I believe the original question was if people felt that cowboys/cowgirls were actually athletes. An athlete is defined as
someone who is trained to contend in games of physical strength or endurance. I would have to put some emphasis on the word
trained from that phrase. It doesn’t mean that everyone who competes is an athlete (by my dictionary anyway)
Each persons OPINION vary drastically. It doesn’t necessarily matter the size of the competitor I guess, but if they are “trained” or not. If you have a 180 pound woman who works out everyday, can run a 9 minute mile and bench press a cow and she happens to barrel race...is she an athlete…hell ya! On the other hand you have an unfit individual who doesn’t train, say a 180 pound marshmallow who considers a long distance run to be from the couch to the fridge, the only “lifting” she does is her spoon or fork to her lips – and she also happens to barrel race…I still would not consider her an athlete just because she phones in her entry, gets her name on the program and shows up to “compete”.
So it’s not really about “how you look” as Savanna says, it’s more about the EFFORT or training put into it. I would say the same about the person who can eat anything they want, not exercise and never gain a pound, just because they aren’t big…doesn’t really mean they are an ATHLETE either.
As for Krys and Savanna referring to the steer wrestlers: might I point out that they get OFF their horse in a matter of a few seconds, in the barrel racing, as you know, your horse must carry your weight around the entire pattern…hard to compare the 2 events really – when steer wrestling has a lot to do with brute strength and force (size is usually an advantage)…hence the term “wrestling” and well…then there’s barrel “racing”.
This is a forum of
opinions so I don’t think it is fair for KRYS to say that anyone is "out of line"…these are all just different views…no one is right or wrong…
I totally agree with Randa…the people that are in their best physical shape – are truly dedicated and give themselves the best chance to win…at whatever event it is… It is just silly to think that weight or size doesn’t matter in our event especially. What about the 3 pound weights they hang on racehorses to make things even…if that can make a difference then 20 or 30 pounds makes a difference. I know Krys- the horses are the real athletes in our sport but can’t we help them out by doing our part as bushedbunny said???
Krys: next time you see a topic that you think is so quote “horrible”, just leave it alone rather than trying to set everyone back “in line”.

If you cannot win, make the one ahead of you break the record. ~ Jan McKeithen