A dozen cowboys and 30 head of horses and bulls were in town for the Whitehorse Roughstock Rodeo, presented by Triple Diamond Rodeo from Wildwood, Alberta, Friday and Saturday at Takhini Arena.
The two nights of horse, steer and bull riding resulted in a couple broken bones and a pulled groin, but that’s all in a day’s work for a cowboy, said show producer Jared Miller.
“We broke a leg and broke a jaw of the cowboys – and we had a pulled groin of one of the cowboys – so we didn’t hurt too many of them,” said Miller. “Most of them are still standing.
“That’s pretty standard for a rodeo.”
The two-hour Roughstock shows are said to be the first rodeos in Whitehorse since 2003, and although less than an estimated 400 spectators came out to the two nights combined, Miller hopes their reappearance will inspire the creation of local rodeo organization.
“I’m hoping to bring up enough interest that the community will start its own rodeo committee and produce its own rodeo and hire us for the stock,” said Miller.
“The people that were here were really enthusiastic of what we did and supportive of what we did. And the kids had fun in the chicken race and the pig race.
“We had a great time up here. It’s a beautiful city.”
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com