History of Rodeo and Charrería

Introduction

Rodeo is one of the most distinctive American West sporting traditions, with continuous documented practice from late 19th century American West ranching origins through the modern professional rodeo circuit. The rodeo tradition has been shaped by Spanish colonial vaquero ranching tradition, American West cattle drive tradition, Mexican Charrería tradition (declared the national sport of Mexico in 1933), and Indigenous American horsemanship traditions. The modern global rodeo landscape is anchored by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA, established 1936), the National Finals Rodeo (held annually in Las Vegas since 1985), Cheyenne Frontier Days (the oldest continuous American rodeo, held annually since 1897), the Calgary Stampede (held annually since 1912), the Federación Mexicana de Charrería, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), and other principal rodeo competitions. This article surveys the full history of rodeo from American West ranching origins through the 1872 Cheyenne first competitive rodeo, the 1888 Prescott Frontier Days, the 1897 Cheyenne Frontier Days, the 1936 PRCA establishment, the 1959 NFR founding, the Mexican Charrería tradition, the 2016 UNESCO recognition of Charrería, and the modern professional rodeo and Charrería circuits.

American West Origins and Vaquero Tradition

Rodeo extends from American West ranching origins, with documented competitive practice from the late 19th century. The Spanish colonial vaquero ranching tradition extending from the 16th century Spanish New Spain ranching through the 1820s Texas independence period established the foundational North American ranching tradition that produced rodeo. The vaquero traditions of skill exhibition between ranchers — including bronc riding, roping, and cattle handling competitions — formed the foundational competitive ranching tradition. The 1820s through 1880s American West cattle drive tradition, with the Chisholm Trail, Goodnight-Loving Trail, and Western Trail routes producing extraordinary cowboy culture, established the American cowboy cultural tradition. The end of the open range era through the 1880s and 1890s, driven by barbed wire enclosure, railroad expansion, and urbanization, substantially reduced the working cowboy population but elevated the cultural prominence of rodeo. Western wear traditions, cowboy hat traditions, and other Western cultural traditions have continued since.

Early Rodeo Competitions

The 1872 Cheyenne, Wyoming exhibition is widely regarded as one of the earliest documented competitive rodeo events, including bronc riding, steer roping, and other rodeo events. The 1882 Pecos, Texas July 4 cowboy competition, organized to provide entertainment for the local cowboys, is widely regarded as the first competitive rodeo with cash prizes for the various rodeo events. The 1888 Prescott, Arizona Frontier Days is widely regarded as the oldest continuous American rodeo. The 1897 Cheyenne Frontier Days founding, held annually in late July, extended the modern American rodeo tradition. The 1912 Calgary Stampede founding by Guy Weadick established the principal Canadian rodeo. Other rodeo competitions across the American West, including the Pendleton Round-Up (Oregon, established 1910), Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (1932), Salinas Rodeo (California, 1911), and other principal American rodeo competitions extended the American rodeo tradition through the early 20th century.

PRCA and Modern Professional Rodeo

The 1936 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (originally the Cowboys' Turtle Association, subsequently the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1945, then the PRCA in 1975) was established by professional cowboys at the Boston Garden Rodeo. The PRCA sanctions 600+ annual rodeo events across the United States and Canada. The principal PRCA rodeo events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, steer roping, and barrel racing. The 1959 National Finals Rodeo founding at Dallas, subsequently moved to Oklahoma City in 1965 and then Las Vegas from 1985, established the principal American professional rodeo championship. The 2020 NFR temporarily relocated to Arlington, Texas due to COVID-19 pandemic Las Vegas restrictions. The PRCA broadcast partnerships and Las Vegas venue tradition have continued through subsequent decades.

Bull Riding and the PBR

Bull riding has been an integral part of the rodeo tradition. The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) was founded in 1992 by Adriano Moraes, Cody Custer, Tuff Hedeman, Cody Lambert, and others, establishing the principal professional bull riding sanctioning body separate from the PRCA. The PBR World Finals (held annually in Las Vegas since 1994) is the principal modern professional bull riding championship. PBR World Champion winners include Adriano Moraes of Brazil (1994, 2001, and 2006 — the most PBR World Championships by any bull rider), Justin McBride of the United States (2005 and 2007), Silvano Alves of Brazil (2011, 2012, and 2014), and José Vitor Leme of Brazil (2020 and 2021). The Brazilian bull riding tradition has produced extraordinary results, with the Brazilian dominance defining the modern PBR era. PBR international expansion includes PBR Canada, PBR Brazil, and PBR Australia circuits.

Mexican Charrería

The Mexican Charrería tradition extends from the colonial Spanish ranching tradition through the modern Charrería competitive circuit. Charrería was declared the national sport of Mexico in 1933 by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez. The Federación Mexicana de Charrería organizes the principal Mexican Charrería competitive structure. The Charrería competitive structure includes nine charreada events: cala de caballo (horse reining), piales en lienzo (forefoot roping), colas en el lienzo (steer tailing), jineteo de toro (bull riding), terna en el ruedo (team steer roping), jineteo de yegua (bronc riding), manganas a pie (foot roping), manganas a caballo (horseback roping), and paso de la muerte (death pass — transferring from one running horse to another). The 2016 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognition of Charrería extended the cultural recognition. Principal Mexican Charrería venues include various lienzos charros across the Mexican states.

