rob@ptsfa.UUCP (Rob Bernardo) (04/02/85)
California's first gay rodeo, held March 30 - 31, was a success (in my opinion),
in spite of the fact that this was the first rodeo produced by the Golden State
Gay Rodeo Association and that they organized it in very short order.
The rodeo events were held at the top-notch facilities of the L. A. Equestrian
Center in Griffith Park. The first day, the events moved very slowly, thanks
to the ineptitude of the stock contracter, who, for example, would
load the roughstock for the an event in their chutes only after the preceding
event had completed. The events moved very smoothly the second day,
after the GSGRA people told him to get his act in gear.
There were about 2 to 3 dozen contestants who entered 11 different rodeo
and gymkhana events. I entered "steer decorating" with friend Mark. This
"fun" event begins with one member of the team holding a lead rope at the other
end of which is a halter which is around the head of a mean ol' steer
kicking up a storm in a bucking chute.
When the chute opens, this team member is to get the steer quiet enough
for her/his partner to tie a ribbon on the beast's tail.
This is a timed event and the team with the shortest time wins.
You have to understand that Mark is six foot something inches and weighs
two hundred something pounds, and I am 5 foot 4 and weigh 130.
So the logical choice was for Mark to be the rope-man and for me to be
the ribbon-man. That's what we tried the first day. It didn't work --
the closest Mark had ever been to a steer was the other side of a field,
and so he didn't know how to keep a good grasp on the rope, and the steer
pulled it right out of his hands. So I suggested that the next day we try it the
other way around, since I have some experience stopping my frisky 3 year
old mare when I have her on a lounge line and she suddenly decides to GALLOP
at a tangent to the circle she is supposed to WALK in.
Well, I can certainly say that on the second day, with me as the rope-man,
I did not let go of the lead rope.
If they had awarded a prize to the contestant who wore
the deepest grooves in the arena, I would have won. You see, I invented
a new sport: arena skiing. It's sort of like water skiing, except you
have a steer who thinks that he's a motor boat in a lake and that your boots
are a pair of skis.
I had a great time, changing some old acquaintances from the Houston and Reno
rodeos into better friends and making some new acquaintances as well, men AND
women.
It looks like a gay rodeo circuit is developing as there are now 5 gay rodeo
associations that intend to produce annual gay rodeos. The next rodeo is in
Denver the beginning of June along with a western dance (square dancing,
clogging, etc.) convention. The rodeo schedule looks something like this:
Denver May 31 - June 2
Reno August 1 - 4
Texas November 1985 ?
Arizona January 1986 ?
Yes, it looks like the Reno Rodeo will actually take place this year, despite
premature reports of its demise. This will be its 10th anniversary!
If you would like further information on these events, I'll try to get you
the information. Just send me some mail.
--
Rob Bernardo, Pacific Bell, San Francisco, California
{ihnp4,ucbvax,cbosgd,decwrl,amd70,fortune,zehntel}!dual!ptsfa!rob
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