A chaotic situation, often one that involves several people, each with a different agenda/vision/perception of what's going on; a situation that is very difficult, despite energy and efforts, to instill any sense or order into
"Management's nuts. By the time each of them has his say and policy gets to us, it's a goat rodeo." "We had Ondine's fifth birthday party yesterday. What a goat rodeo!"
By Bilberry
A situation during which a pre-planned event goes horribly wrong and demonstrates a total lack of communication, coordination, and forethought. Generally, this requires either of two parties, one being in a management or planning role that performs inadequate preparation and the other a participant that is utterly incompetent. The result is absolute chaos and failure. In a military context, this is any activity involving A) Iraqis, B) Afghanis, or C) the US Department of State. The involvement of two or more of these participants can result in an increase in fuckery several magnitudes greater than one alone.
I was assigned to lead a coalition mission to reestablish educational facilities in Durkastan. I knew it was going to be a "goat rodeo" when a douchebag in a suit walked into our tent and said "I'm with State, I'll be in charge from now on".
By HolyHammer
A Goat Rodeo AKA Goat Rope, is about the most polite term used by aviation people (and others in higher risk situations) to describe a scenario that requires about 100 things to go right at once if you intend to walk away from it.
This meeting is a goat rodeo.
By Fromaforum
A situation that order cannot be brought to any time.
Traffic in Denver, Colorado at 5:00 p.m. is a goat rodeo
By lewdogg
A situation that has all the risks and none of the rewards. In a real rodeo, cowboys risk their necks, but they get to look cool. If the cowboys rode goats, they'd have just as much risk of injury, and wouldn't look cool. Such a situation has two possible outcomes: really bad or slightly less bad. Having forseen such a situation, you're best bet is to not enter the Rodeo.
"We decided not to submit our wine in the "Two-buck-chuck Taste-off" because we didn't want to get into a Goat Rodeo."
By Vanilla Bean