Rodeo Time!

So when people were over to visit we went to the Houston livestock show and rodeo.  Some of the stuff on show was crazy - battered Oreo anyone?

The main arean is absolutely enormous!  It's housed inside Reliant Stadium which is where the Texans (Houston's NFL football team) play.

 

The events included both timed challenges where the participants had to rope calves and leap from galloping horses etc and also the rough challenges such as bull riding, bronco riding and barrel racing......pretty cool stuff!

One of the best parts of the show was called Mutton Bustin' it basically involves seeking volunteer children from the audience to ride on some fairly leggy sheep and hold on for as long as they can.  They're scored based on how well they stay on - just the same as the bronco or bull riding!

The rest of the livestock show was pretty similar to the livestock shows we have back in Britain - just much bigger!

Reliant park is also home to the Astrodome which was the world's first multi-use domed sports arena and is nick-named the eighth wonder of the world.  It's scheduled to be torn down at some point so it's nice to get a close up look before that happens!