our event

Vancouver Island Western Heritage Association hosts an annual event known as BULLS, BRONCS & BARRELS, at facilities in Coombs, BC known as the Coombs Rodeo Grounds. It is the "biggest little Western event on Vancouver Island"! Events include ladies barrel racing and breakaway roping, bull riding, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and junior steer riding. There are a variety of food trucks and concession, beer garden, Saturday dance and local vendors selling crafts, tack and Western clothing. Join us for live music Friday night in the beer gardens as well as a dinner and dance with live band on Saturday evening. 

Bulls

​BULL RIDING Bull Riding is referred to as a rough-stock event and includes the entrant riding a bull for eight seconds, with the winner being determined by the highest score. The event starts in the chute - the cowboy nods, holds on and spurs the bull for eight seconds.

BULLFIGHTER A bullfighter is a rodeo performer who works in the bull riding competitions, safely drawing the bull away from an entrant if they fall off the bull before their eight-second run is done.
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​2022 Clare Craig Photography​

Broncs

BAREBACK BRONC RIDING Another rough-stock event is where a competitor climbs onto a horse in an enclosure called the bucking chute. The horse is equipped with a leather-and-rawhide handhold (the 'rigging') cinched on like a saddle, and the rider attempts to stay on the bareback horse for eight seconds without touching it with his free hand.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING is where the cowboy gets to use a standard western saddle and attempts to ride a bucking horse (bronco) for eight seconds. The horse is equipped with a regulation saddle with stirrups and a six-foot braided rein attached to a halter and held with one hand.

PICK UP RIDER During the bull riding, bareback riding and saddle bronc events, a pickup rider is on horseback. If an entrant is bucked off the pickup rider is there to ensure the cowboy is safe, and the animal is directed out of the arena to the corral after its run.
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​2022 Clare Craig Photography 

Barrels

BARREL RACING is a very popular Western sport in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. It combines the horse's athletic ability and the rider's horsemanship skills, to safely and successfully maneuvre the horse around three barrels (typically three 55 gallon metal or plastic drums) placed in a triangle in the centre of the arena.

RODEO CLOWN No event is complete without the comic entertainment of the rodeo clown. During the Bull Riding event, they will stand inside a large barrel placed in the arena and if required, will distract the bull with their movements, from the cowboy who has been bucked off.
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​2023 Cole Fired Photography