Rodeo ( or ) is a competitive sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand. It was based on the skills required of the working
vaqueros and later,
cowboys, in what today is the western United States, western Canada, and northern Mexico. Today it is a sporting event that involves
horses and other
livestock, designed to test the skill and speed of the cowboys and
cowgirls. American style professional rodeos generally comprise the following events:
tie-down roping,
team roping,
steer wrestling,
saddle bronc riding,
bareback bronc riding,
bull riding and
barrel racing. The events are divided into two basic categories: the rough stock events and the timed events. Depending on sanctioning organization and region, other events such as
breakaway roping,
goat tying, or
pole bending may also be a part of some rodeos.
