Among those sports and entertainments common to the cattle country were some that had emerged from within the cattle industry itself. As a relief from the tough work of the range where the opportunities for organized recreation were non-existent, the cowboys created their own games for their own amusement. These games developed naturally from the skills practiced daily with horses, ropes and cattle. Within each cattle "outfit", were those who had gained reputations for their riding and roping talents. Competitive instincts led to spontane- ous contests within each outfit, and when outfits from other ranches were in the vicinity, inter-camp rivalry sprang up. This was particularly the case when cowboys from many ranches were brought together each year at round-up time. For these contests there were no prizes, but individual and ranch prestige plus small sidebets kept things lively. The rodeo idea developed gradually from this natural origin as the West was settled and towns were established. It was in the small western towns at Victoria Day, July 1st, and July 4th picnics that the rough-and-tumble games of the cowboys found their first spectators. As the cowboy contests were brought into the towns, they were formalized, and eventually standards were established for each of the four major competitions (Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Calf Roping, and Steer Roping), for judging, and for the payment of prize money.
The Gilchrist Ranch in southern Alberta where this "saddle bronc" contestant is pictured "biting the dust", like many of the bigger ranches, was often ready to sponsor a local rodeo by issuing an invitation and challenge to the neighboinring ranches. The traditional rangeland "bronc buster" was often a man apart. He was a specialist who travelled from ranch to ranch offering for hire his services in breaking wild range horses to the saddle.
Courtesy: Provincial Museum and Archives of Alberta, H. Pollard Collection
