Photo courtesy Lea Leggitt
The Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo is a multistate sanctioned rodeo series featuring amateur cowboys and cowgirls from various states competing for prizes, prize money and coveted personalized belt buckles.
By Diana Talbot | Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo
This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo held annually in Pagosa Springs. This multistate sanctioned rodeo series features amateur cowboys and cowgirls from various states competing for prizes and prize money. Rodeo participants receive cash and prize awards for their daily performances, including the coveted personalized belt buckle.
The overall cowboy and cowgirl award is presented after the third and final performance, and each winner receives a Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo Golden Boy Henry rifle.
The rodeos are July 2 and 3 at 6 p.m. and July 4 at 2 p.m., presented at the Western Heritage Event Center arena and grounds. Tickets are available online at www.pagosarodeo.com and at the gate prior to the event. The cost is $20 per adult and $10 for children. Box seats are available and can be purchased by calling Diana at (970) 749-3492.
Concessions are available throughout the events.
Traditional American rodeo features cowboys and cowgirls in the various livestock events like bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, barrel racing, bull riding and team roping. Various activities are included in the daily performance like the Daisy BB gun raffle and the presentation of the honorary Red Ryder Award.
An impressive grand entry with flags waving from westerners on horseback kicks off each performance and is accompanied by the announcer introducing special guests and the crowd singing the national anthem.
Mutton bustin’ is always fun and full of laughs as boys and girls, 6 years old or younger, don helmets and vests prior to mounting a sheep, gripping a rope tied around the chest of a sheep and hanging on while the sheep races out of the chute as it opens. Ten contestants each day vie for the coveted belt buckle that is given to the daily winner with the longest ride time. Every rider goes home with a Daisy BB gun.
The rodeo clown is a staple in the rodeo arena. Called a bullfighter, the chief responsibility is to protect the cowboy from dangerous livestock. While the cowboy is focused on the ride and maximizing time, the bullfighter distracts the livestock once the rider dismounts. The term “clown” comes from the entertaining side of this job where the bullfighter entertains the crowd during the lulls in the action.
Red Ryder was the main cowboy character in the popular western comic strip created by Stephen Slesinger and artist Fred Harman that ran for more than 25 years in newspapers all over the country.
Red was a strong and ethical cowboy who lived on Painted Valley Ranch in the Blanco Basin in the San Juan Mountains. His horse was Thunder, his sidekick was Little Beaver with horse Papoose, and they protected the people and land from unscrupulous behavior. The geography is that of Pagosa Springs and this community was blessed to have Fred Harman III as a town resident for decades.
More rodeo information is available by calling (970) 749-3492 or visiting www.PagosaRodeo.com.
