Chilean rodeo

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Rodeo is a traditional equestrian sport in Chile, declared the national sport in 1962.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Chilean rodeo is different from the rodeo found in North America.

The sport, in its modern form, is strictly regulated. Chilean Horses are used exclusively and riders are required to wear traditional huaso clothing. Rancagua hosts the annual Campeonato Nacional de Rodeo, the nationwide rodeo championship. The greatest rider in the sport's history is considered to be Ramón Cardemil, who won the national title seven times; the last champions were Juan Carlos Loaiza and Eduardo Tamayo Órdenes [es]. Riders practice in the countryside throughout Chile,^{[citation needed]} but the sport is most popular in the central zone. Even so, huasos have been known to travel hundreds of miles to compete in competitions.

In 2004, more spectators attended rodeo events than professional football matches.^[6]

Currently, rodeo is one of the most played sports in Chile, some sources argue only second to soccer.^[7][8][9] The Chilean Rodeo developed in rural areas all over the country, most prominently in the central area, where there is a rural demographic.^[10][11] However, the location of the most notable sites of play, called medialunas, are in large cities in Chile.^[12][13] This shift is because of the expansion of the rodeo in the middle of the twentieth century.^[14]