Rodeo de Santa Fe

The very popular annual Rodeo de Santa Fe is held every June. This professional rodeo which takes place each June celebrated it's 64th anniversary in 2013. Today the Rodeo de Santa Fe is recognized as one of the top 60 PRCA Rodeos in the nation.

2013 Rodeo de Santa Fe

Rodeo de Santa Fe, A Tradition Since 1949

Starting in 1949, the Rodeo de Santa Fe was organized by Roy Butler, Austin “Slim” Green, Gene Petchesky, Paul Ragle, Paul Rutledge and others to bring a true professional rodeo to Santa Fe New Mexico.

Interestingly enough, Santa Fe's first cowboy competition of riding and roping actually took place in 1847. This would have been about a year after Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearny and his troops rode into Santa Fe claiming it and Nuevo Mexico for the United States. Kearny was to serve as the territory's military governor during 1847.

Some have disputed this fact and claim that the story of the 1847 rodeo in Santa Fe really never occurred. Many historians however contend that it did happen and it happened in 1847. The detractors point out that Santa Fe in the year 1847 was a place of turmoil. It is a fact that the territory's first governor, Charles Bent, was killed by insurrectionists in 1847. The murder took place in his Taos house, not in Santa Fe. Detractors also contend that there was no cattle ranching in New Mexico at that early time. Proponents however say that there are indeed records of this first rodeo and some historians have so noted it.

The important Rodeo Clown

It should be mentioned that several towns do make claim that they hosted the first rodeo. Two towns that make the claim are Deer Trail, Colorado claiming 1869, and Pecos, Texas claiming 1883. Prescott, Arizona which has a popular annual rodeo each year began theirs in 1883. According to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, the rodeo as we know it did not exist until the late 1800′s, but its roots in North America are traced back to the Spanish settling California and becoming cattle ranchers.

In the book Gender, Whiteness, and Power in Rodeo: Breaking Away From the Ties of Sexism, authors Tracey Owens Patton and Sally M. Schedlock state that rodeos actually began as community events during holiday festivals such as in San Antonio Texas in 1844 and Santa Fe in 1847.

The real answer to the question of where did the first rodeo take place is probably found in one's definition of what exactly a commercial rodeo is versus simple competition among cowboys on early ranches. It's also believed that the events themselves differed between the early rodeos. The competition in Santa Fe differed from the later competition in Deer Trail Colorado. Uniformity came a bit later. In actuality, it's a good bet that the exact year of the first rodeo will be a continuously debated issue.

Cheyenne Frontier Days riders

A Grand Rodeo Parade

The Santa Fe rodeo starts each year with a parade through downtown Santa Fe. The parade involves floats which vie for the best entry award. The parade serves as the kick-off to rodeo week and both of these events make an ideal family outing. A the rodeo grounds the kids will have fun at a calf scramble, a carnival midway and there's plenty of food and souvenirs offered.

There is an annual Rodeo Kick Off Party in addition to the parade. The 2013 kick off party was held at the Inn of Santa Fe.

Rodeo Competition

Bulls, bucking broncos and sheep will come running out of the chutes. Contestants compete for cash prizes and custom belt buckles. People love rodeos and as proof it's said that about tenty-five million people attend Professional Cowboys Association rodeos each year in the U.S. and Canada.The rodeo was probably more important in the history of the west than many may have thought. Rodeo competition was more significant than the gunfights that Hollywood movies like to highlight.

Chutes at Rodeo de Santa Fe

The country's largest rodeo if said to be the one held each year in Cheyenne Wyoming during their very well attended Frontier Days. The Cheyenne event is considered the country's longest continuously held rodeo. It's said that people from every state attend this rodeo.

Competition at Rodeo de Santa Fe includes all the events you've come to expect with professional rodeos. Bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing and steer wrestling. Additionally, there is a rodeo Queen contest and a rodeo Princess contest. Queen contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 25. Princess contestants must be between age 13 and 17.The 2013 Rodeo Queen, Alexandria Layne Tapia was named Miss Rodeo New Mexico Elect for 2014.

The links below take you to some interesting articles you'll enjoy from our Trips Into History Site.

The Buffalo Bill Wild West Tours Europe

Cattle Drives and Cowboys

On our Western Trips site see the photo article Women of the Western Frontier Ranch

Santa Fe Rodeo grandstands

Performers from Cheyenne Wyoming

Alexandria (Alex) Layne Tapia, reigning Rodeo de Santa Fe Queen 2013, was named Miss Rodeo New Mexico Elect for 2014. - See more at: http://www.santafe.com/article/rodeo-de-santa-fe-queen-names-miss-rodeo-new-mexico-2014#sthash.uibG41w7.dpuf

During the 2013 Santa Fe event, the Cheyenne Rodeo and the Cheyenne Frontier Days were represented by a group of female riders from Cheyenne. It's a fact that the first women's event, the Ladies' Relay Race, was held at the 1899 Cheyenne Frontier Days. The female riders visiting the Santa Fe rodeo as shown on the photo above performed various horse maneuver routines along with a fine exhibition of overall horsemanship.These skilled riders serve as excellent goodwill ambassadors for the Cheyenne's Frontier Days.

If your plans call for New Mexico travel in June 2014 this is an event you'll want to put on your trip planner. Lots of good rodeo competition from some of the country's best performers. Plans for the next Rodeo de Santa Fe can be found at www.rodeodesantafe.org

(Article and photos copyright Western Trips)

Western Trips

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Rodeo de Santa Fe