When cowboys hit the road 50 years ago in search of the next big payday at rodeos, they did so in pickups and small horse trailers for small purses.Today, winning cowboys can afford a few luxuries, with first-place prize money reaching more than $10,000. Diesel trucks that cost $25,000 and $30,000 horse trailers are fixtures in rodeo parking lots.
But bigger is not necessarily better. Competitors, especially those in the timed events who must pull a trailer with their animals — steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping and barrel racing — are feeling the gas crunch. According to AAA.com the average price of diesel fuel is $4.067 nationwide on Tuesday, causing competitors to pool their cash and carpool across country.