Going to a Rodeo. Total Texas

Last Friday I headed out to meet some friends in Fort Worth to check out the rodeo. I left early so I’d have some hangout time. This is the first time I’ve been to Fort Worth since I moved, and first time to the stockyards.

First off, Fort Worth is way more happening than Dallas. By a lot. Starting with the drive. For me, it’s less than 30 minutes, without having to negotiate a demolition derby in the hood, like Dallas. I was there in no time. Parking was tough. Real tough. Thankfully, the Girl left a handicap sign in my truck. I had no problem breaking that puppy out. None at all.

I was supposed to meet up with the crowd at the Hotel Drover, but turns out they were at a club down the street. Wow. Next time, I will absolutely get a dog sitter and stay at the Hotel. It was ass-and-elbows hot women. Never seen such a thing. The club wasn’t bad either. I don’t drink, so I was drinking club soda. They comped me every one. I’d have paid, but that was super nice. After awhile we headed out to the rodeo:

This was a normal Friday night. People all around, bluegrass playing, restaurants and bars hopping. Wild street scene. I felt out of place, not having a Stenson. I don’t own one.

Last rodeo I went to was in Mesquite and seemed to be less of an event and more of a competition. We’ll get back to that.

The sound system was loud as hell. A clown came out to warm up the crowd…with rap music. Rap Music, Rodeo. One of these things is not like the other. They had the woman on the horse blasting around holding a big flag. Very cool. Then, of all things, a prayer. Texas. After that it was game on.

My past rodeo, I seem to recall more riders staying on the animal. With the broncos, no one made it to the 8 second mark. Most were tossed off within a second or too. They’ve done this before, right? The bulls were no better. One dude, maybe two, managed to place. The others? Mostly the gate opened and the bull launched the poor soul into the dirt. Calf roping was little better. I think two managed to rope the calf. The others wiffed the roping part. About the only competition that had a full board was barrel racing. That was very cool. The top four were really hauling ass.

Up until the end, the part I enjoyed most were the wranglers. There were two dudes that corralled the bronco after it pitched the rider off. They’d zoom up on either side, release the belt around the horse’s waist, and guide it back to the gate. That was some seriously cool horsemanship.

The other cool part was then end, where they sent a herd of horses out:

They ran around a good while, literally like a huge school of fish – all in unison. They really are majestic beasts. I didn’t know it was going to happen and missed the good part. Worst part overall was the music choice. Some of it was decent. But my ears were bleeding from the rap music. The announcer was too loud or eating his mic. Couldn’t understand a word.

Back out on the street the stockyards were hopping. An utterly amazing scene. Think of a huge bourbon street without the sleaze, ick, and stink. If I were a younger man….wow. Didn’t see one out of place…uh…jogger or teen. Then again, it was still sort of early, 10 PM or so. Everyone headed to a bar, and I dipped. I don’t drink, my back was screaming from a few hours in a hard seat, and I’m not an orbiter.

I have to say, if you are visiting DFW, don’t leave out the FW part. Cleaner, nicer, cooler.