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 Jr. Detective
    
Location: Beggs, OK | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-05 12:13 PM rachellyn80 - 2014-03-05 12:01 PM HotbearLVR - 2014-03-05 8:53 AM I am impressed that on a site comprised of about 99% women, only about 60% of those polled feel Pro Rodeo should stay the same and not be opened up for men in barrel racing. I expected it to be closer to 90%.
On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing that barrel racing be reserved exclusively for women....under the guise of "tradition", or whatever. Maybe the fear is if more men participated, they would dominate barrel racing, just like they dominate almost everything else. Maybe men are just more athletic and maybe their strength puts them at an advantage over women. Maybe the fear is that opening it up to men and women equally would be unfair because it would stimulate more men's interest in barrel racing, which would eventually squeeze too many women out of the upper echelons. Right now, probably 90% of barrel racers across the spectrum are women. How would the sport change with an increase in male participation? Would it be better or worse? What if it was closer to 60:40 or 50:50?
I'm all for equality of opportunity, but should equality of opportunity be just a selective thing? How many of the people voting are directly affected? You have to look at the number of people on this site that don't even compete, much less rodeo. No judgement from me about who's posting....just pointing out that you don't have to read very many threads to figure out that this place is long on opinion and short on actual experience. I think that actually might be a GOOD thing in terms of representing what the fans would want to see..... Everyone on here probably has gone to at least a few rodeos as a spectator
The fans come to see someone get mangled in the bullriding...it's like NASCAR.  | |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | rachellyn80 - 2014-03-05 12:16 PM
barrelracr131 - 2014-03-05 12:13 PM rachellyn80 - 2014-03-05 12:01 PM HotbearLVR - 2014-03-05 8:53 AM I am impressed that on a site comprised of about 99% women, only about 60% of those polled feel Pro Rodeo should stay the same and not be opened up for men in barrel racing. I expected it to be closer to 90%.
On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing that barrel racing be reserved exclusively for women....under the guise of "tradition", or whatever. Maybe the fear is if more men participated, they would dominate barrel racing, just like they dominate almost everything else. Maybe men are just more athletic and maybe their strength puts them at an advantage over women. Maybe the fear is that opening it up to men and women equally would be unfair because it would stimulate more men's interest in barrel racing, which would eventually squeeze too many women out of the upper echelons. Right now, probably 90% of barrel racers across the spectrum are women. How would the sport change with an increase in male participation? Would it be better or worse? What if it was closer to 60:40 or 50:50?
I'm all for equality of opportunity, but should equality of opportunity be just a selective thing? How many of the people voting are directly affected? You have to look at the number of people on this site that don't even compete, much less rodeo. No judgement from me about who's posting....just pointing out that you don't have to read very many threads to figure out that this place is long on opinion and short on actual experience. I think that actually might be a GOOD thing in terms of representing what the fans would want to see..... Everyone on here probably has gone to at least a few rodeos as a spectator
Oh my, lol
I sure hope not! I am a "fan" in terms of rodeo, I go watch but I run 4D's.
I do not wish for wrecks, but then again I was friends with a lot of the folks that were actually competitors | |
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 Cyber World Challenged
Posts: 2526
Location: My Own Little World | HotbearLVR - 2014-03-03 9:31 PM I think the toothpaste is out of the tube, as far as the American is concerned. They won't allow men, and then turn around and ban them. This will make the discussion more common and the debate will become more serious. Most women who are serious competitors won't say that men are better or have some advantage over women.
If anything, women hold an advantage, generally speaking, because they usually weigh less.
There was a time when Blacks were allowed to only play in amateur and negro leagues. On the surface, the obvious implied reason was because they were Black, but within inner circles, another huge reason was because they posed a threat to whites in terms of competitive edge. In on sense this is apples and oranges, but there's still a pretty good analogy.
If woman happens to be an exceptional team roper, should she be banned from competing at the highest level because of her gender?
You ladies have to decide which way you want it.
I agree. Although it is a little weird seeing men run down the alley at a rodeo, it's only fair if the women want to rope in the same setting. My daughter says she wants to rope at the American, so I guess men should barrel race | |
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 Get a Clue
Posts: 1228
Location: A Higher Elevation | luvropin - 2014-03-04 8:45 AM
Yep, he was going to buy her a card but then didn't when the office said she wouldn't be allowed to haze. This was a few years ago...if they have since changed the rule then great. I am fine with open to the world if it is truly open to the world. It would be fun to see a woman header or heeler competing at that level.
