Courtesy of The West of the Pecos Museum
In an official sense of the terms, the Sport of Rodeo as we know today; began with the competitive spirit of a group of cowboys working on the dusty ranches in the Pecos area, in 1883.
Etymologically speaking, the term Rodeo comes from the Spanish term Rodear meaning "to surround": Which is exactly what the duties of the early era cowboy's duties entailed. Surround the livestock; and by whatever means available, keep them grouped until the cowboy tasks at hand were completed.
The "Key Words" in both of the previous statements are "... The competitive spirit..." and "...By whatever means".
The sport of rodeo as we know it today is the combination of the early cowboy's unwittingly ingrained spirit of competitiveness and their learned skill in performing their jobs.
Perhaps that group of 1883 ranch-hands had no "word" for their "I can do this job better than you" attitude but, we know it today as Rodeo!
Courtesy of The West of the Pecos Museum
Their "Tasks at hand" which involved capturing roaming livestock and "Breaking" horses to be used in the livestock "Capturing" process evolved into saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, roping and steer wrestling.
One can only speculate that Bull Riding began as a thought of: "... Well, I rode that wild horse; what's the next?" At which time a 2000 pound bull caught the eye of the adrenalin filled cowboy.
All said, the cowboy's competitive efforts gathered a crowd. And, the crowd enjoyed what they saw. It doesn't take much imagination to see the near immediate growth of the "rodeo games" on a hot July day in Pecos into what we see this day, world wide.
By the mid-1930's the "Rodeo Games" had grown to the point of being semi-organized and the competing cowboys were actually winning cash at the events that were now held across the nation. Their winnings supplemented their "Ranching" pay.
A group of competing cowboys, who felt their "winnings" were not being properly dispersed brought the "rodeo games" from being semi-organized to a full fledged and organized sport with the formation of the Cowboys' Turtle Association, which itself evolved into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Not only were there concerns of the purses but, the events themselves. A general refining process began, and continues to this day. Making each rodeo event more fun to compete in, to watch and safer.
Although cowboys and cowgirls do not have to compete within the realm of the PRCA, the influences of the PRCA are quite visible at the high school, collegiate and local rodeo association level.
As the general public becomes aware of the actual speed at which the rodeo events "happen" and the inner workings, so to speak, of each event; the sport of Rodeo grows and will continue to grow as long as the cowboy spirit lives.