The rodeo life is one tough career.

In a fascinating documentary AMERICAN RODEO: A COWBOY CHRISTMAS, director H.D. Motyl follows four cowboys who participate in the professional rodeo circuit over the course of two weeks.

The film is set during the two weeks before a Fourth of July in 2009, where there are over 90 rodeos in 35 states at that period. In hopes for fame and fortune, the men drive night and day from rodeo to rodeo to achieve that winning status for a few seconds—risking broken bones, overdrawn bank accounts and torn relationships.

“There are a lot of rodeos in this three week period and a lot with big purses,” Motyl explained. “So the cowboys can win a lot of money in a short amount of time. And that’s how this circuit of rodeos became known informally as Cowboy Christmas.”

Uncork’D Entertainment will distribute the documentary, which is released this month.

Check out the trailer below.