Rodeo Downunder

Grit, guts and glory, along with a touch of glamour, describes the thrill-a-minute spectacle that is rodeo. Down under this sport has its origins in the rugged bush where stockmen and women pit their agility and precision against the brute strength and single-mindedness of the livestock they are charged with managing. Today, this contest continues on the land but is also staged in arenas from the largest cities to the smallest rural towns and watched by thousands of cheering fans dressed in their finest bush attire, hoping to see the beasts tamed by the guile and guts of the cowboys and cowgirls. Rodeo Downunder looks at rodeo's development in Australia and New Zealand, the events held throughout the length and breadth of both countries, what makes a rodeo competitor, how the livestock are prepared, how Aussie and Kiwi competitors have taken on and beaten those from around the world, and the special breed of rodeo supporters ... all illustrated with spectacular images.