Women have been PRCA competing members for decades...
KAILA MUSSELL bought her permit, filled it & earned her card. Ended up making the Circuit Finals - in the SADDLE BRONC RIDING. She was featured in Reba's music video - "I'm Gonna Take That Mountain"
Tammy White (I think!) almost made the NFR in the TR. Mary Salmon competed in the TR in Montana in the 1980's & 90's.
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | rodeorun68 - 2014-03-05 12:28 PM HotbearLVR - 2014-03-03 9:31 PM I think the toothpaste is out of the tube, as far as the American is concerned. They won't allow men, and then turn around and ban them. This will make the discussion more common and the debate will become more serious. Most women who are serious competitors won't say that men are better or have some advantage over women.
If anything, women hold an advantage, generally speaking, because they usually weigh less.
There was a time when Blacks were allowed to only play in amateur and negro leagues. On the surface, the obvious implied reason was because they were Black, but within inner circles, another huge reason was because they posed a threat to whites in terms of competitive edge. In on sense this is apples and oranges, but there's still a pretty good analogy.
If woman happens to be an exceptional team roper, should she be banned from competing at the highest level because of her gender?
You ladies have to decide which way you want it.
I agree. Although it is a little weird seeing men run down the alley at a rodeo, it's only fair if the women want to rope in the same setting. My daughter says she wants to rope at the American, so I guess men should barrel race
Women can rope at the American. Jackie Hobbs-Crawford had two runs in the Semi's at Mesquite. Women can buy their cards and compete in the PRCA. The WPRA is a womens only association and they are the co-sanctioning body in professional rodeo for barrel racing. | |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | The PRCA/WPRA is well within their right to hold onto "traditions", and I would fight for their right to do that, even if I don't agree with it. Obviously, there are a lot of "traditions" in American society that most of us want to continue.....Christmas traditions, the Pledge of Allegiance, trick-or-treating, acts of chivalry, the "traditional family", etc.... The question I have is, do some "traditions" become outmoded? I think so. For instance, I wouldn't belong to a country club that would one day admit my son, but reject my daughter because she is a woman. There was a time in this country when it was "traditional" for a woman to be cloistered in their homes, hence the old cliche' "A woman's place is in the home." Back then, it was even held, on the basis of "tradition" that a woman should not be allowed to vote. Some traditions are hard to get rid of, ostensibly because......well, "it's tradition!"
Mark Twain said: "The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it." | |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | HotbearLVR - 2014-03-05 12:46 PM The PRCA/WPRA is well within their right to hold onto "traditions", and I would fight for their right to do that, even if I don't agree with it. Obviously, there are a lot of "traditions" in American society that most of us want to continue.....Christmas traditions, the Pledge of Allegiance, trick-or-treating, acts of chivalry, the "traditional family", etc.... The question I have is, do some "traditions" become outmoded? I think so. For instance, I wouldn't belong to a country club that would one day admit my son, but reject my daughter because she is a woman. There was a time in this country when it was "traditional" for a woman to be cloistered in their homes, hence the old cliche' "A woman's place is in the home." Back then, it was even held, on the basis of "tradition" that a woman should not be allowed to vote. Some traditions are hard to get rid of, ostensibly because......well, "it's tradition!"
Mark Twain said: "The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it."
Some traditions make more sense than others. I wonder what the founding members of the GRA would say? | |
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My mind still works
Posts: 8912
| WrapSnap - 2014-03-03 10:58 PM I went on record as saying many years ago that if they opened rodeo barrel racing to men, I would be there cheering the guys on, just like I do the girls. I would not be running up the alley though. That having been said, local, open jackpot rodeos, I have been known to run in, but as much as the NFR would be cool, even if I could make the run at it, I've just been raised with a different view of rodeo.
Same view.
General:
I don't see why there can't be a race like the American that is open to all like it was. The NFR needs to stay the same imo.
