Rodeo is divided into two categories – rough-stock (or riding events) and timed events. Riding events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. Rough-stock contestants receive a score from each of the two professional rodeo judges in the arena based on riding style, control, and ability to make the 8-second whistle. Each judge awards the rider from one to 25 points on how well he rides and they score the horses or bull on the same point scale for how well the animal bucks. If the animal bucks the rider off, the judges will record a score only for the animal. Timed events include steer wrestling, team roping, cowgirls barrel racing, and calf roping. Contestants try to complete their event the quickest without receiving any time penalties for breaking the rules of their event.
BAREBACK BRONC RIDING
The rider holds onto the leather handle of a rigging, which is a wide belt that fits around the horse’s mid-section just behind the shoulders. The cowboy must “mark the animal out” by positioning his heels over the horse’s shoulders on the first jump out of the chute. Each time the horse kicks, the cowboy brings his knees toward his body, keeping his heels against the horse and his toes turned out (an action called “spurring”), and then stretches his legs out again. Higher scores reflect frequent “spurring” because of the degree of difficulty.
STEER WRESTLING
This event was originally called “bulldogging” and requires the cowboy to lean from a running horse onto the back of a 600-pound steer, catch it behind the horns, stop the steer’s forward momentum and wrestle it to the ground with all four of its legs and head pointing in the same direction. The bulldogger is assisted by the hazer, who rides along the steer’s right to keep the animal running straight.
TEAM ROPING
Team roping is the only rodeo event that features two contestants. The team is made up of a header and a heeler. The header ropes the horns, then dallies or wraps his rope around his saddle horn and turns the steer to the left for the other cowboy who ropes the heels. The heeler must throw the loop with precision timing to catch both of the steer’s hind legs. Once both ropers have made a catch, pulled their horses and steer to a stop, and are facing each other, the time clock stops.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Known as rodeo’s classic event or original contest, saddle bronc riding can be easily identified by the “rocking chair motion” of the rider. A bronc rider holds onto a thickly braided buck rein, which is attached to the halter on the horse’s head. On the first jump out of the chute, the rider must “mark the animal out” by keeping his heels in the well of the horse’s neck, which makes it tougher for the rider and easier for the horse. If he fails to do it, he’s disqualified. Saddle bronc horses are usually bigger and stouter than those in bareback riding.
COWGIRLS BARREL RACING
This event is a horse race with turns. The cowgirl’s time begins as she rides her horse across the starting line in the arena. She makes her run around three upright barrels, which are arranged in a cloverleaf pattern, and back to the starting line where the clock stops. Tipping a barrel is permitted, but if it is knocked to the ground, a 5-second penalty is added to her time.
CALF ROPING
Calf roping is an authentic ranch skill that originated with working cowboys. Once the calf has been roped, the cowboy dismounts and runs down the length of the rope to the calf. When the calf is on the ground, the cowboy ties three legs together with a six-foot pigging string. Calves must be given a head start, and if the cowboy’s horse leaves the box too soon and breaks the barrier, a 10-second penalty is added to the roper’s time. In calf roping, a tenth of a second can often make the difference between winning and losing.
BULL RIDING
Bull riders who might not weigh more than 150 pounds place a flat braided rope around a bull that weighs almost 2,000 pounds. The bull rope is placed around the animal, just behind its shoulders. It is then looped and threaded through itself and the cowboy wraps it around his riding hand with only his grip holding him in place. While there is no “mark out” rule in bull riding, the rider relies on balance and leg strength to make the 8-second buzzer. Look for bull riders to sit up close to their bull ropes and to turn their toes out because riders are judged on the riding style of the competitor and the bucking ability of the bull. Youngest of the seven standard rodeo events, bull riding has been voted on by sportswriters as the most dangerous sport in America. Riding bulls is particularly dangerous because a bull will often attack a rider once he is on the ground.
International
Professional Rodeo Association
PO
Box 83377 – Oklahoma City, Okla. 73148
Phone:
(405) 235-6540 – Fax: (405) 235-6577
Internet
Website: www.iprarodeo.com