The horses charged out of the stables, kicking up a cloud of dirt. Sitting atop, cowboys donning blue jeans and cowboy hats waved flags that read “God Bless the USA,” as the crowd roared.
No, this is not the Wild West. The rodeo took place in front of Boston City Hall with the backdrop of skyscrapers on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of people from all across the country attended, and curious pedestrians stopped to take in the show.
It was Boston’s first rodeo in almost 100 years, according to Eddie McHugh, one of the cofounders of The Local Maximum, which organized the event. Saturday’s event was sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association with athletes competing for a chance to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“[We’re] making rodeo history just by being here,” he said.
In addition to traditional rodeo events, like bull riding and barrel racing, where a horse and rider navigate around a series of barrels at maximum speed, there was a lineup of country musicians.
Growing up in Minnesota, McHugh said rodeo culture was right “in our backyard.” He wanted to share that with Boston.
“I love it. Family and friends all around love it. But I don’t think people in [Boston] have been exposed to it,” McHugh said. “It’s a great way to diversify what we give the citizens of Boston.”
Attendees, many decked out in cowboy hats and boots, perched on the steps and balcony of City Hall to watch. On the ground level, cowboys got down and dirty, some jerked and tossed to the ground like rag dolls, while others swung lassos.
Dan Murray, a veteran bronc rider who rides a bucking horse that attempts to throw the rider, was among the spectators. Shaded by a large cowboy hat and sunglasses, Murray sported a big golden buckle that read “Champion Bronc Rider 2009.”
“When you’re on a horse like this, you’re like a piece of spaghetti, because you’re literally being thrown back and forth,” he said.
The cowboys are doing “good so far,” Murray said, but under his breath whispered, “I think I could do better.”
Murray owns ranches in Texas and Massachusetts, but he’s never seen a rodeo in the center of a city.
“[A rodeo] is usually in some back field, or out in an arena,” Murray said. “This is just fantastic.”
For many, Saturday was the first time they had attended a rodeo. Jack Bannon, 28, and Kristen O’Leary, 27, a couple from the South Shore, watched the equestrian spectacle and cowboys wrangling horses.
“Electric,” Bannon said.
After witnessing the cowboys, O’Leary said she felt inspired to ride a horse, albeit one that is “a little more tame.”
“We’ll stick to maybe some trail riding and feeding them some treats,” O’Leary said.
Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
For Hayley Ryan, 28, from Rhode Island, it was also her first rodeo. She said she was less interested in the spectacle and more into the rugged cowboys.
“I haven’t checked them all out yet,” she said, looking for her favorite. “I’ll be keeping my eye open.”
Jessica Ma can be reached at jessica.ma@globe.com.
