Rodeo Round-Up

Maybe you’re a real-life cowboy & you’ve been attending rodeos since before you could walk. Or maybe you’re more of a city-slicker and have no idea what goes on at a rodeo. If you fit into the second category, let us enlighten you!

Grand Entry

You don’t have to be a cowboy-boot-wearing, just got back from a three hour trail ride type person to enjoy attending a rodeo. Here at the Double JJ, we offer traditional rodeo entertainment, along with lots of fun games & challenges that anyone can participate in. Let’s walk through a typical night at the rodeo to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Bull Riding

First & foremost, the main attraction at the rodeo is definitely bull-riding. Cowboys have to anchor themselves on an angry bull using nothing more than a strap of rope & their own strength. They’re only allowed to use one hand to hold on to the rope with, and touching anything with their free hand voids their ride. The challenge then is to stay on the bull for eight whole seconds as it bucks around the arena. Lots of riders don’t make it to this mark, and get thrown off early. They’re not out of the game yet, as they still need to avoid the angry bull & escape back over the fence to safety. Riders who do manage to stay on the bull for the whole eight seconds get a score from the judges. The rider can earn up to fifty points, and the bull can earn up to fifty points. At the end of the night, the bull & rider combo with the highest score takes home the prize!

Double JJ Wranglers

Other favorite rodeo attractions include Bronco Busting & Chute Dogging. Bronco Busting is a lot like bull riding, but replace the bull with a wild horse. Chute Dogging is one event that the cowboys participate in while standing with both feet firmly on the ground. First the cowboy has to brace himself as a steer is released from the chute. Second, their job is to catch the steer by its horns & wrestle it to the ground by flipping the steer over. There’s a lot of components to this sport, as just catching the steer is not a guarantee that you’ll be able to flip it. The Barrel Racing competition is always exciting to watch as well, with the cowgirls steering their horses in a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels at top speed.

The Grand Entry by the Double JJ Wranglers is another crowd favorite. Watching all of the wranglers ride into the arena in formation & perform drill in perfect unison is a sight not to be missed. The wranglers stick around for the rest of the rodeo & help with all of the crowd participation games throughout the night. Kids have the chance to come out & chase calves or dig through piles of hay for candy. Adult guests can sign up to ride in the Rope Race, the Wild Ass Ride, “Eat Your Heart Out,” and more. And don't forget to sign your kids up for the Mutton Busting! Just like the real cowboys riding the bulls, but your kids get to see how long they can stay on a sheep!

Mutton Busting

With Labor Day quickly approaching, chances to attend a Double JJ Rodeo this season are dwindling. There’s just two more left: one August 27 & one September 3. Rodeo is open to both resort guests & the general public, with tickets available at the gate. Rodeo kicks off at 7:30pm each night, with an all-you-can-eat Pig Roast at the rodeo grounds starting at 6pm.

Hopefully we’ve answered all of your questions about what happens at a Rodeo, and we look forward to seeing you at one soon!

Happy Trails!