The Rooftop Rodeo
[Estes Park, CO]
On Friday we ventured to the highlands to photograph the Rooftop Rodeo.
The events kicked off with a ceremony to honor veterans of the US military, a group singing of the Star Spangled Banner, and of course the Cowboy Prayer.
We made our way to the side of the stadium next to EMS and the area reserved for those observing on horseback. Horses galloped past with staggering strength.
Once or twice a misguided bull run at us when, just in time, a cowboy swiftly roped him away. With every swift turn for the horse, every lasso cinched around an animal's neck the crowd lost control.
Throughout the evening, I was amazed by the athleticism of the cowboys and livestock. Grown men would jump from a bucking bronco to the safety of a stable horse. Bulls the size of moose leaped across the arena on their front legs, catapulting cowboys from their backs. Horses sprinted full throttle, stopping at a dime to turn perfectly around a barrel.
The rodeo tradition is nearly as old as the trade of cattle hearding. It began centuries ago on the grounds of Spanish ranches before making its way to the new world and eventually the American West. Ranchers would challenge the neighbor's best cowhand to a round of cattle roping, steer wrestling, or the classic barrel race. Over the years the rodeo has become an integral part of cowboy culture, and for the west, a symbol of American pride.