We've got open rodeos by the dozen, futurities by the dozen and so on and so forth. It's things like the American that need to shut some people up. Much like Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs - some will remember that | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | barreldude - 2014-03-05 2:27 PM WrapSnap - 2014-03-03 10:58 PM I went on record as saying many years ago that if they opened rodeo barrel racing to men, I would be there cheering the guys on, just like I do the girls. I would not be running up the alley though. That having been said, local, open jackpot rodeos, I have been known to run in, but as much as the NFR would be cool, even if I could make the run at it, I've just been raised with a different view of rodeo. Same view.
General:
I don't see why there can't be a race like the American that is open to all like it was. The NFR needs to stay the same imo.
We've got open rodeos by the dozen, futurities by the dozen and so on and so forth. It's things like the American that need to shut some people up. Much like Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs - some will remember that
I agree  | |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-05 2:55 PM HotbearLVR - 2014-03-05 12:46 PM The PRCA/WPRA is well within their right to hold onto "traditions", and I would fight for their right to do that, even if I don't agree with it. Obviously, there are a lot of "traditions" in American society that most of us want to continue.....Christmas traditions, the Pledge of Allegiance, trick-or-treating, acts of chivalry, the "traditional family", etc.... The question I have is, do some "traditions" become outmoded? I think so. For instance, I wouldn't belong to a country club that would one day admit my son, but reject my daughter because she is a woman. There was a time in this country when it was "traditional" for a woman to be cloistered in their homes, hence the old cliche' "A woman's place is in the home." Back then, it was even held, on the basis of "tradition" that a woman should not be allowed to vote. Some traditions are hard to get rid of, ostensibly because......well, "it's tradition!"
Mark Twain said: "The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it." Some traditions make more sense than others. I wonder what the founding members of the GRA would say?
Edited by polorunner 2014-03-05 2:37 PM
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | polorunner - 2014-03-05 2:34 PM Three 4 Luck - 2014-03-05 2:55 PM HotbearLVR - 2014-03-05 12:46 PM The PRCA/WPRA is well within their right to hold onto "traditions", and I would fight for their right to do that, even if I don't agree with it. Obviously, there are a lot of "traditions" in American society that most of us want to continue.....Christmas traditions, the Pledge of Allegiance, trick-or-treating, acts of chivalry, the "traditional family", etc.... The question I have is, do some "traditions" become outmoded? I think so. For instance, I wouldn't belong to a country club that would one day admit my son, but reject my daughter because she is a woman. There was a time in this country when it was "traditional" for a woman to be cloistered in their homes, hence the old cliche' "A woman's place is in the home." Back then, it was even held, on the basis of "tradition" that a woman should not be allowed to vote. Some traditions are hard to get rid of, ostensibly because......well, "it's tradition!"
Mark Twain said: "The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it." Some traditions make more sense than others. I wonder what the founding members of the GRA would say?
I'm not sure we are even debating anything here, actually. As I said, I would defend the WPRA's right to do whatever they choose, even if I think it's outmoded and dying off....which I believe it is, albeit slowly.
Bobby Riggs has been dead a long time, and he was almost 60 years old when he and Billy Jean King played that battle of the sexes. King was at or near the top of her game and in her 30's. It was all a silly carnival side show, and not even remotely germane to this discussion.
Augusta National allows women to play there and they have even started admitting women into their membership. Even Augusta National has evidently recognized their old "tradition" is outmoded.
What's important here is that they have decided to make this change on their own. I just don't follow the logic of "allowing" men to run in a few places, but selectively prohibiting them in others. What is that really saying? To me, it's analagous to allowing certain people to ride on a bus.....if they sit in the back.
If more men run in the American and start winning it, this matter will naturally resolve on it's own. I hope we don't come to a point where "World Champion" in pro barrel racing comes with an asterisk.
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My mind still works
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| And......Rosa Parks has been dead along time too
I gave an example and you did as well.
What does riding in the back of a bus have to
do with this when it's not even sports related.
At least mine was | |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I guess I don't see why this is even a debate.
