Rodeo

Before my accident, I rode horses in Michigan — now I ride the energy of the rodeo with my camera mounted to my wheelchair and a shutter release between my teeth. From my view, these young cowboys on bucking broncos and raging bulls aren’t just athletes — they’re a living fantasy. Tight Wranglers hug every curve, massive belt buckles draw the eye to exactly where the heat is, and the dust swirling around them feels almost sinful. When they rope steers, every lasso crack feels like a tease, and when they hold on for dear life, it’s impossible not to watch every twist and grind. I respect their grit and skill — but I won’t lie, I’m a buckle bunny at heart. Rodeo is where my two loves meet: horses and men, muscle and motion, all wrangled into frames that throb with energy (and a little sweat).

A man wearing a large cowboy hat, denim jacket, and a purple shirt, smiling and sitting at an outdoor event during daytime, with another man in cowboy hat and sunglasses sitting nearby.
Horses behind a chain-link fence at a rodeo arena during sunset
A man standing outside next to a horse trailer, holding a brown horse on a leash, with another horse partially visible nearby. The scene is outdoors on a sidewalk during daylight, with trees and people in the background.
A brown horse is tied outside a silver horse trailer on a grassy area during daylight. A person stands nearby holding a lead rope, with another horse visible in the background.
Three young men dressed in western-style clothing, standing outdoors under a large tree with a background of palm trees, parked cars, and a clear sky.
Crowd of people at an outdoor event, some leaning on a barrier, watching an activity on the field, with clear blue sky and trees in the background.
Cowboys riding horses inside a red corral, preparing for a rodeo event under a clear blue sky.
A man wearing a cowboy hat, sunglasses, and a white shirt stands outdoors among a crowd of people on a sunny day with clear blue skies and green trees in the background.
A man with a beard and cowboy hat carrying a baby in a baby carrier at an outdoor event, with other people and tents in the background on a sunny day.
People standing outdoors at a daytime event, some chatting, with a clear blue sky and trees in the background.
A man wearing a cowboy hat and casual clothing standing outdoors on a sunny day, with a stroller in front of him, and a vendor booth in the background.
Two men dressed in cowboy attire sitting at a table outdoors, engaging in a conversation. They are both wearing cowboy hats, one in blue and the other in white. The table has a red and white checkered tablecloth, with various items including a clipbo
Group of people, including law enforcement officers and civilians, gathered around a table outdoors, participating in a discussion or briefing.
A young man standing outdoors in a parking lot during daytime, smiling, wearing a grey long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and a baseball cap, with a group of people and trees in the background.
A young man standing outdoors in a parking lot, wearing a gray sweatshirt, jeans, a watch, and a cap. There are parked cars and a trailer nearby, with a tree and a fence behind him.
Two people, a man and a woman, standing outdoors next to a trailer and a black pickup truck, looking at a smartphone together. They are in a parking lot with trees in the background.
Three men wearing cowboy hats sitting and talking outdoors near a wooden structure, with one man wearing a racing jersey.
Young man in cowboy attire with a hat, plaid shirt, and jeans standing on grass with a suitcase and a dog, with a large trailer and another person sitting in a foldable chair in the background.
Two men in cowboy hats and Western-style clothing sitting outside near a silver trailer. One man in a blue shirt and jeans sitting on hay bale holding a beverage, the other in a white shirt with American flag patch, sitting on a circular metal contai
Two men dressed as cowboys stand behind a chain-link fence at a rodeo, with a rodeo clown and agricultural vehicles visible in the background during late afternoon.
Two men in western attire standing near a horse trailer with horses; one holding a green hose, outdoors under trees.
A man and a young girl sitting at the open back of a horse trailer with saddles hanging inside. The man is wearing a cowboy hat, patterned shirt, jeans, and boots, smiling at the camera. The girl has long hair, a navy jacket with white speckles, patt
A person in a blue hoodie and jeans playing a game of giant Jenga at an outdoor event, with a man wearing sunglasses and a cap watching nearby.
Three men sitting at a table outdoors near a truck, engaged in a game or activity, with trees and a lamppost in the background on a sunny day.
Group of young people gathered around a table outdoors, playing a game or studying, with backpacks and a pickup truck in the background on a sunny day.
Group of people playing a game of dominoes outdoors on a sunny day with trees and a clear sky in the background.
