Washington DC — By Jon Rochetti on August 5, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Filed under: featuredarticle, rodeo

Ride ‘em Cowboy – Catch Rodeo Fever near Washington DC

While Washington DC is known for members of Congress wrangling votes, and rounding up support, it’s not famous for actual rodeos. But over the next month you’ll have three opportunities to see a professional rodeo with cowboys trying to ride bucking bulls during what’s called the most dangerous 8 seconds in sports.

Watch as up to 30 professional bull riders risk their life atop massive bulls who violently buck, spin, kick, spin and twist trying to toss their rider at the J Bar W Ranch Battle of the Beast Summer Rodeo Series.

J Bar W Rodeo Bull rider The four-legged beasts can weigh up to 2,000 pounds making bull riding one of the most dangerous sports. Bull riders experience serious injury more often than in any other sport. Injuries can occur any time from the moment a rider climbs aboard the bull in the chute (broken legs are possible if the bull slams against the chute’s walls) to being trampled, kicked or gorged after the rider is bucked off the bull’s back or he dismounts.

Bull riders earn points for staying on the bull for 8 seconds as well as for good form and control as well as how strongly the bull bucked. Riders earn up to 50 points from each of the two judges, 25 possible points for style with another 25 points for how challenging the bull made the ride. Disqualification occurs when the rider is bucked off the bull, or if, with his free hand, he touches the bull, the rope, or his body.

But the rodeo is not just about bull riding. The other fun and exciting events include Cowgirl Barrel Racing, small children riding on the back of sheep in the Muttin Bustin’ event, the Ring of Fear where teams try to earn points by get one of their team members and an unleashed bull into one of four small circles simultaneously, and lastly Wild Cow Milking. This last event might be the funniest to watch as teams of three people race around attempting to catch their assigned wild and never-been-milked cow and collect a drop of milk from them.

And after experiencing a rodeo firsthand, if you decide you too want to be come a bull rider, check out this school that teaches people to become rodeo bull riders.

J Bar W Ranch Rodeo — 3 miles North of Libertytown, on Route 75/Green Valley Road, Johnsville, Maryland (map)

Dates and Times – Saturdays, August 7, 21 and September 4 (Finals). All rodeos start at 7:00 p.m., gates open at 5:00.

Tickets – Bleacher Seating – Adults – $15.00, children 6-12- $5.00, under 6 free. Visa & MasterCard are accepted at the gate. Food and beverages are available at the snack bar cash only.) The rodeo is outdoors, so dress accordingly. No video cameras, alcohol, coolers or pets allowed.

Parking – Free.