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Currently in my hometown of Calgary, Alberta, the Calgary Stampede is here! The
point of the Stampede is to bring our city a rootin' tootin' rodeo bonanza!
Sounds like fun, right? Well, it most certainly is. There are many activities to
watch and participate in.
The basis of this 10 day event is the rodeo. The rodeo is a big part of many
people's lives in southern Alberta, since it is a ranching area. Some of the
events you can watch live at the grandstand or from the comfort of your own
home (the Outdoor Living Network, or OLN, has great coverage on the rodeo) are:
Saddle Bronc Riding: This is when a man rides a bucking horse with a saddle. The
goal is to stay on the horse for 8 seconds; that is, until a buzzer goes off.
These riders are judged 50 percent on how well they ride the horse, and the other 50
percent goes
to how well the horse performs. The man with the highest score at the end of the
event wins for that day.
Bareback Riding: This event is pretty much exactly the same as Saddle Bronc
except it is without a saddle; in other words, bareback!
Bull Riding: This is pretty much the same as Saddle Bronc and Bareback, except
on a bull, which is a full-grown male cow!
Barrel Racing: This event is much more safe than the above three, or at least I believe so! This is where women on horses have to race around a track of
barrels. These women try to finish the course as fast as possible, without
knocking over or bumping any barrels. Points would be deducted if they hit a
barrel. The woman with the highest score at the end of the day wins!
Tie-Down Roping: This is where a man rides a horse and has to lasso a calf, then
he has to get of his horse, flip the calf on its side, and tie 3 of its legs
together as fast as possible. The man with the fastest time in the end wins! Let
me tell you, some of these guys are really fast!
Steer Wrestling: This event is where a man has to wrestle down a steer.
Steers can weigh up to 750 pounds, and they have horns and all!
This man has to ride horseback towards the steer, jump off his horse, then
wrestle the steer down!
Chuck Wagon Races: This is one of my favorite events. This is where there are
four
wagons all lined up at a starting point. There are a a couple of horses in front
of the chuck wagon, and the horses have to pull the wagon. A buzzer goes and the
race is on. The drivers have to steer their horses around the track, which is oval
in this race. They go around the track, and the chuck wagon across the
finish/starting line first is the winner. There is usually more than one round, and
rounds are called 'heats'.
Now, there is much more to the Calgary Stampede than just the rodeo. There is a
parade to start the action, amusement park rides, vendors who sell great food,
game stands, and a nightly Grandstand show, which features many young Canadian
performers; there's also live bands and concerts, nightly fireworks, a casino and parties citywide!
If you ever get the chance to go to the Calgary Stampede, I recommend you go!
Site of interest: http://www.calgarystampede.com.
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