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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
  
| I'll be graduating in two years, which is a scary thought. I'm really considering college rodeo, and have been looking in to different colleges. So my question is who has done college rodeo, I want to hear the good, and the bad. Was it worth it, or would it be better to just continue amateur rodeo outside of college? What are some good colleges? I'm really looking at Texas Tech, but I don't know if my horses are competitive enough to compete in that district. Also I'm always open to any kind of advice for my rodeo dreams. Thanks! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 156
Location: Cypress, Texas | Oh man, well i college rodeo'd for 2 years here in Texas. First of all you have to really think about you and your horses skill level. If you aren't winning 1D or placing 2D you probably are not going to be in the top ten. Then the cost, Travel, entries and maintenance on your horse add up really quick and in my opinion the money won in the top five cannot pay your way. Entry is $60 and the travel even with hauling partners its still expensive. I'm not saying don't do it, but it pulls at you wallet and your study time. I don't know about other states, but in Texas the travel from rodeo to rodeo is too long and rodeos pile up weekend after weekend. Typically you don't get a weekend of during the rodeo season. I feel like I'm being really negative, but I'm being honest here. Plus if you aren't one of the top competitors coaches around here wont even talk to you hardly. Favoritism and ass kissing is key. If you want to party and spend money to try to make friends who are in my opinion spoiled and inconsiderate *******s then its for you.(don't get me wrong some people are very genuine and I still have friends I made from rodeo) |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
 
| Just my opinion but I think college rodeo is the most competitive there is. All I can say is you better have a horse that can compete and a big pocket book. Two girls that live near me just got new horses. Both are tough. One consistently beats 450 horses at the 4D and 5D races around here. Both are just now getting with their horses and figuring out the buttons. Both attend a small community college in E TX. They compete with universities. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| First of all congrats on considering Texas Tech! I wouldnt trade my years there for anything, it is a great school. Having said that I found that college rodeo just wasnt for me. Tried it for a semester, didnt like the "party" atmosphere and realized I could make more $$$ going to the ammy rodeos, with a little less stress on the horses. Unless you come into the organization with some BIG wins you are going to have to prove yourself to be on the traveling team.
If you are planning on rodeoing full time in the future I would reccommend college rodeo to get your feet wet and see what its all about. The Southwest region is really tough, it really does take true 1D and pro rodeo horses to compete there. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Texas!! | My daughter is finishing her second year of college rodeo this semester. I would recommend at least trying it. The rodeos are split up in 2 semesters, 5 rodeos each semester. The competition is tough, but that is no reason not to rodeo. She has made life long friends!! It has paid for 2 years of college!! That is money saved out of my pocket! The coach (school) pays the entry fees. But, the way I look at it, she is going to rodeo, even if its not college rodeo, so the fuel expenses are something we are going to have either way. She does do all the events, barrels, goats and breakaway. We didn't pay a lot for our barrel horse, the 1st year he was more or less being seasoned (not much fun), but this year he is running really good! Placed in the top 15, which is really good here!! I would recommend looking at the jr colleges, the coaches there are more likely to pay for your dorm, your tuition and your entries if that is a concern. Good Luck!!
edited to say: she rodeos in the Southern Region in Texas.
Edited by rodeodelux 2016-01-25 8:01 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | If you do college rodeo.....never haul with a bunch of bullriders.....they tend to get really drunk, then complain the next day about how hungover they are LOL. Makes for a long whiney drive |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I preferred college rodeo to high school rodeo, mostly due to the lack of parents and the drama and politics that come along with them. If you're not in the 1D/2D and placing at amateurs then I wouldn't bother. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 486
Location: CentralTexas | I'm gonna have to agree to this. It's the case especially at Tarleton. I love going and love college rodeos, but if you think you have a super nice horse, this will humble you really quick. Its a tough tough region (Southwest), but I think if you want to see where you stand, this is the place to do it. Now as far as favoritism, it's not as bad as it was in previous years, but its still there. If you aren't a national champ (high school or college), parents have money or are top rodeo competitors, haven't made the american, etc. etc., you really are at the bottom of the totem pole. That doesn't mean anything against a timer, but it does help with everything else. I'm like the above poster, I'm just trying to be real with you, but I love doing it, but I'm glad its my last year. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I rodeoed in the Ozark region for 5 semesters and wouldn't really recommend it. The travel was long, and it didn't pay that great. I had 2 good solid horses that made the short go for me at most rodeos, but our school program was just getting started, there were no scholarships, and it just wasn't worth it for me. The party scene was hopping if you were into that. My parents hauled me, so I was a social outcast. lol |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| I can't say for sure what level my horses are at until I run them this year. One was running top of the 2d with mistakes, last year was his first time seeing the pattern. Other had a year off due to injury, I took that time to really get his pattern solid, and did tons of slow work. He came back and ran .2 off pro girls at a bigger barrel race.
