Founder and Managing Partner
The longtime Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, a staple in the community, has ended.
Citing post-pandemic struggles and a virus that affected livestock, RMV Rodeo’s founders Tony Moiso and Gilbert Aguirre said in a joint statement: “It is with great sadness that we have decided to end the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo.”
“We thank you all for your ongoing support, your meaningful contributions and the important role you played in helping make our annual rodeos so memorable, so impactful and so special,” the two said.
The two-day RMV Rodeo has been a staple to the Orange County community for 21 years. Hosted at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, it featured various cowboy competitions including saddle bronc, bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding and team roping.
The rodeo also offered other activities for attendees, including pony rides, a trackless train, bounce houses and face painting.
“It was a very difficult decision to end our beloved rodeo,” said Lissa Freese, vice president of ranch operations in Rancho Mission Viejo. “We are grateful for the incredible community support over the years and hope that its impact of creating lasting memories and charitable funds will be fondly remembered throughout the region.”
In July, rodeo officials announced that the 2023 RMV Rodeo was canceled weeks before the event due to an outbreak of the VSV virus, which affects horses, cattle, swine and other animals. The virus causes blister-like lesions that can break, leaving the tissue raw on animals, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The rodeo was also canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it was put on in 2022, though, and it completely sold out.
San Juan Capistrano resident Patty Bauer said she was “extremely disappointed” to hear about the rodeo’s cancelation.
“The RMV Rodeo represented the roots of San Juan Capistrano and was a premier annual event,” Bauer said. “Additionally, it raised a great deal of money for local charities, not to mention the revenue it brought to the city.”
“The true history of this beautiful city continues to diminish,” said Bauer. “This rodeo will be greatly missed by many including the competitors who enjoyed the venue.”
Over the years, the RMV Rodeo has brought in more than 10,000 guests annually and raised more than $2.8 million for local charities, according to Aguirre and Moiso. The list of beneficiaries included San Juan Capistrano Boys and Girls Club, Justin Sportsmedicine and CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital, to name a few.
The Shea Center, an equine therapy group in San Juan Capistrano, has been a partner and beneficiary of the rodeo for many years. CEO Dana Butler-Moburg said that the center has “nothing but gratitude for all the RMV Rodeo has done for the Shea Center and our community.”
“Celebrating the ranching traditions of the American West with a first-class, professional rodeo experience, the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo provided generous support to the Shea Center’s mission,” said Butler-Moburg. “The RMV Rodeo helped raise the visibility of the Shea Center’s services and let families know we are here to serve the community of persons with disabilities and their families.”
“The rodeo was a huge undertaking on every level to plan and produce such a quality experience,” said Butler-Moburg. “We will miss this annual summer event but understand and respect the difficult decision made by the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo leadership.”