Rodeo Events and Technique

Modern professional rodeo events include roughstock events (bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding — where the cowboy rides a bucking animal for eight seconds) and timed events (steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, and barrel racing — where the cowboy's time to complete the event determines the winner). Bareback bronc riding involves riding a bucking horse with one hand on a rigging handle. Saddle bronc riding uses a specialized rodeo saddle and hack rein. Bull riding requires staying mounted on a bucking bull for eight seconds with one hand on a bull rope. Steer wrestling involves chasing a running steer on horseback, dismounting onto the steer, and wrestling it to the ground. Tie-down roping requires roping a calf with a lariat, dismounting, and tying three of its legs. Team roping involves two cowboys (header and heeler) roping a steer. Barrel racing is the principal women's rodeo event.

Women's Rodeo and Barrel Racing

Women's rodeo has been an integral part of the rodeo tradition. The 1929 Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) was established as the principal American women's professional rodeo sanctioning body. The WPRA events include barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, and other women's rodeo events. The continued WPRA Barrel Racing tradition has produced extraordinary champions. Principal modern women's rodeo figures include Charmayne James (the 10-time WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion across 1984-1993 plus 2002, the most WPRA Barrel Racing World Championships in any era), Sherry Cervi (4-time WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion), Mary Walker (2012 WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion), Lisa Lockhart (4-time WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion), and Hailey Kinsel (4-time WPRA Barrel Racing World Champion 2017-2020). The 1979 NFR Women's Barrel Racing inclusion as the first regular women's NFR event extended the women's rodeo tradition.

Rodeo Animal Welfare and Modern Debates

The rodeo animal welfare tradition has continued to be subject to debate. PRCA animal welfare regulations include bucking strap requirements, veterinary supervision requirements, rope size and handling regulations, and other animal welfare standards. The Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and other organizations have continued to advocate for rodeo animal welfare reforms. Municipal and state rodeo regulations have continued to evolve through subsequent decades. Rodeo veterinary care developments have continued through subsequent decades. The 1994 Steve Adams and various subsequent veterinary care reforms in the rodeo industry have continued to address welfare concerns. The PRCA has continued to publish welfare standards and conduct inspections at sanctioned events. The continued debate between rodeo participants and welfare advocates has produced ongoing reform discussions.

Rodeo Culture and the Modern Era

The rodeo culture extends substantially beyond the competitive rodeo tradition. Western wear traditions, cowboy hat traditions, cowboy boot traditions, and other rodeo cultural traditions have continued through subsequent decades. Country music and rodeo cultural interconnections have continued through subsequent decades. Rodeo film and television references have continued through subsequent decades. The classic Western film tradition, including John Wayne Westerns, Clint Eastwood Westerns, and others, has continued through subsequent decades. The 2021 Yellowstone television series and other cowboy and ranching television series have extended the contemporary rodeo and Western cultural prominence. The 1980 Urban Cowboy film, the 1992 8 Seconds film about Lane Frost, and various other rodeo films have continued to extend the rodeo cultural prominence. The cultural impact of rodeo on American identity, particularly in the Western states, has continued through subsequent decades.

The Future of Rodeo, Conclusion, and Sources

The future of rodeo faces significant questions in the third decade of the twenty-first century. The continued PRCA development, PBR development, Mexican Charrería development, national federation development, broadcast development, globalization of the rodeo talent pool, animal welfare reforms, and other developments will continue to shape the rodeo landscape. The continued growth of the global professional rodeo circuit will continue through subsequent decades. The PRCA, PBR, Mexican Charrería, Canadian rodeo, Brazilian rodeo, Australian rodeo, and other competitive rodeo events will continue through subsequent decades. The continued globalization of the rodeo talent pool will continue through subsequent decades. Mexican, Brazilian, Canadian, Australian, and other rodeo athlete developments will continue through subsequent decades. Individual rodeo figures will continue to shape the rodeo tradition. Rodeo will continue to evolve. Yet the basic principle of rodeo — the fundamental Western ranching tradition that has underpinned the American and Mexican Western cultural tradition since the colonial Spanish vaquero tradition — has shaped the Western cultural tradition for more than 200 years and shows no sign of fading. Sources include: Mary Lou LeCompte, Cowgirls of the Rodeo (University of Illinois Press, 1993); Kristine Fredriksson, American Rodeo (Texas A&M University Press, 1985); Michael Allen, Rodeo Cowboys in the North American Imagination (University of Nevada Press, 1998); BBC Sport coverage, bbc.co.uk/sport; PRCA archives, prorodeo.com; PBR archives, pbr.com; Federación Mexicana de Charrería archives, federacioncharreria.mx.