Meanwhile the cowboy dismounts and sprints to the calf, bringing it down and roping three of its legs. He then hops back in the saddle. The clock stops after an additional six seconds, proof that the calf is secure.

OTHER COMPETITIONS

(All take place during rodeo)

July 18

Debbie Pedrazzi Memorial Cutting

Cutting involves specialized horses. The rider separates a cow from a herd and the horse takes it from there, preventing the cow from rejoining the others.

July 18-21

Freestyle Bullfighting

This is a bloodless form of bullfighting that pits the aggressiveness of the bull against the agility of the fighter, who must dodge, fake—even jump over—the bull for 70 seconds. The performance is judged.

Horse Show

There are two levels of competition. In Hackamore, horse and rider must “rein,” or box a steer into one end of the course, then “fence”—race down a fence line and back to circle the steer. Open Bridle adds another element, where riders must perform a series of maneuvers on horseback.

Industrial Calf Dressing

A wacky amateur event in which teams of three try to put a cow-sized pair of jeans on an animal. The rules? Well, there really aren’t many, apart from not harming the calf.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS

Carnival

3-11pm July 18-21.

Horse Parade

3pm July 18-19 on East Alisal Street.

11:30am July 20-21 in Oldtown Salinas.

Stick Horse Race

4:30pm July 18.

Kids Corral

5pm July 18-19.

Noon July 20-21.

Mutton Busting

During rodeo July 18-21.

Kids Dummy Roping

3:30pm July 19.