Ask any rodeo cowboy (or cowgirl) and they will tell you, the rodeo circuit isn’t cheap. On paper, and in the movies, it seems like a simple proposition, pull into town for the rodeo, hop on a bull or bronc for a few seconds when your number comes up, collect a little prize money and head down the road for the next rodeo. The reality is far different of course.
The reality is actually much closer to running a business than any other description, with an eye on the bottom line.
Let’s start with the bull and bronc riders. They didn’t just come out of the chute with the skill, they learned it somewhere. That somewhere is probably a practice arena owned by somebody who provides rodeo stock, and who charges by the hour. Every ride, practice or real deal rodeo, risks injury for the stock animals and the rider. The stock animals have to be fed; there are vet bills to pay and so on. Figure 25 to 50 bucks an hour for arena time. Oh and the rider has to eat too, and as a result of choosing bull riding or bronc riding as a profession, they’re liable to end up with some medical bills of their own. Then there’s travel expense, and with the high cost of fuel, lodging and food on the road, it takes more than a few wins to cover the expenses.
But the bull riders and bronc riders may have it good, at least until the chute is thrown open. If you’re a calf roper, or barrel racer, it’s another animal altogether, literally speaking. A good horse is required, and most in the profession have more than one. A 10- year-old gelding will likely run $15,000 to start, along with the associated feed costs and vet bills. And of course, you won’t be riding the animal from event to event. You’ve got to have a horse trailer to pull it around in. Add $5,000 for a single horse trailer, and don’t forget to tag and insure it. But $5,000 won’t do much more than get you started. A cowboy (or cowgirl) could spend a trailer full of cash on something a bit more accommodating. Let’s say you’ve got more than one horse to haul from event to event. Maybe it’s a pair of horses for your steer roping team (it takes two for that tango) and a pair for your barrel racing daughters. If you’ve got to get four horses from…say… southwestern Oklahoma, you’ll probably want to pay a visit to our friends at Turnbow Trailers. They are known throughout the industry for their high quality products. But their product is not inexpensive. You can find them new and used online at various dealers, and don’t be surprised if a big trailer runs $50,000. Tricked out with living quarters (for you, not the horse) which is probably an add on, and you could be at $70,000. (Geez, my house won’t appraise for that!)
Ok, Cowboy (or Cowgirl) you’ve got your horse, and your trailer, and you’re still under $100,000. But not just any little half ton with a trailer hitch will pull that trailer. Each horse weighs around 1200-1400 pounds. With four of them on board, you can figure two and a half to three tons, easy.
Minimally, and we’re talking just scratching by here, you could get by with a one and half ton truck. But really, you need something even bigger if you’re going to be on the road a lot, and by now you’ve got so much invested you can’t afford not to, so you better go up to say a Ford F-350 ($35 – 40,000 USED – $58,000 NEW) or perhaps the Dodge 3500 ($52,000 NEW) or the GMC Sierra Crew Cab, ($51,000 New).
Of course, you haven’t put any fuel or maintenance into the vehicle, or tires on the vehicle and trailer, or hay and feed in the horse’s belly, but you’re off to a pretty good start. Filling the tank at today’s prices will run about 160 bucks a pop. A single tire for the truck is going to be close to $200. And a bale of alfalfa was averaging $6.71 nationwide, as of about a month ago. The rodeo operators may offer some hay while you and your animals are in town, but that’s still 300 plus days a year you’re on the hook for the animal’s feed. They’ll need at least a half a bale a day plus oats and supplement pellets. You’re up to 2,000 a year give or take per animal in feed costs.
Plus, when the horses aren’t in the trailer, which is most of the time, you’ve got to have a little pasture land for them. Figure in a couple of acres per animal, at say, $2500 an acre out in the sticks, plus property taxes. Plus fencing. Maybe a little barn to store the feed.
Once you get those minor expenses knocked out, you may be able to show up at the rodeo with enough to pay the entry fee. Maybe.
***
