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Howdy y'all!
Well, the 15th Annual San Diego Rodeo happened on the last weekend of September, and I was there. I came, I saw, I chased a goat.... Don't ask.....
OK, since you DID ask, I WILL tell you.... I did participate in MY FIRST RODEO, doing a few events - namely Goat Dressing and Steer Deco. GOAT DRESSING is when you have a team of 2 and the object is to put a pair of shorts on a goat. Seems simple and easy, no? It's not! Ever had to deal with a semi-wild animal? Ever had to PUT SOME CLOTHING on that same semi-wild animal that WANTS TO STAY NAKED?!?
As for STEER DECO, the team needs to control the steer (basically, a nuetered bull - that weighs in about 400 lbs or more) - one team member has a rope that is looped around the horns of the steer. The other team member (which was ME) has to come up and grab the tail of the steer and tie a piece of ribbon to the tail. Then, the 1st team member lets loose the steer while #2 runs and tags the timekeeper. It was fun....
We did pretty good - not getting DQ'd in any event as a team. boy larry also did some Chute Dogging events (which is basically wrestling that 400 lb steer to the ground) and didn't do too badly, but it is a tuff job, too.
Below are some of the pix from the weekend. Also are some pix of boy larry performing on the stage, as the current title holder as MR. GSGRA - 1st Runner Up.
We had a great time and enjoyed ourselves. You'll just have to go to your own local rodeo and see what's going on! Or join up with the International Gay Rodeo Association - or one of it's affiliates. Check out The IGRA at www.IGRA.org or the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (www.gsgra.org).
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boy larry in a Chute with a steer...
Well, the title says most of it....
boy larry was in the Chute with the steer, getting control of the animal, just before they open the gate. The object is to then wrestle the steer to the ground, with it's legs in the air.
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Look like fun?
Well, doesn't look easy, does it? Now, larry is just a little off in his approach, as you want to use your weight to push the steer over, instead of what larry seems to be doing - which it looks like he's trying to flip him over his shoulder! D'oh!
WATCH OUT LARRY!
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Dressing the Goat
Here we are, after running from the starting line, getting the Goat and trying to put the pants on him. We're the 2 guys in white shirts behind the guy in the red shirt, sitting on the weight. See, the goat is tethered to a weight (usually a tire and a wheel) with a person sitting on the tire.
One of the mistakes I saw a few teams making is that they would come at the goat from the same side, letting the goat run away around the other side. We came around the weight split - one on the left and one on the right. I had the pants rolled up on my wrists. boy larry then grabbed the hind legs and handed me the hooves. I then held the hooves and larry pulled the pants on....
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SUCCESS!
This is the finished product! This is how the goat is supposed to look when the pants are properly applied!
We had this little white goat on the 1st day, and this goat was a great little pal.... While he ran a bit from us at first, once we had a hold of him, he just then wanted to follow us around - he raced back behind us towards the start/finish line. And he liked wearing the shorts.
The OTHER goat, which you don't see - is a little black and grey goat. He was a bit more ornery - he gave a few teams some issues, kind of kicking and bucking a bit... There were a few teams that got DQ'd as the pants slid down and off. Ah well...
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Ain't he a cutie?
Here is one of the little PYGMY GOATS that they had in a petting zoo kind of area. They're so cute and neat! They're just little babies and full of fun - just like a little kid.... Which brings out the kid in you!
In this area, they had quite a few Pygmy Goats, some rabbits, a rooster and some pot bellied pigs. And some of the pot bellied pigs were newborns and also so cute! Not that I want one as a pet, but... They were cute, all the same!
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larry finds a buddy.... er.... BUNNY.
Here is boy larry holding his favorite - a fuzzy and cuddly bunny. It was so neat to have the animals around. |
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Here's larry with some friends on stage....
This pic was taken on the last day of the Rodeo and was the closing of the day. larry was up singing, and the others had been performing earlier, as well. Well, they close the day with 'Happy Trails To You' and normally they just play the song over the sound system. Well, we came up with the idea of having them all up on stage and singing the song. While they all didn't know the words, the all had fun. Also pictured are Cody Villa, Toni Witherspoon, Cedric the Entertainer and... oh, damn... I forgot the center cowgirls name! MY bad... I think it was Judy or Joanne or something with a 'J'.... |
larry doing his solo....
larry LOVES being on the stage. he is well known in the karaoke world in San Diego, California, and has performed at many rodeos - not just in San Diego OR in California, but across the country. Almost everyone loves him up there, as he brings a new and unique concept. A lot of times, he does some well known country and pop standards, but he also peppers in many more unknown country tunes and comedic songs. he does a great rendition of Ray Stevens' comedy classic 'Mississippi Squirrel Revival' and a great version of 'A Little Pissant Country Place' from the show 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', as well as 'Side Step' from the same show - if you know the movie, it is the scene with Charles Durning as the governor, singing about how he pulls the wool over everybody's eyes.... |
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RIDING THE BULL
This is an event that you see all the time at a Rodeo... BULL RIDING. This is a dangerous looking event, but is pretty simple and straight forward - you climb on the bull and they release you into the arena.... Then, you just HOLD ON! |
The View from the Chute
Here's one of the contestants - getting ready for his chance in Chute Dogging. He didn't do too badly - considering that this was his FIRST TIME. But this may give you an idea of what it's like on 'this side' of the arena, instead of just in the stands.... |
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Chute Dogging...
... and how it is done. Here is one of the contestants getting that steer to the ground. The way it's supposed to be done is that you throw your weight and almost try to trip the steer. Simple enough, no? |
The Riderless Horse
This is the Ceremony of the Riderless Horse. This is a solemn event held at nearly every rodeo - gay or straight. The Riderless Horse is to symbolize all of the people that may have been lost to us, whether by AIDS, Cancer, Stroke, illness or even lost due to a Rodeo accident.
Part of this ceremony includes the new birth, as well. During this event, a new foal was brought into the arena, the daughter of the horse you see here. The new foal is to represent the rebirth and renewal that we all must go through after a loss.
It is a beautiful and wonderous sight to see and behold.
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What a DRAG!!!!
OK.... Well, here is one event you will probably NEVER see at a straight Rodeo - DRAG!
This is a picture from one of the shows at the Host Hotel and Party. We've got a drag performer in the back, singing a song ('Dark Lady' by Cher) in his own voice.... Our seated performer was doing pantomime to the lyrics of the song, much to everybody's enjoyment..... A great time was had by all, to say the least.
Some of the performances at the party were great, others were only so-so. But you have to see what goes on to understand. There were dancing acts, live singers (male and female), lip synching drag acts, the works. You just MUST go and see at least ONE Rodeo in your lifetime - even if it's not a gay rodeo. But they're just as good as the straight rodeos.
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Happy Trails, to you.....
Well, that about wraps up this page. Again, these images were taken while at the 15th Annual San Diego Rodeo, sponsored by Bud Light and Pucker, as well as Insight Magazine. For more information on this rodeo, and others, look for the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) or the Golden State Rodeo Association (GSGRA) online. Also look up the San Diego Rodeo (www.sandiegorodeo.com) and the upcoming Los Angeles Rodeo in August of 2004 (www.larodeo.com). Also, you can find a calendar of upcoming events on the IGRA website.
Have fun and y'all come back now, ya here?
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