It was my first rodeo, and it was a buckin’ good time.

On Saturday night, we went to the Lansdowne Rodeo. I’ve never been to a rodeo and I thought it might be a shticky, gimmicky event like WWE wrestling, but I was wrong. It was a ropin, stompin, buckin’ hell of a ride and good time right out of the gate.

We arrived at the Lansdowne Agricultural grounds and parked in a big field. Spectators were already tailgating as the moon and stars started to rise in the sky above the water tower. We staked out our seats in the grandstand, then checked out the food trucks, and vendors while sipping on ice cold beers. I liked being able to pet the heifers and the sheep in the pens.

At 7 pm sharp, the action started with the bull riders. These were no tame bulls. These were massive 1,800 pound bulls who kicked their hind legs, flailing and thrashing the minute they left the pen. They can actually leap up to four feet in the air and have been known to vault over a fence. A few of the competitors were able to stay on past 8 seconds for the highest scores. One guy got hurt when the bull stepped on his leg.

One thing I’ve learned: bull riding is the craziest, most dangerous sport I’ve ever witnessed. Why anyone on God’s earth would willingly get up on a buckin’ bull is beyond me, but man, it was exciting.

Next was steer wrestling where riders wrestle a calf to the ground and breakaway roping where female riders rope a calf. It was incredible to see the athleticism of the competitors riding at breakneck speed while whirling the rope around their head, waiting for the perfect moment to lasso the cow. A third event, tie-down roping involves the rider roping the calf, then dismounting and tying three of its legs together as quickly as possible.

If you really want to appreciate the speed and skill of the riders, then barrel racing is your event. A rider on a horse bursts out of the pen and rides hellbent around three barrels strategically placed in the ring. The speed of the riders as they streaked across the ring was incredible.

They even had an event for kids six and under, mutton busting. Picture a five-year old wearing a helmet clinging onto the back of a sheep for dear life. I muttered under my breath, what parent would allow their child to try to do this, then laughed when the little boy two seats down from us took top prize for staying on the longest.

Between events, the music was pumping and Gildo the rodeo clown entertained the crowd.

At the end of the night, we hit the after party and danced to our favourite country songs in the big historic barn.

The Black Creek Rodeo Company is a family run business based in Edwards Ontario. You can find a list of their upcoming rodeos in Ontario on their website, including a special Broncs and Tonks Rodeo and Concert in Ottawa at the end of August featuring Dean Brody and the Reklaws. Or you can listen to their La Grange Rodeomax podcast to hear the history of rodeo in Ontario, their bucking bull breeding program and the skinny on all the events.

This week’s #HappyAct is to break out your chaps and cowboy hats and get yourself to a rodeo this summer.