The Beginning: Informal Ranch Roundups
Before the rodeo was formalized, informal cattle roundup competitions took place at ranches across the Rupununi, including Charlie Melville's Impreza Ranch. Cowboys would gather before the rainy season to compete in bull riding, bronco busting, and calf roping — testing skills essential to ranching life while celebrating their hard work and bringing isolated communities together.
Formalization at Pirara Ranch
The rodeo originated in the 1960s as an organized event at Pirara Ranch (Hart family), establishing a regular Easter weekend schedule. Pioneering ranching families — the Melvilles, Harts, Gorinskys, and Orellas — formalized competitions, introduced prizes, and began preserving the unique blend of Indigenous Makushi culture and Brazilian vaquero traditions. By the late 1960s, the rodeo moved to the Stock Farm in St. Ignatius.
Stan Brock & International Recognition
Stan Brock, a British adventurer, spent 16 years at Dadanawa Ranch from the early 1950s through the late 1960s. His 1969 book "Jungle Cowboy" (republished in 1999 as "All the Cowboys Were Indians") introduced the world to the remarkable reality of Amerindian cowboys and the unique cattle ranching culture of the Rupununi savannahs, cementing the rodeo's place in Guyanese heritage.
Move to Triple R Ground, Tabatinga
The rodeo relocated to the Triple R Ground at Tabatinga, near Lethem, providing a larger, more accessible venue that could accommodate the growing number of spectators and competitors from across the Rupununi and beyond.
Modern Tradition at Triple R Ground
Today, the Rupununi Rodeo attracts thousands of visitors annually to the Triple R Ground in Tabatinga, Lethem. The event has expanded to include horse racing, dirt bike racing, dune buggy competitions, beauty pageants, and live music, while maintaining its authentic cowboy roots. It remains the premier celebration of savannah culture in Guyana, honoring over 60 years of tradition.
Cultural Significance
The Rupununi Rodeo is more than entertainment — it's a living testament to the unique cultural fusion that exists in Guyana's southern savannahs. The event celebrates the remarkable collaboration between Indigenous Makushi and Wapishana peoples and Brazilian vaquero traditions brought by early ranching pioneers.
Notable ranching families like the Melvilles (including Charles Melville, a legendary figure in Rupununi ranching) and the Harts have preserved these traditions across generations, creating a distinctly Guyanese cowboy culture that stands apart from American or Brazilian rodeo traditions.
Stan Brock's observation holds true today: "All the cowboys were Indians" — the majority of skilled rodeo competitors are Indigenous Guyanese who have mastered cattle ranching and horsemanship as a way of life, not just sport.
