Thought I might be able to find some help on this subject here, as there seem to be a fair number of cowboys (and girls) on here. I got 2 kids, ages 4 and 6, and they both love our cattle and all things rodeo. My oldest has wanted to mutton bust at the last two local rodeos but missed out on sign up because it filled up so quick. He has rode some of our 400lb calves and enjoyed it. The youngest is nuts about horses, she’s very athletic but shrugs her shoulders at sports and says she just wants to ride horse, even though she’s only rode a pony once. I don’t know anybody that’s into rodeo. When do you start these little ones in these things? How does one get started?

My kids aren’t in it. But several friends kids. Start asap any 4H close by? Or friends with stock to get them on?

Find some local horse/rodeo people and befriend them.

Kickin around starting 4-H too. Looked into showing swine and cattle, might just show what we’ve got but it seemed like if a guy wanted to be competitive I’d have to spend big money on good blood and I don’t plan on getting into breeding but would like to stay in raising for the freezer and side cash.

As far as stock to ride, there’s a guy to the west 1/2hr that teaches riding and roping. And then there’s a guy 40minutes south that breeds bucking bulls that’ve been in the NFR. I’m not sure if he’s into rodeo or just breeding stock.

look into little britches rodeo! each state has them and there should be a website or facebook page for it. my two oldest were in it for a few years. Just be aware it gets addictive, time consuming and expensive-especially if you are planning on your kids being any kind of competative. I believe they can start around 6years old. some of the rough stock might be a little older. if you can find someone close to you they would be able to help with any of the event info and items needed. someone on the website should be able to put you in touch with someone fairly close to you along with any info on events and membership. My little sister did little britches, JR high, HS rodeo, and rodeoed in college. She just got a coaching position this year somewhere down south. Feel free to PM with any other questions.

Time, miles, and money but I couldn't think of a better way to raise kids.[img]http://[/img]

×2

My boy cracked out in the sheep riding at 4 or 5 and wanted to go fishing and hunting during the week so he could rodeo every weekend. I enjoyed every min of that and 20 years has somehow slipped by very quickly.

me neither as long as you have all the above! rodeo folks are usually some of the best and they still carry on the old traditions! unfortunately for my family my wife and I work half the weekends during the summer and it was getting hard to keep up with points even if our kids would have had a good year.

Started the kids on sheep and mini bulls as soon as they were big enough. Now it's barrel racing and princess competitions. Love every minute of it.

Your girls look darn good in the saddle Maurob. My boy loved the mini bullriding back when he was little.

He won the tri-state title when he was 9. I didn't let him compete after that I jumped him up to big bulls.

Our local rodeos had a little division that goes in between several counties each weekend

My two grandsons have both quaified for the Jr. National Finals in bull riding this year in Vegas. Guess I know where I will be going the first week in Dec!

Buy them golf clubs and save the hurt that comes later.

Not gunna lie, I’m apprehensive just looking into it. Especially with roughstock. But I’ve got my injuries from playing highschool sports and plenty of my buddies did too. As much as my wife and I loved and excelled at sports we now look back on it as not much more than activities that helped build character and work ethic. My son is enjoying hockey and football right now, neither of them are kind to the brain or body. We’ve both thought at least with activities like riding and roping it’s a skill set that you can use for the rest of your life.

K9 to be honest i wouldn't trade my ranch and rough stock games for anything. I always tease folks about the golf clubs . Get the boy into dummy roping and if you can find them goat ropings. Your daughter into gymcania events and roping too.

My kids all jr rodeoed then went into showing livestock. My oldest boy makes his living sell show stock. Youngest 2 both got back into rodeo in high school , my daughter roped in college and went on to win a reserve world championship in cutting , my boy rode bulls untill he got hurt water skiing.

Wish your kids luck in what ever they choose to do.

Plan an extra day and go look at some desert big horns.

I would find somebody that is willing to share gear and let the kids get their fill of stock just being around it. It if sticks good deal then start spending your own money on gear and stock, but tooooooo many kids have the "changed my mind" in this day and age attitude. My youngest step son is that way, still trying to get his mother to stop giving in to the latest whim. He has been on the rodeo kick for the last 2 weeks, because he watched a couple of YouTube videos. Before that he was going to be an NBA player guaranteed, 2 weeks before that it was something else, etcc. Most of that "had to have" stuff collects dust somewhere now.