A symbol of the Wild West, the rodeo in the USA is part of American culture, more or less strongly depending on the state. Many professional and amateur rodeos take place every year across the United States. However, the states where the most famous and most important rodeos are held are Wyoming, Texas, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah.

The rodeo in the USA is considered a sporting event, with its own rules and rituals. The participants are cowboys who train throughout the year on ranches like real athletes. The typical cowboy outfit includes the famous Stetson hat, boots, jeans, a shirt, and sometimes a bandana. Women are increasingly present and accepted in these events, even if there is still progress to be made before equality is complete. It is also worth knowing that, even if rodeos are associated with American culture, it was Spanish and Mexican ranchers who brought them to American soil. In fact, the word rodeo comes from the Spanish rodear, which originally referred to surrounding ranch animals in order to gather them for care or sale.

The rodeo in the USA is also a show, and like any show it is composed of different parts, including the famous Grand Entry, the opening ceremony during which competitors and organizers parade on horseback while waving the American flag. After that, the national anthem is sung by the public, standing with hand over heart, which can be a very moving moment. Personally, because I have loved this country for a very long time, I found it very emotional.

After that, the rodeo begins and several categories are represented. Here are some of the best known:

• Bronc Riding: The cowboy must stay at least 8 seconds on a wild horse, with or without a saddle.
• Bull Riding: This is the main event and certainly the most dangerous one. The cowboy must stay at least 8 seconds on a bull using only one hand and a braided rope called a bullrope. The bulls are specifically bred and trained for this sport. Both the cowboy and the animal are scored.

• Roping: This event consists of catching a calf with a lasso. It comes from the practical need for cowboys to catch calves that wandered away from the herd.
• Steer Wrestling: During this event, the rider must catch a steer by jumping onto it from a galloping horse.
• Barrel Racing: Riders race as fast as possible around three barrels.

What makes the rodeo interesting for visitors and expatriates is not only the competition itself but the atmosphere surrounding it. It is one of those events where you immediately feel the weight of a cultural tradition, the codes, the pride, and the identity attached to it.

For someone discovering it for the first time, the rodeo is therefore not just a show. It is a way of understanding another side of American culture, more traditional, more regional, and often very far from the urban image many foreigners have of the United States.

The rodeo is one of the clearest ways to discover a strong, traditional, and highly symbolic side of American culture.