One of the most glamorized lifestyles has been that of the pro cowboy. It is true that there are few dull moments for the cowboys as the demands of getting from one rodeo to another would boggle the mind, of the layman.

Pro rodeo has what is known on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit as the "Buddy System," where two cowboys may enter rodeos for the same performance. In this way they can share the driving chores and split expenses for a private plane.

Often on t he PRCA national circuit the concept of the "Buddy System" extends much further. It is practically impossible to rodeo and make it "down the road" solo. So much of today's pro cowboy's life is dependent on his travel companions. Entire lives become interwoven by sharing clothes, money, hotel rooms and a great deal of intimacy and soul searching.

It is commonplace to find cowboys who compete in the same events traveling with one another. One must have a great deal of tolerance to be able to live so closely with someone he competes against day in and day out.

Just as the nature of the different rodeo events exist, so does the way in which cowboys must travel by pickup and trailer much of the time, since he has at least one horse, and often two, that he must haul and care for all year long. This dictates that he haul feed for his "equipment;" keep all the necessary papers verifying the ownership and medical status of the horse; keep "good" shoes on his mount: stop every four hours or so to exercise and water the animal and handle all the other various chores of caririg for the $20,000-plus horses. Sometimes another driver is needed so the roper or steer wrestler can hop a plane, "rent" a horse at another rodeo, and then fly on to where his horses are being hauled at the next show.

The riding event cowboys have somewhat more freedom, as they don't have any horses to haul. The ideal situation is to have three or four cowboys in one large auto or van so the driving chores can be shared, making many overnight runs to rodeos.

The physical modes of traveling have changed drastically since the early days of the cowboy, but they are still it odds with the elements. Time is the number one element with which the cowboy has to deal. Today's pro cowboy knows he is not going to awake any money sitting still, so he must stay on the move. Weather is still an important factor to the cowboy both in traveling and competing. Rain or shine rodeos go on, with the cowboy facing the consequences.

Pro rodeo is a young man's sport and a young man grows up quickly when he is traveling the circuit. It is the kind of life that appears very glamorous and cxciting, and much of it is. Yet the pressure of being on the road takes its yearly toll on new young talent that cannot stand the strain.

Five-time PRCA world champ in bareback riding, Joe Alexander, put it well by stating, "There are a lot of cowboys that can rope and ride, but there is a much smaller percentage who can stand the pace and still win. That's one of the real tests of a cowboy. You will find out how tough he is real fast when he has to get out and go to rodeos. It's the original school of hard knocks!"

Cody Nite Rodeo and Cody Stampede Program 1996, page 68

For a short glossary of the terms used in rodeo check out Talk'n Rodeo