Rodeo behind the Scenes

Posted on July 18th, 2008 by totalhorse

Welcome back!

Rodeo performances could not happen without the hard work and dedication of the contestants, but the rodeo committee members and local volunteers also work hard to make the rodeo possible.

Rodeo grand entry practice Take the Grand Entry, for example. It just takes a few moments at the beginning of the rodeo, and can be anything from a simple flag presentation to celebrity stars, fancy opening acts, and fireworks.

Even the simplest grand entry, which usually consists of a mounted rider carrying an American flag around the arena and presenting it while the National Anthem plays, takes some planning. Who will carry the flag - a member of the local rodeo committee, a local celebrity, a rodeo queen? Do they have a horse to ride that will allow them to carry the flag on it? If a song is involved, practice in the arena will be required to get the timing of the song right with the size of the arena, speed of the horse, and where the flag is to be presented at the end of the song.

The Grand Entry for the Wolf Point Stampede, pictured in the previous post, was practiced the afternoon before the rodeo. Practice included 10 local cowgirls with their horses, several rodeo committee members, and the rodeo announcer. The announcer explained how local National Guardsmen would present the American flag, girls were assigned their riding order, given flags, and the practice began.

One girl led the group into the arena at a lope and circled the American flag until a certain beat of the song which indicated that all horses should stop. Then the National Anthem was played and the cowgirls circled the arena with their flags again and the National Guardsmen marched out. After this had been practiced several times the girls were given matching saddle blankets for the performance and instructed to wear white western shirts, jeans, and straw hats.

Grand Entry participation also included an “advertising” function. The 10 cowgirls carrying the American flags in the rodeo were required to also carry flags in the Stampede parade, held each day at 3 pm.