A Glossary of Rodeo Terms

Monumento al Coleo, Villavicencio. Phot by Lorraine Caputo

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Rodeo

By Lorraine Caputo

While in the Llanos region, take the opportunity to go to the rodeo—or, in local parlance, el coleo. To help you with the llanero (from the Llanos) terminology for what is so familiar for most western United Statiens, here are some of the major events:

Carrera a Caballo—Horse Racing: one-on-one and competitions of riders on the fastest horse.

Enlazada del Becerro—Calf Roping: Each two-person team has to pursue a calf once it is let loose out of the chute, ride it down, lasso it and tie its feet together in the shortest time possible.

Herrada del Becerro—Calf Branding: Each team, on foot, chases down the calf, lassos it and ties its feet together, then brands the calf in the shortest time possible.

Monta del Potro Cerrero—Bareback Bronco Riding: The participant has to ride an unbroken (untamed) horse without saddle or bridle for the longest period of time.

Ordeño de la Vaca Mañosa—Milking the ornery cow: This test, done on foot, consists of wrangling a rascally cow and milking her in the shortest time possible.

Monta del Potro Matrero—Bull Riding: Considered the most dangerous of rodeo events, the winner must ride a bull bareback for at least eight seconds.

Coleo Criollo—Calf Scramble: Practiced the traditional way, barefoot contestants have to pull the tail of a yearling and knock it down.

Llanerazo—big llano event: The hexathlon, so to speak, of the rodeo world. The winner must demonstrate proficiency in the six above events (save cow milking), as well as in traditional llanero dancing and musical performance.