Third annual Special Rodeo brings inclusion to Bolado Park

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The boy known as “Cowboy” Cash had ridden before, and he knew exactly what he was doing. “I’m a bull rider,” he cried, as he threw his hands in the air. The bull was an old steel barrel equipped with a saddle and attached to a rocking mechanism. Three members of the Hollister Fire Department stood by him, arms outstretched, ready to catch him should he slip.

“It’s just a fun time for kids with special needs,” said Cash’s mother, Maria Zaragoza. “They get to pretend that they are like the bigger kids, playing the part of real cowboys. It’s super cute.”

The simulated bull riding was just one of the events for the 16 kids attending the one-hour Special Rodeo on June 28 at the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show at Bolado Park. Contestants could also ride horses, rope a stationary “cow,” participate in stick horse and goat tail untying races or play in a sensory sand pit with tractors and toy horses. There were also several small animals to serve as a petting zoo.

The children were given a stick horse at the beginning of the rodeo, which they could use in the keyhole race. Children in wheelchairs were given one with a shorter stick so they could hold it while being pushed.

According to Saddle Horse Show Association President David Westrick, the co-founder of the therapy horse program Cooper’s Calling, Bailey Rianda, suggested the rodeo three years ago. Westrick had been involved with special needs rodeos for a number of years before that, he said, and was “familiar with the kind of modality and experiences you need to have.”

“Bailey came to us with that same sort of experience level as well,” he said, “so it kind of fit. The board unanimously approved it, and it has been a super fun experience to be a part of, a true joy.”

Rianda said the inspiration for the event came when the Joseph Postigo family wanted to donate money to Cooper’s Calling to buy a saddle. A saddle had just been given to the organization, so she suggested that they hold a special rodeo instead. 

“It was my idea to host at Bolado Park during the rodeo instead of making it our own production,” she said. “That way we could piggyback off of the rodeo and use their crowd and their equipment.”

Westrick said the association’s board also supported the event by showing up to watch.

“I think it’s just a cool experience for everybody,” he said. “It fills up our souls, lifts our hearts and centers us. We want to make sure we’re inclusive because the rodeo is for the community, and these kids are a big part of it.”

This year’s special rodeo was sponsored by Nino Homes and the Pulido family, owners of Pulido’s Overhead Door, and was free to all participants. Tina Pulido had three of her grandchildren at the Special Rodeo: 11-year-old Joselyn, who has participated for three years, and her twin grandsons John and Jason, who were there for their second year. 

“As soon as we heard about it,” Pulido said, “we signed up Joselyn. We like to be involved in things like this and contribute as much as we can.”

Pulido said that Joselyn was partial to the horses, while John and Jason were more interested in “touching everything they can.” She said that, though many of the children are nonverbal, it is clear they are enjoying the experience from the smiles on their faces.

“I love that they can enjoy some of the same things that other children are doing,” she said. “As our children’s advocates, it’s important to structure things to help them to be able to participate.”

Each of the children received a goodie bag, a 2025 rodeo pin, a T-shirt and a silver belt buckle similar to those awarded in the three days of regular competition. They also had the opportunity to have their photos taken with Amelia Conatser, Miss King City Stampede Junior; Chelsea Rogell, Miss King City Stampede; Maddi Borland, Miss California High School Rodeo; and Francesca Donati, the 2025 Miss San Benito Rodeo.

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