A whirl of dancing hoofs, flashing rhinestones and white fringes waved to the crowd in Denver Jan. 12 as the Pikes Peak Rangerettes performed in the first rodeo of the National Western Stock Show.The Rangerettes, known for their excellent horsemanship skills, performed a six-minute routine of intricate crossovers and fancy circles. “The stock show is always fun,” said Dwayne Watson, Rangerettes’ drill master. “The girls did pretty good and everything came together very nicely.”The Rangerettes were founded in 1957 to promote the local Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. The organization, which currently includes 19 members, is comprised of young girls and women – all between age 12 and 20. According to the Pikes Peak Rangerette Web site, they participate in many functions and activities to encourage “unity, responsibility, self-improvement and enjoyment of horse-related activities.”They travel often with their horses loaded in trailers, but they also perform at local rodeos, county fairs, parades and festivals, including Falcon Festival Days. “It is a big commitment,” Watson said. “We are always busy attending events that start in the spring and go until the end of July. It is worth it, though, to see these girls ride out into that arena with confidence, work together as a team and give the crowd a great performance.”For more information, visit www.pikespeakrangerettes.org.
