RODEO STRUGGLES TO STAND TALL; PIERCE EVENT THREATENED, BUT THRILLING.Byline: Melissa Schmitt Daily News Staff Writer For some people, rodeo is a throwback throwback see atavism. to the Old West. It's hardened cowboys limping and bent from a dusty arena after being thrown to the ground by a raging bull. It is cowgirls, manes manes (mā`nēz), in Roman religion, spirits of the dead. Originally, they were called di manes, a collective divinity of the dead. Manes could also refer to the realm of the dead and, later, to the individual souls of the dead. flowing, roping calves or tying goats. It is rodeo clowns, Wrangler jeans Wrangler is one of the oldest and most popular jeans brands in the world. The brand is owned by the VF Corporation, who also own Lee, JanSport and The North Face, among others. and dust. For others, it is a barbarous relic that should be once and for all retired. But to Nicole Phelps, rodeo is just a great time that provides excitement and a challenge. Phelps, 19, only began rodeo competition two years ago. Now a freshman at Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills, she does barrel racing Overview Barrel Racing is a form of rodeo event that demands some of the most athletic horses and dedicated riders in order to be successful in terms of financial earnings. , team roping Team roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer (typically a Corriente) and two mounted cowboys. The steers are moved through narrow pathways leading to a chute with spring loaded doors. , breakaway roping Breakaway roping is a rodeo event that features a calf and one mounted cowgirl. The calves are moved through narrow pathways leading to a chute with spring-loaded doors. A 10-foot rope is fastened around the calf's neck which is used to ensure that the calf gets a head start. and goat tying. Until two years ago, Phelps rode English-style, rather than Western. But English, she said, doesn't compare. ``When I rode English it was real political,'' she said Wednesday. ``It was like who had the most expensive horse. Rodeo is more like gambling. Anybody has a chance to win that day. It's real hard for me, and I like that too.'' Phelps, along with Pierce student Katie Hufford, will compete against students from 10 other California and Nevada colleges this weekend at the 42nd annual Pierce College Rodeo. They'll leave the bull riding to the boys. But this year's rodeo could be the last for the men and women alike. Because of changing times, tighter budgets and declining ticket sales, the Pierce College annual rodeo is looking at the last ride of its life. The battle to stay on the college's annual calendar may prove harder than staying on a bull for the required eight seconds. The rodeo was canceled last year due to funding difficulties and was only resurrected this year after the Pierce Associated Students Organization put up $21,000 from student fees to make it happen. That's four times any investment they've ever made before. Though the money is supposed to be repaid from expected rodeo profits, some are skeptical. It will take a minimum of $5,000 in ticket sales for Pierce not to lose any money. But not to throw the struggling rodeo a rope would be a travesty to the college and the community, said Ron Wechsler, a horse science teacher in the school's agriculture department. ``We have tried to carry this tradition on,'' Wechsler said this week. ``Unfortunately it's the last tradition taking place at the college. The rodeo is it.'' Pierce's Nicole Land, while president of the ASO ASO arteriosclerosis obliterans. ASO 1 Administrative services organization, see there 2 Allele-specific–oligonucleotide hybridization 3 Anti-streptolysin O, see there , voted to support the funding of the rodeo. ``It's really important,'' she said. ``I believe it's the longest standing tradition at Pierce.'' Land was recently impeached by the students at Pierce for failing to raise a promised $17,000 for the rodeo. She is not acknowledging the impeachment impeachment, formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct. In a looser sense the term is sometimes applied also to the trial by the legislature that may follow. and maintains she is still the president of the student body. And the rodeo has more problems. Since 1994, Animal Emancipation Inc. of Santa Monica, has gathered outside the event to protest the event on the basis that it is cruel to animals. This year will be no exception. Shepard Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday with the rodeo beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission and $6 for students. They can be purchased at the school box office or through Ticketmaster. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1) Kathrin Hufford, left, shares a laugh with fellow Pierce College student Lorraine Biederman during practice for this weekend's rodeo. (2 -- 3) Kathrin Hufford gives her horse a workout during calf-roping practice Wednesday at Thunderbird thunderbird In North American Indian mythology, a powerful spirit in the form of a bird that watered the earth and made vegetation grow. Lightning was believed to flash from its eyes or beak, and the beating of its wings was thought to represent rolling thunder. Ranch in Chatsworth, left, getting ready for the Pierce College Rodeo. Afterward, she gives a good rubdown rub·down n. An energetic massage of the body. Noun 1. rubdown - the act of rubbing down, usually for relaxation or medicinal purposes , above. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News |
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