National Mall to host rodeo during America's 250th birthday celebration

State of play: Rodeo 250 will run daily at an arena built on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10.

• It's a free production narrating the history of the American cowboy via live music, rodeo acts, trick riding, cattle drives and Mexican charro displays.
• It's being spearheaded by Cervi Championship Rodeo, a Colorado-based rodeo production company affiliated with marquee events like Houston's rodeo, and Freedom250, the White House-established group behind happenings like the UFC fight.

What they're saying: "There's so much history that we're going to tell," during the show, stretching back to when the Spanish brought horses to America, says Binion Cervi of the rodeo group.

• Cervi says the idea for Rodeo 250 came about when he pitched the idea to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins while helping her onto a horse during the Houston Rodeo.

The intrigue: The animals will be transported to the Mall daily from a ranch in Maryland, says Cervi.

• And as for all the horse manure? Cervi's got it handled, he says, equating it to picking up your dog's poop while walking on the Mall. "You need a bigger shovel for these, though."

If you go: Rodeo 250 is free to attend, and shows will be at 4pm on Sunday to Wednesday and 7pm on Thursday to Saturday, with a 3pm July 4 performance.