Archive

RAM Rodeo thrills with cowboy action at Orangeville fairgrounds

June 21, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The wild wild west came to Orangeville over the weekend when the RAM Rodeo tour got underway at the Orangeville Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16.

Competitors thrilled the crowd during a series of events based on real cowboy life.

Rodeo competitions arose out of the working practices of herding cattle in Spain, Mexico, and later Central and South America, the U.S. and Canada.

Competition includes a series of events that blend cowboy and cowgirl riding skills with a horse’s ability and strength.

Women’s events include barrel racing and pole bending. Both are timed events when a rider and horse run a course with tight turns and finish off with full gallop to the finish line. 

Men’s events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and the popular but highly dangerous bull riding. 

While competing for cash prizes, riders get one shot in the arena to try to land in the top three to earn some money. If a rider is disqualified or doesn’t make the cut, they go home empty handed. 

Novice rider Willy Biro competed in the saddle bronc event. 

“I’ve been around rodeo forever but I started getting on bucking horses last year,” Willy said of his start in the sport. 

He’s from Paris, Ontario, and grew up on a farm in the area.

“My grandfather is a salesman for Alberta Premium so he would go to the rodeos and I started going with him,” he said of his introduction to the sport. 

Alberta Premium is a major sponsor of the Rodeo.

“Saddle bronc riding was always my favourite event,” Willy explained. “It’s the classy event. When guys get it right and do it good – their spur motions and they way they look on the horse looks the coolest to me. I pay an entry fee and compete. Whether I ride at all or place is how much money I get. If I fall off I make no money, if I come first place I make the most money. It’s who rides the best. There’s two judges and they each judge you on how well you ride and how well the horse performs.”

Novice riders must stay on the horse for six seconds to complete a ride while the rule for experienced riders is eight seconds.

The RAM Rodeo tour travels to 15 locations across Ontario through the summer and wraps up with the final event in late October.

Readers Comments (0)