Waiting in line with her family to enter the 72nd annual Saddle
Horse Show and Rodeo, 4-year-old Sammy Grabeel had only two things
on her mind, the horses and the clowns, she said.
Tres Pinos – Waiting in line with her family to enter the 72nd annual Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo, 4-year-old Sammy Grabeel had only two things on her mind, the horses and the clowns, she said.
But for many others, the event was about tradition.
The crowd at Bolado Park stood and cheered for the rodeo’s traditional grand entry, when the more than 400 rodeo participants paraded into the arena and joined together with the hundreds of spectators to sing the National Anthem.
Hollister resident Jim Dassel said that the event represented California’s proud reined cow horse tradition and the legacy of the vaquero. Dassel has been coming to the show for more than 45 years, he said. Dassel said that the tradition dated back to before he could remember. At one time Dassel had competed in the rodeo, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him. But now, Dassel is content to watch his son compete from the grandstand.
“Its always fun to pass these traditions to the next generation,” he said.
Former Saddle Horse Association President and current director Ed Stephenson said that Association tries to keep the event up-to-date and maintain the event’s long-standing traditions at the same time. Stephenson said that only San Benito and Salinas still refer to the event as a rodeo with Spanish pronunciation (ro-day-oh).
“It changes every year,” Stephenson said. “The young people grow up and start competing in different events.”
Despite small changes, the traditions remain.
“The one event that this is now famous for is figure-8 roping,” Stephenson said. “Some prepare all year long for these events.”
Hours before the event began families gathered to picnic outside of the grandstand and talk with one another. A free wine and cheese reception was held in the Western Art and Equipment showcase tent for those who forgot to bring picnic baskets.
For Saddle Horse Association President Charlie Tobias, that was the whole point of the event.
“This is all about family and friends getting together,” Tobias said. “Some of these people only get to see each other once a year. It’s like a whole county family reunion.”
This year, Hollister resident Everett Sparling was drawn to the rodeo to compete in the wild cow milking event. Sparling’s family has been involved with the rodeo for many years, but this is only the second time that he has competed. During the wild cow milking event, two team members have to rope a wild cow and milk it. Although he had never competed in the event before, Sparling had plenty of experience on the ranch.
“I rope the cow and stop it with my horse and my partner milks it,” Sparling said.
Sparling’s partner, Jose Rodriguez, was also new to the event, but got involved at his friend’s request.
“I haven’t ridden a horse since I was nine,” Rodriguez said. “I just have to hold on to the damn cow.”
Rodriguez and Sparling said that competing wasn’t the best part of the rodeo, both agreed that spending time with family and friends was the real reason they came to the rodeo this year.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
