It's no coincidence that the horse is the quintessential symbol of Western culture. It's part of every story of the rush to the West and has long been one of man's best friends. Along with the ox and its derivatives—steer, calf, and bull—it's also one of the animals that takes center stage at every self-respecting rodeo.
The New List interviewed various players in the world of western rodeo and ranching to understand what drives cowboys to risk their lives to compete. What drives men to rub shoulders with beasts, sometimes rabid and weighing several times their own weight, to put on a good show?