Almost a week before the Cave Creek Rodeo the Cave Creek Rodeo parade kicks off rodeo season in the area.  

I like to set up early in front of Big Earl's.   If you come early, you get the best seats.   Plus, I always have a breakfast burrito at Earl's.   It's my tradition.

As usual, a big crowd filled the south side of Cave Creek road as the entries went from west to east.   

The parade concluded around Harold's and the Buffalo Chip.

Next for me is photographing the Friday night Cave Creek Rodeo!   

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from the Cave Creek Rodeo Parade, click HERE

Scottsdale Rodeo 10 March 2024

The Scottsdale Rodeo Sunday edition came as it did the last several years from Westworld, an indoor arena.   If you have ever been to a rodeo, you know there is a lot of pageantry, especially at the start.

Kiana Martinez

Country music recording artist Kiana Martinez sang some original tunes, then sang the National Anthem to get things started.   

And the American flags.

 

And here comes the horse stock!

Eight seconds seems easy but hard to do.

My two favorite events are barrel racings and bull riding and they are traditionally at the end of the rodeo.   

Barrel racing shows off the skills of the lady cowboys.   It's timed, and it costs 5 seconds if they knock over a barrel.   

Bull riding scores are more a judgment.  50% on the skills of the cowboy.  50% on the athleticism of the bull.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from the Scottsdale Rodeo, click HERE

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show 25 February 2024

I don't believe he had any competition

The yearly Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was at and around Westworld.   It's a ten day event.  I was only there on the last day.   

High Stepping!

The horses are beautiful and are highly trained.   There is a lot of money involved in the competition.

Once around the arena

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, click HERE

Photographing the other competitors

Legends Rough Stock Series in Cave Creek 24 March 2024

Riders line up to be introduced

The first stop on the Legends Rough Stock Series was Cave Creek Arizona at the memorial arena on 24 February 2024.  "Legends" as in older cowboys, usually 40+ who have won some during their careers.

Even the fans look authentic

This wasn't a complete rodeo.   The focus here was on the big animals... horses and bulls.   

I've photographed many times at the Cave Creek arena.  I usually sit on the top row and capture images with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Canon RF 100-400mm lens.

This is a dangerous sport!

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from the Legends Rough Stock Series in Cave Creek, click HERE

Turf Paradise 29 January 2024

A day many horse racing fans in Arizona didn't think would come.   I thought horse racing at Turf Paradise was finished once last years season ended in May of 2023. 

So it was a happy surprise when the ownership decided to have a shortened season starting 29 January 2024.    

Who knows if Turf Paradise will have an operating track next year.  But for now, horse racing will live on at least until May of 2024.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from my visit, click HERE 

Cave Creek Rodeo Parade: 18 March 2023 and 19 March 2022

A week before the Cave Creek Rodeo will find the whole town out enjoying the Cave Creek Rodeo Parade. 

Bring a folding chair and get there early.

I typically set up in front of Big Earl's and usually am there early enough to have breakfast there.   

Cave Creek is known for its friendly nature and quirkiness, so you can pretty much expect anything.  All in good taste, of course! 

It is a free parade, no tickets necessary.   Just claim a spot on Cave Creek Road early.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from the 2023 parade, click HERE

For images from the 2022 parade, click HERE

Cave Creek Rodeo: 27 March 2022 and 26 March 2023

Certainly my favorite rodeo is the one closest to where I live:  The Cave Creek Rodeo.   Another "must see" around the Phoenix area is the Cave Creek Rodeo parade.  I'll post more on that with photos in another blog entry.

One of the crowd favorite events is bull riding.   Riders have to ride for at least 8 seconds or it's a no ride.   Scores come 50% from the cowboy and 50% from the bull.  

Cave Creek is an hour or so east of Wickenburg, the self proclaimed "team roping capital of the world."   Certainly some team ropers come from Wickenburg, but really from all over the USA and Canada.

My second favorite event is barrel racing.  Here, ladies of rodeo take center stage.   Knock over a barrel, and add a five second penalty to the final score.  The idea is to get around three barrels and then race to the finish line.   It's electronic timing.  Passing through the beam starts the clock; passing through the exit stops the clock.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

All images from 27 March 2022 HERE

All images from 26 March 2023 HERE

Wickenburg and Team Roping at Rancho Rio 29 January 2022

Less than an hour to my northwest is the little town of Wickenburg, Arizona.  And Rancho Rio is the world capital of team roping, which is why I came up... to photograph some team ropers.

But first, it was time for breakfast and the choice this day was the Horseshoe Cafe.

Before that, I parked in front of Anita's Cocina and saw an interesting display window.   Next time, I'll visit wearing my Trump hat! 

Then it was off to Rancho Rio and fun photographing team roping.    

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Click on the Image Below to See All My Images from Wickenburg

Arizona Downs Horse Racing in Prescott Arizona

I've photographed horse racing mostly at Turf Paradise in Phoenix.   I've also captured images at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.   But I never photographed at Arizona Downs until Wednesday 21 July 2021.

First things first.   Arizona Downs is beautiful.   Very modern building.   Not the best days for racing.  Their schedule this year only has racing Tuesday and Wednesday.   Imagine the crowds if they were racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Message to Turf Paradise: Look at how beautiful Arizona Downs is.   

I hope to come back and spend more time.   One thing I'd do differently is bring my 24-70mm lens.   I had the Tamron 100-400mm lens and I didn't need that kind of reach.   You are very close to the action at Arizona Downs.   

I capture images on a Canon EOS R6 and on this day used the Tamron 100-400.  Post processing in Lightroom mostly.   I also used PureRAW, Topaz, and Luminar.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Click the photo below for all of my images from Arizona Downs!

Barrel Racing in Wickenburg's Rancho Rio 15 April 2021

I've photographed team roping at Rancho Rio in the past, so I was familiar with the arena.   A great ride of less than an hour from my Phoenix home.   

Barrel racing is one of the main events the ladies participate in at rodeos.   They bring a lot of passion and skill to the sport.

The town of Wickenburg is just a bit up the way from Rancho Rio.  It has a very welcoming western flavor.   And, the area is somewhat cooler than Phoenix.  I checked the weather and the high in Phoenix on the 15th wa 81 and the high in Wickenburg was 77.  

Enjoy the views around barrel racing this day!

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Click the photo below to see all the images from team roping from Wickenburg....

Team Roping in Wickenburg Arizona

It was a beautiful Saturday 20 March 2021 in Wickenburg, Arizona, home of team roping.

Team ropers came out in numbers chasing some real money in the event.   

It was wall-to-wall horses, calves, cowboys, and cowgirls.  And they made enough room for me to capture it all.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Click the photo below of Leo to see all the images from team roping from Wickenburg....

Bonus Photos....  I noticed a sunflower growing in my front yard.