I mainly want to college rodeo for the experience, and I think tougher competition will help me as I move towards pro. I'm easy to get along with, but I wouldn't have the advantage of winning HS rodeo, etc, but I'm going to start amateur rodeo this year, and hopefully work my way up. Thanks for all the advice. And I'd rather hear all the negatives then be surprised! :) |
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Member
Posts: 32
| You don't know till you try.
They are right it is tough, but those girls running there chances are going to Ammy's, and pro shows too! If you can keep your grades up and can afford to do it I would. You only have those few years in your life to do it.
Just get with rodeo coaches from whatever school you are interested in and let them know. They may can offer a percentage of your tuition, books, dorm...
Good luck! |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | IowaCanChaser - 2016-01-25 12:08 PM I just can't decide whether to go with the local community college 30 min from my house, ICCC, which has a pretty good rodeo team, or go big and shoot for Texas Tech, or Oklahoma. I'm kind of an all in, go big or go home kind of person, so I probably won't take the easy route.
financially, look at a community college. Tuition rates will be ALOT cheaper than at a bigger school. My classes were $124 per credit hour at a community college, compared to $400+ per credit hour if I went to a university. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1525
| I had limited funds, was there on scholarship, had a blast, it was the best part of my life until I had my kiddo. Have fun! |
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | MOTIVATED - 2016-01-25 1:11 PM
I had limited funds, was there on scholarship, had a blast, it was the best part of my life until I had my kiddo. Have fun!
This was me (except the kiddo part, lol). I wouldn't have been able to do it without a scholarship. I rodeo'd in the Ozark region and they are tough rodeos in every region. Yes it can be a party especially if you want to do that. You can make friends that will last a lifetime and I know if I breakdown basically in any part of the country between college rodeo and BHW I'll be close to someone that might be able to lend me a hand!!! It was one of the absolute best times of my (and my hubby's) life.
I actually shifted my focus towards goat tying and roping when my horse got sore and wasn't clocking. She was young and I was dumb and we just didn't do any maintenance at that time so basically I managed my horse poorly. I borrowed horses at a couple rodeos and if I had just been running barrels I doubt that I would have rodeo'd for four years. You can go to so many other closer rodeos & big barrel races if you are just doing that. I wouldn't have ever just worked one event, that was just me.
Go for it if you can do it and I'd go Jr College route if I had it to do all over again!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| My school doesn't have an official team and there are only 3 girls (including me) rodeoing at our school so the only financial help we get is fundraising. Its my second year but I don't think I'm going to go to any this semester. It's just not for me, but that could be a different story if I went to a school with a team. On that note, my friend is at a community college on their team and she is not a big fan of the atmosphere either. The girls are bratty and it's a lot of drama it seems like. lol But, if you have the financial ability and horsepower to do it, I would say to give it a shot for at least a semester or a year to see what it is about. You definitely want to go in with the mindset of making the finals and placing in each rodeo because that will help with expenses! lol |
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | If you can get lucky enough and get a decent scholarship to a good rodeo school, I'd say at least try it. You say you have two years of high school left? Start now at keeping track of accomplishments. Awards, associations where you won money, everything. It really helps when filling out scholarship forms. Don't be set on 1 or 2 schools. Expand your horizons. Try them all.
I college rodeo'd for 3 years. It was a great experience, went to the CNFR, which was a blast. It's a great way to travel and learn about the rodeo experience. Also a great way to meet new friends. If not for college rodeo I wouldn't have met my husband. 
Having said that, I agree with others who have advised of the expense. If you end up going a considerable amount of distance from home it could cost even more money. Finding a place to keep your horses if your college doesn't provide it. You can't expect to win a lot college rodeoing. Not possible, they don't pay worth a crap. The only advantage if you are good enough is scholarship money.
Good luck. |
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