The American West is built on unique cultural practices due to a history of exploration and settlement that was not without conflict. This inevitably produced a heritage that is steeped in individualism, self-reliance and an irrefutable connection to the land.
Hard work and horsemanship still stand as a symbol of the grit it took to pave the way to modernity. Rodeos are a nod to the lifestyle that sustained many through a specific set of skills as well as the connection between a rider and his steed.
Cattle + Cowboys
Cattle were a practical necessity for frontier survival. They were the economic engine for producing a sustainable food source in an unpredictable environment. And the better the team managing those cattle, the better the odds of success.
Vaqueros were the original cowboys, having been established by Spanish colonists in the 1600s. Their skills for riding, roping and branding were essential for large ranches. Once the U.S. acquired territories like Texas and California, settlers took note and began adopting the established practices of local rancheros. As the profession grew, so did the requirement for honing these skills. Informal competitions became a popular pastime during down time on the ranch.
With the expansion of the railways, the now more established west was seeing visitors and tourists who wanted a glimpse of the untamed frontier. With the advent of another revenue stream and the opportunity to show off their skills for a new audience, the Wild West Show was developed and eventually evolved into the formalized Rodeo.
Pikes Peak or Bust
The Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo was founded by Spencer Penrose in 1937. Since 1946, proceeds have supported local military service members and their families. Within the past decade, more than $1 million has been donated.
As one of the three largest events in Colorado Springs, and with such an honorable mission, promoting the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo is an important task—a task which the Pikes Peak Rangerettes have taken on with gusto.
The Pikes Peak Rangerettes were founded in 1957 as an offshoot of the Pikes Peak Range Riders. Initially, The Rangerettes were daughters and granddaughters of the Range Riders, promoting the western way of life while also promoting the rodeo. Today, the team consists of up to 20 young women between the ages of 12-20. The Rangerettes serve as active community members and ambassadors who demonstrate grit and determination not only in the precision drills they perform, but also in their commitment to support charitable causes, support military families, and serve as role models for younger generations.
The Rangerettes
Though it is easy to look at the Rangerettes as a 20-person precision drill team, Director Chris Herman is quick to bring perspective. He explains how there are currently 18 young ladies on this year’s Rangerettes team. They each have a highly trained companion in their horses, bringing the performance team to a total of 36 members in the arena. There is a leadership team including two drill masters committed to teaching and guiding the team toward success. And there are the families who provide pivotal support behind the glitter and glam who board horses, muck stalls, pack lunches, and transport their team of two athletes not only to each event, but to each practice and every lesson it takes to maintain this level of horsemanship.
The current team rolled out a new drill for this rodeo season and delivered speeches about their experience as a Rangerette and what they are learning as a member of the team. These young ladies were well spoken and confident. They were articulate in their ability to convey how horsemanship has been a catalyst for growth in their lives thus far. Riding in harmony with their teammates requires listening to understand with precision and attention to detail. They have learned the ability to guide their thousand-pound partner with a gentle cue and lead that relationship with emotional regulation, empathy and executive function.
Life Lessons
A few of the girls talked about how they started as individuals, joined a team and ultimately became a sisterhood. Hailey Herman explained how there are plenty of drill maneuvers the team learns and perfects as they progress. Spacing, timing, two-tracking and legging-up are all skills with which a drill team is intimately familiar. In precision turns, and at high speeds, balance is key–especially when the margin for error is quite small. Sometimes, a horse will lean too hard into a turn and drop their shoulder. This causes the horse to lose balance and fall into the turn. In this instance, a rider is required to guide the horse to lift that shoulder and carry themselves with more awareness and balance. This minute correction is important for the horse, the rider and the team as a whole.
More importantly, it is a life lesson the next generation is being taught through horsemanship in preservation of the western way. These skills are transcendent of a time period and serve as a reminder to carry oneself with intention while developing the ability to gently lift the shoulder of our companions to continue to move through life with purpose.
Website: https://pikespeakrangerettes.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @PikesPeakRangerettes
In precision turns, and at high speeds, balance is key.