That activity is included in the Aurora-based International Gay Rodeo Association list of a couple of other special "camp" entertainments, which include steer decorating (close to what you'd think) and the wild drag race (definitely not what you'd think).
Goat dressing is a two-person event "created specially for gay rodeo," the IGRA advises. "The team stands 50 feet from the point where the goat is tethered. One of the team members has a pair of jockey-style underwear worn over their forearms. When the whistle sounds, the team runs to the goat. The team member without the underwear picks up the goat's rear hooves, grabs the underwear from around the other member's arms, and pulls it up the legs of the goat. Both team members must then race back to the start/finish line and cross the finish line to stop the time. The underwear must stay over the goat's tail bone until the timer is tagged by both members."
And in case that's not explicit enough, here are the 2017 rules from the International Gay Rodeo Association for goat dressing, right down to the specifications for tighty whities:
Event requires two (2) Judges.So far, the Aurora-based IGRA has not heard from Lambentations, which keeps its campaign focus on alleged sheep abuses.
Event is run in heats.
Team event with two (2) contestants on each team.Timer will straddle the start/finish line approximately ten feet (10) to the side of the starting point.
All shorts shall be the same size, style, and breed.
Goats must be adequately spaced to avoid interference. Goats shall be tethered with a ten.foot (10) +/- (plus or minus) three inches (3) soft cotton rope to a weighted object, which the goats cannot drag.
Dog harnesses will be used to tether the goats.
Goats must be held stationary at the point furthest away from the start line.
Contestants competing in subsequent heats shall remain in back of a line that is fifteen feet (15) behind and off to the side of the start/finish line.
Contestants will stand at starting line fifty feet (50) from the point at which the goat is tethered.
Time begins when the start Judge drops the flag and blows the whistle.
Team runs to their goat, and as one member of the team holds the goat, the other team member puts shorts on both back legs with one leg of the goat in each leg hole of the shorts.
Time stops when all four (4) feet of the contestants have crossed the start/finish line.
Each Timer must give a hand signal to the Judge when they stop the time.
Arena Director has sole discretion to change the goat(s) at any time up to a maximum of eight (8) heats.
Disqualification
Throwing the goat or unnecessary roughness.
Both legs of the goat are in one leg of the shorts.
The shorts are not over the tailbone of the goat when contestants cross the finish line.
Crossing the finish line behind the Timer.
Despite the Lambentations petitions, the National Western Stock Show has no plans to eliminate mutton bustin', one of the most popular features of the rodeo.
Then again, it also has no plans to add goat dressing to the lineup of events.
