31
w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
B
RONC RIDING, ALSO KNOWN AS SADDLE
BRONC OR BAREBACK, has a rich history
dating back to the mid-1800s when cow-
boys would break horses for the United States
Army in Wyoming and Colorado.
As rodeos started to emerge, cowboys added
a component of competition to it, and in 1901
the first bronc riding event took place. From
that point on the sport has grown with rules
and regulations in place for both the horses'
well-being and the riders'. It is now one of the
most popular events to watch at a rodeo.
For me there has always been something
intriguing about going to a rodeo and watch-
ing the rider and the horse merge into one. I
wanted to know what it is like to try and stay on
a 1,300-pound horse for eight seconds. Getting
on one for this assignment didn't seem practi-
cal or smart, so I did the next best thing. I went
to a rodeo in Ennis, Montana.
How do you put into words what is going
through a rodeo cowboy's mind? The simple
answer would be that you can't unless you step
into their cowboy boots, so to speak. But, by
observing and listening, you can get a sense of
it, and that takes patience.
As I stepped timidly behind the chutes and
into their world, I felt completely out of place
with my camera strapped to my side. They
watched me as I stumbled about trying to find
the right way to ask if I could take their photo-
graph as they prepared to ride. Luckily, the ro-
deo clown helped me by breaking the ice, and
I was able to relax and get into my element.
article and photos by HALLIE ZOLYNSKI
