Do other countries have rodeos? International events
While the appeal of Rodeo in the U.S.A. is plain to see, you might be surprised to know that there are other countries that share the same love.
Despite being firmly rooted in the traditions of the American West, the reality is that the sport of Rodeo has a global appeal today, and with that, there are now several countries in which major events are staged.
Bull Riding is the showpiece event of the Rodeo
Though there are many events that fans can watch in a rodeo including cow roping and horse riding, it goes without saying that the most iconic of them all is that of bull riding. Indeed, there is nothing quite like seeing a man voluntarily choose to ride a 1200-pound bovine with nothing more than his duds, a chest-protecting vest, and a helmet. From the adrenalin to the sheer spectacle of a rider on a bucking bull, there is nothing quite like it. This is something that the Professional Bull Riders Inc. (PBR) knows all too well. Headquartered in Pueblo, Colorado, United States, it is the largest bull-riding league in the world with 800 members and it sanctions hundreds of events in several countries every year. The question of course is: What countries?
Where else in the world can you find Rodeo events?
Before we get into the where, let’s deal with the what. Bull-riding as a sport is extremely dangerous. Consider for a moment that competitors must tighten their legs around a bull’s back while gripping the saddle as they hope to stay on the animal for eight seconds without being thrown off of it. Often weighing more than a tonne, the force of the bull can’t be overstated, clearly evidenced by the fact that severe injury is common and even death. That being said, the potential dangers of the sport do little to stop the allure of it, such that it continues to grow.
Today, there are PBR events held in five countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico (discontinued earlier this year), and of course the United States, however, there are other countries that host Rodeo events as well, such as France. What’s more, is that events are broadcast in 180 countries around the world. Of course, it’s interesting to note that in each of those cases, there has been a long-standing history of cattle rearing and horse riding, something that makes sense when considering the large expanses of land, plains, and fields as well as an outright love affair with beef. It doesn’t hurt that there is also a lot of prize money to be one, with some riders earning up to $118,000 in a single competition. “It fits into the culture of instant gratification; it has a unique nature,” said Jason Belzer, president of Game Inc.
OK, so what are the biggest international PBR events?
The first thing to note is that each country has its very own circuit and subsequent finals events which in turn crown a year-end champion. Interestingly, a PBR-sanctioned event was held in New Zealand back in 2014, but it didn’t quite take. Sadly, that was the case with Mexico as well which saw its circuit - as mentioned above - close in 2023. As for the major international events, we’ve got the Velocity Tour Finals and the Challenger Series Championship. Riders are selected from the various international circuits, as well as the lower-level tours of the United States. Qualifying riders from the events then go onto the biggest of all events, the PBR World Finals. Held annually in the U.S.A., the tournament features the 40 best riders from around the world.