Calgary Stampede is here! Calgary Stampede is here!

The Calgary Stampede has arrived. It is by far the biggest 10 days in Canada, well at least as far as rodeo enthusiasts and the city of Calgary are concerned. The annual Calgary Stampede turns downtown Calgary into one big salute to the cowboy. You will find everything that you are looking for from the rodeo itself to a midway and from chuckwagon races to free pancake breakfasts.

Calgary Stampede Rodeo

The rodeo part of the Calgary Stampede involves some of the finest cowboys in the world. They will be competing for glory and fame in such events as Bullriding, Barrel Racing, Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, and Tie-down Roping. You can even watch the little cowboys and cowgirls compete in wild pony racing.

Calgary Stampede is more than a Rodeo

There are so many other activities at the Calgary Stampede to enjoy besides the rodeo. If you are looking to catch a good show full of music and wonderment, then you are going to want to catch the Grandstand Show. The Grandstand show this year is based around a Dream Catcher theme to honor and recognize all the people that came to Canada full of hopes and dreams. The Grandstand Show is described as Broadway … Western Style.

Calgary Stampede Brings Big Music

If Broadway shows aren’t really your style, then you can always catch a great musical act at the Pengrowth Saddledome or the Coca-Cola Stage. This year brings many popular acts to downtown Calgary. So grab your cowboy hat and your dancing boots and come and catch the sounds of Sugarland, The Judds, Kid Rock, Natasha Bedingfield, Dierks Bentley, Finger Eleven, or the Plain White T’s.

Calgary Stampede Brings Big Screams

Finally, if you want to try your luck at the Calgary Stampede midway; there are plenty of games for you. You can do everything from target practice games to the ring toss to Whack-a-Mole. Now, if you are more of a daring cowboy, you can climb on into a seat on one of the many rides. The midway brings many adrenaline-pumping, heart-racing rides this year.

Forget all of this talking about the Calgary Stampede, we are grabbing our best pair of jeans and our boots and heading north. See ya there, eh?

*Photo by Calgary Stampede

Cutting Horse Adds Spice to CEO Life

There was an article in Fortune Small Business Magazine today about a woman who is CEO by day and a Rodeo Queen by night. Yes, you are reading this correctly.

According to the article, Anita Lind Janssen spends her days as CEO of a company that handles asset management for large firms in the middle of transition. This is a job that requires conservative decisions and very little risk. Wanting to add a little spice to her life, Anita put on a hat, polished up her boots, and became a cowgirl.

It also appears that cutting runs in the Lind Janssen family. Ryan Lind, Anita’s son, placed in the top ten of the youth division at the National Cutting Horse Western National Finals this past weekend. I am sure that his mother couldn’t be more proud of her cowboy son.

Cutting Horse: What is it?

Cutting is a western riding style event where a horse and rider are judged strictly on their ability to separate a calf away from a herd of cattle for a certain period of time.

Cutting, which is becoming quite a popular equine sport these days, is special in that once the calf is separated from the herd, the cowboy or cowgirl loosens up on the reigns and the horse then takes over in keeping the calf separated. These horses are known as a cutting horse.

Cutting Horse Queen is One of Many

After reading about Anita, we did some poking around into the careers of the members of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. We found out that Anita isn’t the only corporate big wig that likes to compete with their horses for stress relief. We found an owner of a women’s western store, a President/owner of a drilling company, a ranch owner, a Chief of Staff of a state assembly, and a CEO of a golf construction company.

Who would have ever thought that participating in adrenaline pumping rodeo events could be so relaxing?

*Photo by Mike Murrow

Rodeo Austin Joins Forces with Caritas of Austin

Rodeo Austin will host its first Caritas Theme Day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 4th. Primary day is stiff competition, but who can refuse $1 off Rodeo Austin admission? That’s right, if you bring three canned or non-perishable food items to the fairgrounds tomorrow, you get $1 off the price of your Rodeo Austin ticket. The canned goods will go towards Caritas’ lifesaving store of supplies that help them carry out their mission of fighting poverty and homelessness. If Rodeo Austin is anything, it’s the rodeo with a heart. It’s a great cause, so get out your cowboy boots to support your community.

Rodeo Austin and the Houston Livestock Show

Rodeo Austin is the counterpart to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; the two events cover the spectrum of truly Texas rodeos. Whereas the Houston Rodeo covers everything that can possibly be done or seen at a rodeo show, Rodeo Austin is often considered the softer side. Rodeo Austin is going on now through March 15th at the Walter E. Long Municipal Park.

What to See at Rodeo Austin

The attractions are what make Rodeo Austin unique, like Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey or the Western Shootout Comedy Show and Cowboy Music Review. There’s also a livestock barn, an exotic petting zoo, a lineup of bands performing throughout the day on the outdoor stage, and a famous carnival.

It’s a great event for the whole family, and a great place to show the kids the prime environment for western wear. Look no further for the cutest children’s boots than Allens, located just across town from the Austin Rodeo.

Of course, like all Texas rodeos, you’ll see a fair representation of the best cowboy boots in the world. Don’t forget to bring yours!

It’s that time of year again…the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be here in no time, so stock up on plenty of cowboy boots and cowboy hats from Allen’s Boots. Even if you can’t rope a steer or ride a bull with the best of them, you can still dress like a cowboy.

Houston Rodeo Coming in March

From March 3rd to March 22nd, enjoy the bracket-style rodeo tournament at the Reliant Center, along with other event staples such as the World Championship BBQ Contest, where contestants are judged on their BBQ pit as well as their pork. This year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo musical entertainment includes boot scootin’ performances by country music singers Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and many more.

Houston Rodeo Events

There’s entertainment for everyone at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. For the children, there’s the Houston Rodeo Calf Scramble, where youngsters and calves collide in one of the most entertaining events of the Houston Rodeo. The kids must halt and bring the calf into the winner’s square with a single rope as their weapon to win their very own livestock to raise.

Wine and Music at the Houston Rodeo

Adults can enjoy Rodeo Uncorked!, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo event offering wines from all over Texas and the world. Another great rodeo event is The Hideout, which features some of the hottest music from across the Lone Star State. Slip into a new pair of Justin Boots and take ‘em for a spin with that special someone at the Astrodome.

Houston Rodeo Trail Ride

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo trail ride brings around 4,000 riders in 13 groups from as far as Hidalgo, TX, stemming from an annual tradition dating back to 1952. Talk about wear and tear on your Wranglers!!! Those participating in the Houston Rodeo trail rides begin their trek in February, traveling on horseback across Texas and paying homage to the cowboys of the past.

Let’s Get Ready to Rodeo!

With over 75 years of know how, the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s exhibits and shows are sure to bring in some of the best food, shopping, rodeo action and performances anyone could ask for. So stop by the store and stock up on all your rodeo gear before heading to Houston.