Could it be that victory and success come solely from hard work and determination, or does it go beyond that? It has been said by many that the power of the mind can influence an outcome, be it faith, prayer, rituals, believing an object holds magic, or superstitions. Athletes of all disciplines are known to rely on superstitions or good luck charms to enhance their performance and increase their chances of victory. Some swear by lucky underwear, jewellery, the ritual of not shaving, always listening to certain music, and the list goes on. Often, the superstitions of an athlete are personal or might be derived from individual experiences, but some are more of an overall idea for athletes of specific events. It would seem no sport or competitive endeavour is excluded from having what most call superstitions, including contestants in rodeo.
11 RODEO SUPERSTITIONS
1
Avoid wearing yellow, as this is considered a colour of cowardice. This stems from folklore almost as ancient as humanity itself. Courage is associated with the liver. Many old western movies and books often referred to the cowardly as lily-livered and yellow-bellied. The literal reason for this term of phrase doesn’t come from an enchanting or rousing tale shared under the stars and around a fire but rather from the medical condition of liver disease. Jaundice, to be exact, gives a distinct yellow hue to the skin and eyes and therefore insinuates one is a coward. It’s intriguing, to say the least.
2
Avoid eating chicken before you compete; after all, you are what you eat. Calling someone a chicken was something I even did as a child. Back in my day, insinuating someone was a chicken and therefore afraid was downright insulting. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first time “chicken” was used in writing was by William Shakespeare. The fowl reference to cowardice as it relates to the chicken stems from the belief that hens are timid while roosters are brave.
3
Avoid carrying change in your pocket, because that might be all you’ll win—merely pocket change. Rodeo athletes are only paid if they place in their respective event, unless they’re sponsored in some way.
4
Be sure to shave. While some may say a cowboy can appear more rugged with a little stubble, apparently Lady Luck prefers those who are cleanly shaven.
5
The cowboy hat is iconic. One might even go so far as to say the cowboy hat is the most coveted of the cowboy aesthetics, and some even prize it to be as important as, dare I say, their horse or rodeo gear.With such influence, the cowboy hat has its own set of etiquette: never set it brim-side down on the bed. There are a few theories regarding this statement. One of which stems from the days when regular bathing was a luxury and cowboys had to deal with head lice. Placing your hat on the bed was a guaranteed way to spread the pests, which was, for obvious reasons, bad luck for anyone. Some say it was the close association with death—eternal rest. Others believe all the luck will run out of a hat if it’s placed brim-side down. Most of us cowboy hat-loving folk know this will ruin the shape of your hat, and a hat’s shape is iconic in and of itself.
6
Never kick a paper cup that has been thrown on the ground at a rodeo; it’s bad luck.
Anyone with horses knows that even the most unshakable of equines will sometimes spook. If a paper cup blows over or is kicked around, this might just be enough to get a horse shakin’ in its boots.
7
Cowgirls often wear different-coloured socks. Well, it’s certainly quirky and cute; otherwise, it appears to simply be a superstition for bringing good luck.
8
Bronc riders should always put their right foot in the stirrups first. This may stem way back to the Middle Ages, when jousting knights believed the left side of the body harboured evil spirits. Additionally, those who carried a sword would do so on their left hip, which made it easier to mount a horse using their right leg. Does this apply to Bronco riders? Not necessarily, but perhaps it sheds a little light on how this superstition began.
9
Never read your horoscope on competition day; you’ll be tempting fate and luck.
10
Never eat peanuts or popcorn in the arena. Eating these small morsels may cause you to choke. Rodeo competitors do not want to choke, both figuratively and literally.
11
Never lend out your gear. It is believed that if you lend out your gear, your luck will become lost with it.
Ken Marcinkoski is one of Canada’s premier rodeo photographers and has captured 50 years of rodeo in his new book. Whether you are a fan of rodeo or photography, you will enjoy flipping through the pages to see how the sport has evolved, the multi-generations of rodeo families and behind the chutes photos of volunteers who keep the sport alive.
Check out Ken’s website rodeo photos.ca for more info on where to purchase his book or contact Ken at 780-672-2491 or email [email protected]
Article by Amber Zierath,
a writer and the author of Horse Karma, which is available at select bookstores. Find out more about her here: www.amberzierath.com
