Touch of Medieval

Some rodeo sports remind us of medieval torture, but in the best and most badass kind of way. Imagine, back in the day, two ropers on horseback charging after a cow. One snares the head, the other the back legs, leaving the animal stretched between two horses while somebody grabs...

By Emma Breysse

December 25, 2008

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Some rodeo sports remind us of medieval torture, but in the best and most badass kind of way. Imagine, back in the day, two ropers on horseback charging after a cow. One snares the head, the other the back legs, leaving the animal stretched between two horses while somebody grabs a branding iron. If it’s done right, the whole thing takes about 15 seconds (minus the iron), and it looks darn cool.

Today, you won’t see the calf version of the Spanish Inquisition in a rodeo ring, but you can still check out some of the best cowpokes in the world going head-to-head and rope-to-rope in the U.S. Team Roping Championships.

Sat., Dec. 27; Sun., Dec. 28; Mon., Dec. 29, 2008

Emma Breysse

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