A blurred brown and white cow seen through a metal fence at a rodeo, with a crowd of spectators in the background under a blue sky.
A rodeo scene with a rider falling off a bucking bronco, seen through metal fencing with a crowd in the background.
A horse racing event at a stadium with a crowd in the stands, viewed through metal bars of a fence.
A man dressed as a cowboy walking across a dirt rodeo arena, viewed through metal fence bars with a large audience in the background.
Rodeo event with a cowboy on a bucking horse inside a fenced arena, filled with spectators under a clear blue sky.
Two young boys dressed in cowboy attire standing outdoors in front of a large tree, with a fence and trailers in the background.
Two men wearing cowboy hats and sunglasses enjoy food at an outdoor fair, with a line of people and food stalls in the background on a sunny day.
A man wearing a denim jacket and jeans with a patriotic star-spangled hat stands in line at a food booth at a fair, with other people waiting nearby.
Three young adults, two women and one man, are outdoors, wearing cowboy hats and casual clothes, engaged in a conversation.
A man in a red plaid shirt and cap talking to two women seated near a stroller on bleachers at an outdoor event with other people in the background.
A man in a red plaid shirt and baseball cap standing in a crowd at an outdoor event, with people sitting on bleachers in the background.
A man is holding a young girl on his shoulders, standing in a line at an outdoor event. A woman with sunglasses and a headband is leaning on a stroller, talking to the man. Several people are visible in the background, including children and adults,
A close-up shot at a rodeo or dirt arena shows the shot from beneath a horse, with the horse's tail moving, and metal railings in the foreground. In the background, there are spectators and tall light poles under a clear blue sky.
A man dressed as a cowboy standing behind a metal fence with a warning sign that reads 'Stay Off Fence' at a rodeo arena, under a partly cloudy sky.
A cowboy on horseback at a rodeo arena talking with a person in a cowboy hat near the red metal fence, with palm trees and a building in the background on a sunny day.
Group of people standing in a circle outdoors near a trailer with an American flag, some are wearing backpacks and casual clothing, during sunset or late afternoon.
Five men wearing cowboy hats and jeans are gathered outside near a metal fence. Four men are standing and one is seated, drinking, talking and working, with some gear and bags on the ground. The scene is set outdoors near a barn or stable with a wood
Group of men dressed in western attire, including cowboy hats, gathered outdoors near metal fencing, engaging in conversation and greeting each other on a sunny day with palm trees in the background.
Four young men wearing cowboy hats and casual western attire, standing outdoors in front of a weathered wooden and metal structure, with some cars and trees visible in the background.
Young man in plaid shirt and black cowboy hat sitting on a folding chair beside rodeo fencing and gear.
A man wearing a cowboy hat, red shirt, jeans, and boots walking outdoors in a field with palm trees and vehicles in the background.
Group of young men wearing cowboy hats and casual clothes standing near a red metal gate at an outdoor event with palm trees in the background.
Two women in cowboy hats and sunglasses posing for a photo at an outdoor event, with a crowd in the background and vendor stalls.
Three young men standing outdoors at a booth, two are looking at their phones and one has his arm crossed, with a crowd in the background.
A man with a beard and woman with long hair walking outdoors at a fair or festival, holding drinks, dressed casually with sunglasses.
Group of people outdoors, talking and laughing near a wooden fence, under a blue sky
A group of people at an outdoor event, with palm trees and a blue sky in the background, some of whom are wearing hats and jackets, standing near a metal barricade.
Young man wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, a red and black checkered shirt, and jeans leaning against a metal railing at an outdoor event with palm trees and a clear sky in the background.
Group of horses walking on dirt track at a rodeo with spectators sitting on bleachers in background under cloudy sky.
Close-up of a horse at a rodeo, viewed through metal bars, with the horse’s body partially visible and people in the background near a fence.
A young man wearing a face mask, camouflage jacket, black T-shirt, light-colored jeans, and sunglasses on his cap standing outdoors near a fenced area with other people around.
A young cowboy in a plaid shirt and black cowboy hat leaning over a metal fence at a rodeo arena, with a large banner obscuring part of his face. In the background, there are bleachers and a clear blue sky.
Four men standing on stadium bleachers, holding drinks, dressed casually with hats and sunglasses, enjoying an outdoor event on a sunny day.