Orlando Vacation Homes Villa Rentals

By Mark Whichard

You don’t have to go to the Wild West to enjoy an exciting and authentic rodeo. If you are planning a vacation in Florida or the Orlando area in June or February, then you should make it a point to visit the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Silver Spurs Rodeo is the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi and is annually ranked among the top 50 events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). It wasn’t always that way; this event originated from a humble gathering of Osceola County ranchers. In 1941, those pioneering ranchers gathered in Tallahassee to ride in the inaugural parade for newly elected Florida Governor Spessard Holland. Their appearance gained statewide attention and sparked the notion that they should continue to gather and enjoy their common interest of horseback riding.

The events are held at the Osceola Heritage Park in the new Silver Spurs Arena, a state of the art indoor arena where you can enjoy the rodeo in perfect comfort. The arena boasts 8,300 seats and 12 luxury skyboxes in an indoor climate-controlled environment designed to host not only the rodeo but also sporting events, concerts, and more.

What can you expect to see that the rodeo? Silver Spurs has a full-on schedule of dare-devil events including: bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding and barrel racing.

Bareback Bronc Riding is perhaps the most physically demanding event of the rodeo, and next to Bull Riding, contains some of the wildest action. Scoring for this event is based half on the bucking action of the bronc, and half on the control and spurring technique of the rider. Only allowed to grasp the "rigging" with one hand, the cowboy must stay on the horse for 8 seconds, and is disqualified if he touches his equipment, himself, or the animal with his free hand.

Bull Riding is the rodeo’s most dangerous and exciting event. Competitors must ride a bucking bull for eight agonizing seconds with no more than a bull rope as a handhold. Unlike the bronc riding contestants, bull riders are not required to spur. It’s usually impressive enough just to remain seated on an animal that can weigh more than a ton and is as quick as he is big.

Barrel Racing is a timed event. The contestant enters the arena at full speed riding an American Quarter Horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels positioned in the arena. The pattern may be started from either the left or right, however, if the horse deviates in any other way the rider is disqualified. As the pattern is started the horse and rider trigger an electronic eye that starts the clock. The racer rides the cloverleaf pattern around the barrels and sprints back out of the arena, tripping the eye and stopping the clock as she leaves.

If you are a rodeo enthusiast and will be in Florida during June or February, then the Silver Spurs Rodeo is a must-see event. Here are some details on how to get in contact with the Rodeo:

Tickets for the Silver Spurs Rodeo can be obtained online at www.silverspursrodeo.com or by calling 407-67RODEO. The Silver Springs Rodeo is located at the Silver Spurs Arena, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee. The Silver Spurs Arena is located within the Osceola Heritage Park off Highway 192 east of Kissimmee

Mark Whichard writes frequently about Orlando Tourism. He and his wife Susan are Orlando vacation rental experts and their website http://www.orlandosfinest.com offers the best deals on Orlando vacation homes, condo rentals and villa rentals in the Orlando area.