We happened to be in Carbondale, Colorado on the night (Thursday, as it happened) when the local rodeo was performing. So my wife, who likes to watch rodeo, insisted we go.

This is a barrel race, traditionally the only competition for women. The idea is (yes!) to race around the barrels as closely as possible without knocking them over, the latter incurring a big time penalty. The women (and their horses) in this competition were _good_--they rode on the pro rodeo circuit. There were a few more mistakes in the amateur competition, held earlier! In all these competitions, the quality of the horse is as important as the skill of the rider.

Btw, in the western US "rodeo" is invariably ROE-dee-oh. Just so you can sound like a local... ;)

A little traditional small-town Western Americana--