The traditional “three r’s” are “reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic.” In Texas, the “three r’s” might be “riding, roping, and rodeo.” There are many other combinations.
 
   
eCRATER
Old Wild West Cowboy Country Western Tin Signs - Set of 4 Signs
Triple R Ranch Wild West Days - Ridin Ropin Ranglin - Cowboy Up - Admission $1.00 - Entry Fee $5.00
       
Texas Ranching Vacations
And in Texas, the three R’s are ropin’, ridin’ and rodeoin’
   
Bar U Ranch (National Historic Site of Canada)
THE THREE R’S AT THE BAR U RANCH
- Readin’, Ritin’ ‘n Ropin’
 
Google Books   
From Hoopskirts to Nudity:
A Review of the Follies and Foibles of Fashion 1866-1936
by Carrie A. Hall
Caldwell, ID: Caxton Printers
1938
Pg. 198:
The opening of that new type of summer resort known as the dude ranch, with its three R’s—riding, roping, and roundups—called for an entirely different type of wardrobe.     
   
Appeal of the Dude Ranch
“Dude ranching today is built around its three R’s as
inevitably as schooling. Here, they are
Romance, Rest and Recreation;
and the greatest of these is Romance”
—“A Cowboy Looks at the Dudes” Travel, November, 1941. 
 
Sunset magazine (Jan. 1994)
Buckaroo bards: the West’s new breed of cowboy poets
Sunset,  Jan, 1994 by Jeff Phillips
The air was cracklin’ with the cold, And the clouds were fixin’ to snow. It was icy and late on the Interstate So I pulled off into old Elko. I rolled through town just to look around, But there wasn’t much a-happenin’ ‘Til I took a wrong turn and ended up At a Cowboy Poetry Gatherin’. 
 
It used to be that a degree in cowboying from the school of hard knocks required only mastery of the three Rs: ridin’, ropin’, and ‘ranglin’.
 
This Dog’ll Really Hunt:
An Entertaining and Informative Texas Dictionary
by Wallace O. Chariton
Plano, TX: Republic of Texas
1999
Pg. 278:
Three R’s of ranching: 1. riding 2. roping 3. ‘rangling
 
Argus Leader (2003) - Rooted in the Plains
Doug Temple walks across a hill overlooking the Great White River valley on his ranch in Shannon County. His mom, Georgiana, regularly walked 2 1/2 miles to teach school. His dad, Allen, taught him the three R’s: riding, roping and ranching.
 
San Antonio Express-News
Amateur riders prepare for pro rodeo circuit while earning degree
Web Posted: 02/11/2005 12:00 AM CST
John Whisler
San Antonio Express-News
 
The three R’s have always been important to Marty Eakin.
They still are: riding, roping and rodeoing.
 
Rodeo Videos
Saddle Bronc Hubbard, Tx Rodeo
from watermon on blip.tv (beta) on June 02, 2006
 
There were 9 rodeo cowboys from throughout Texas competing in the Saddle Bronc rough stock event at the 2:00 P.M Sunday afternoon March 28, 2006 performance at the rodeo grounds in Hubbard, Texas. The rodeo was produced by the Cadillac Rodeo Company and sanctioned by the United Professional Cowboys Association and Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association.The rodeo fans also enjoyed many of the other rough stock and timed sanctioned events such as team roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and calf roping. The bucking bulls and horses provided great wild western action in the spirit of our unique American western heritage. All the cowboys and cowgirls competing in the various events displayed superb horsemanship and riding skills, demonstrating the basic three R’s of roping, riding, and rastlin’.