They have men's and women's, as well as co-ed leagues in other sports. | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | barreldude - 2014-03-06 4:24 AM And......Rosa Parks has been dead along time too I gave an example and you did as well. What does riding in the back of a bus have to do with this when it's not even sports related. At least mine was
What Rosa Parks did was a seminal moment that will live forever in history. What Bobby Riggs did accomplished nothing besides fill his bank account. Few people remember anything about Bobby Riggs. It was more or less a freak show where his ass was kicked by a young lady half his age. I think Clint Sherlin's run at a big time nationally televised pro rodeo event was a seminal moment as well. At least I hope so. | |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | HotbearLVR - 2014-03-06 8:30 AM barreldude - 2014-03-06 4:24 AM And......Rosa Parks has been dead along time too I gave an example and you did as well. What does riding in the back of a bus have to do with this when it's not even sports related. At least mine was What Rosa Parks did was a seminal moment that will live forever in history. What Bobby Riggs did accomplished nothing besides fill his bank account. Few people remember anything about Bobby Riggs. It was more or less a freak show where his ass was kicked by a young lady half his age. I think Clint Sherlin's run at a big time nationally televised pro rodeo event was a seminal moment as well. At least I hope so.
You should pick your words more carefully.....it was NOT a "pro" rodeo....It was nothing, more or less, than an OPEN Rodeo where "pros" were given a "bye" into it. and paid big money.........just saying....... | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | NJJ - 2014-03-06 8:34 AM HotbearLVR - 2014-03-06 8:30 AM barreldude - 2014-03-06 4:24 AM And......Rosa Parks has been dead along time too I gave an example and you did as well. What does riding in the back of a bus have to do with this when it's not even sports related. At least mine was What Rosa Parks did was a seminal moment that will live forever in history. What Bobby Riggs did accomplished nothing besides fill his bank account. Few people remember anything about Bobby Riggs. It was more or less a freak show where his ass was kicked by a young lady half his age. I think Clint Sherlin's run at a big time nationally televised pro rodeo event was a seminal moment as well. At least I hope so.
That's correct. The effect is the same though. The term "pro" when it comes to barrel racing is a stretch, in most instances, as far as I'm concerned. Most "pros" when it comes to barrel racing, lose money in the long run. In most pro rodeos the partcipants pay their own money to put on the show. I hope that changes over time. | |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
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Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | **** men.......invented the bra........and now this......geesh. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | barrelracr131 - 2014-03-06 7:28 AM
I guess I don't see why this is even a debate.
They have men's and women's, as well as co-ed leagues in other sports.
The reason I've heard is that making it to the NFR, even to say you were a qualifier, comes with a lot of prestige and can lead to endorsements and name recognition, etc. That makes sense to me as far as pro guys wanting to be able to run in wpra competition.
I've now seen arguments on both sides of the issue that are valid and make a lot of sense.
Whatever the WPRA was intended to be, barrel racing at the NFR has become a very big deal. That, in itself, changes the game. | |
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Location: East of the Pecos | Not a big deal. Barrels is with BBR rules, and they get qualified at barrel races that allow both men and women. I think it's interesting that only one man qualified, but a whole lot of them tried. I was one of those that really enjoyed watching him compete and i was pulling for him to get into the finals. The American isn't a traditional rodeo anyway, so why change the format. It's awesome the way it is. They have PBR bull riders with their rules, Pro Roughstock rules with no mark out, so it's not just the barrels that's different. I think it was very successful, and messing with it would turn it into just another rodeo, nothing special about it.
*was refering to the American, not the NFR, I don't think a man would qualify for the NFR barrels anyway, more profit in futurities and big 4D's.
Edited by Bug Is Alive 2014-03-06 12:12 PM
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![](<a href="http://s1191.photobucket.com/albums/z470/alicat0909/?action=view¤t=yellaandcalf.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1191.photobu) Heeler Hater
Posts: 3014
Location: Texas | sodapop - 2014-03-03 11:45 PM
The PRCA should just ditch the WPRA and include barrel racing as part of the PRCA and include men. Then the men would be able to compete. Why do you think they won't do that? They were at odds one year with the WPRA and created a separate association for barrel racing and still didn't include men when they had the chance to make their own rules. They are a male dominated association. So why don't they make sure men are competing in barrel racing at their rodeos? As far as other rodeo associations, why aren't the men of those associations fighting for men to compete in the barrel racing at rodeos?
WPRA will sue just like they did when Sherri tried to create the PBRA. Keep it traditional. Men have 8 other events. Women have one. At least that they can make it to the NFR on.And yes the PRCA may be open to women (idk havmt read rules lately) but lets face it. Men are the superior gender and we can't compete with them in most of the events. | |
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