The Fourth of July is also known Out West as “Cowboy Christmas”, since there are so many rodeos held that the bucking horse set has a pretty good shot at filling their boot socks with a Summer Santa’s stash.  Western Heritage Events Center, Inc. puts on the annual Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo each year as our entry in Cowboy Christmas right here in the mountains of Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Maybe you weren’t around for the original Red Ryder comic strip, drawn by Pagosa-native Fred Harmon from 1938-1964, but I’m sure you remember the Red Ryder BB Gun.  You know… “You’ll shoot your eye out!” from A Christmas Story.  To prove the critics wrong, the Rodeo folks grant each youngster who ride the Mutton Bustin’ a piece of Ralphie’s dreamâthe kids walk away with a brand new Red Ryder BB Gun.  God bless America.
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