From Vaqueros to Vegas: The Origins and History of Rodeo

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[INTRO MUSIC]

Howdy y’all, I’m Chip Schweiger, the Cowboy Accountant, coming to you again from my horse barn to welcome you to another edition of Way Out West with The Cowboy Accountant. 

The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls who are feeding a nation. 

There’s a certain magic to rodeo.

The way a cowboy leans into the saddle,
the raw power of a bucking bronc,

and the dust swirling under the golden light of the setting sun.

It’s not just a sport—it’s a love story.

A story of passion, courage, and the unbreakable bond
between a rider and their horse,
a roper and their rope,
a people and their heritage.

So today on the show, we’re diving into one of the most exciting traditions of cowboy culture: rodeo.

We’ll uncover its origins, trace its development through history,

and explore how it has become a defining symbol of the West.

From the sun-drenched ranches of Mexico
to the roaring arenas of the modern West,

this is the tale of rodeo—
a story of grit, glory, and a little bit of romance.

Grab your hat, saddle up, and let’s get started!

After the episode, check out the show notes at podcast.cowboyaccountant.com

Welcome back. 

This past week, I put out another issue of my newsletter, Way Out West Dispatch.

And in it I may have let my excitement get the best of me because rodeo season is here! 

For me and my friends, we become spectators starting in Denver this month and running through the end of March for 21 days in Houston, and then Austin after that. Then, we come back down to earth and get back to work! 

So, I thought this week, we’d talk about rodeo. This most iconic of sporting events for the cowboy class.

Now to understand where rodeo comes from,
we need to go back to the 16th century,
when Spanish settlers brought cattle ranching to the Americas.

With cattle ranching came vaqueros,
the highly skilled horsemen who worked on the vast ranches of Mexico.

These men developed techniques for roping cattle,
breaking wild horses, and herding livestock over rugged terrain.

The work wasn’t just a job; it was an art form.

And when the workday was done, vaqueros would gather and compete.

They’d show off their roping skills, their horsemanship, and their courage.

These competitions weren’t formal events.
But they were the earliest examples of what we now know as rodeo.

As cattle ranching moved north into Texas,
American cowboys adopted many of the vaquero traditions.
Roping, bronco busting, and cattle herding became daily tasks
for the cowboys working the open range.

After long cattle drives,
cowboys often held informal contests to blow off steam.

Who could ride the wildest bronco?

Who could rope a steer the fastest?

These friendly rivalries soon attracted spectators,
turning practical skills into entertainment.

The first rodeo event is said to actually be a "bronco-busting contest" which was held on July 4, 1869, in Deer Trail, Colorado Territory. 

Two of the earliest organized rodeos on record were held in Pecos, Texas, in 1883, the first to give prizes, 

and in Prescott, Arizona, in 1888, the first to charge admission. 

And the first indoor rodeo took place at Fort Worth in 1917. 

By the late 1800s, rodeos were drawing larger crowds.

Towns across the West hosted events during holidays and festivals,

turning rodeo into a central part of Western culture.

And I think no discussion of rodeo history would be complete without mentioning Buffalo Bill Cody

Though his Wild West shows weren’t true rodeos,
they played a huge role in popularizing cowboy skills and culture.

Buffalo Bill’s traveling show featured bronco busting,
trick roping, and sharp-shooting exhibitions.

He brought the spirit of the frontier to audiences
across the United States and even Europe.

These shows romanticized the cowboy lifestyle,
turning it into a symbol of rugged independence and skill.

They laid the groundwork for rodeo as both a sport and a spectacle.

And if you’re interested in learning more about Buffalo Bill Cody, after we’re done here, you can check out episode 15, where I dive into the life and legend of Buffalo Bill Cody, the man who brought the Wild West to the world. 

And I’ll put a link in the show notes.

Now, By the early 20th century, rodeo had evolved from informal contests
into organized competitions with set rules and standardized events.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, first held in 1897,
became one of the most famous rodeos in the world.
It’s often called the "Daddy of ’Em All,"
and it’s still going strong today.

In 1929, the Rodeo Association of America was formed,
providing structure and legitimacy to the sport.
This eventually led to the creation of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,
or PRCA, which governs the sport to this day.

Modern rodeos introduced prize money,
professional athletes, and even televised events.

What started as a way for cowboys to show off their skills
has now became a full-blown industry.

Let’s take a quick break and when we come back, we’ll talk more about rodeo today. 

Be right back.

[BREAK]

Welcome back. 

Today, rodeo is a thriving sport
and a proud celebration of Western heritage.

Events like bull riding, roughstock, and team roping
draw massive crowds at venues like the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The Superbowl of Rodeo

Women have taken a prominent role in the sport as well,
especially in events like barrel racing, and lately breakaway roping. And, I’m telling ya, these ladies are lightning fast with that loop.

Rodeo also has deep ties to Native American culture.
Many tribes hold their own rodeos,
blending their traditions with the broader cowboy culture.

At its heart, rodeo is more than just competition.
It’s a way to honor the skills and values of the men and women
who built the ranching way of life.
It’s about courage, grit, and the bond between humans and animals.

What makes rodeo so enduring?

I think it’s not just the thrill of watching a cowboy ride a bucking bronco.

It’s the connection to history.

The reminder of a time when life was hard,
but people faced it with determination and pride.

Rodeo keeps that spirit alive.
It’s a living link to the past.
And it continues to inspire new generations
to appreciate the values of the American West.

So, the next time you find yourself at a rodeo,
take a moment to think about its origins.

From the vaqueros of Mexico
to the early cowboys of Texas,
from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows
to the professional competitions of today—
rodeo has always been about showcasing skill, courage, and tradition.

And I think that will continue for many more years. 

OK, before we finish up, we’ve got one more thing.

[BULL SOUND]

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the Bull means it’s time for the cowboy glossary term of the week. 

And this week’s term is a PIGGING STRING. So a pigging string is a short piece of rope cowboys carry on their saddle or chaps, and used primarily to tie the legs of livestock for doctoring or tagging.  

You’ll also hear it called a “hoggin’ string” or a “tie down rope”.  And in British Columbia, Canada I’ve heard it called a “short line.” 

Now if you watch tie down roping in a rodeo, you’ll see the cowboy in the box just before a run with a looped rope in his mouth, his teeth clamped down on it and the eyes of him and his horse focused just before he nods for the calf. That’s the pigging string in his mouth.

[OUTRO MUSIC]

Hey thanks for riding with me today Way Out West. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and share it with your friends. 

Until next time, ride safe, stay strong, and keep the West alive. We’ll see ya down the road.