New to Rodeo?
Introduction
to Rodeo:
Professional rodeo
action consists of two types of competitions: Roughstock Events and Timed
Events.
In
the roughstock events (bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull
riding) a contestant’s score is equally dependent upon his performance and
the animal’s performance. To earn a qualified score, the cowboy, while
using only one hand, must stay aboard a bucking horse or bull for eight
seconds. If the rider touches the animal, or himself or any of his
equipment with his free hand, he is disqualified. In saddle bronc and
bareback riding, a cowboy must “mark out” his horse; that is, he must exit
the chute with his spurs set above the horse’s shoulders and hold them
there until the horse’s front feet hit the ground after the initial jump
out of the chute. Failing to do so results in disqualification.
In
timed events (steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel
racing, and steer roping) cowboys and cowgirls at “the other end of the
arena” compete against the clock, as well as each other. A contestant’s
goal is to post the fastest time in his for his or her event. In steer
wrestling and the roping events, calves and steers are allowed a head
start. The competitor, on horseback, starts in a three-sided fenced area
called a box. The fourth side opens into the arena. A rope barrier is
stretched across that opening and is tied to the calf or steer with a
breakaway loop. Once the calf or steer reaches the head-start point –
predetermined by the size of the arena – the barrier is automatically
released. If a cowboy breaks that barrier, a 10-second penalty is added.
Courtesy of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s
Association
Bareback
Riding:
Bareback Bronc Riding
is perhaps the most physically demanding event of the rodeo, and next to
Bull Riding, contains some of the wildest action. Scoring for this event
is based half on the bucking action of the bronc, and half on the control
and spurring technique of the rider. Only allowed to grasp the "rigging"
with one hand, the cowboy must stay on the horse for 8 seconds, and is
disqualified if he touches his equipment, himself, or the animal with his
free hand. The bareback rider starts out in the chute with his feet placed
above the break of the horse’s shoulders. If the cowboy’s feet are not in
the correct position when the horse hits the ground on the first jump out
of the chute, the cowboy is disqualified for failing to “mark out”
properly. The cowboy then pulls his spurs along the horse's neck or
shoulders towards himself while the bronc is in the air, then snapping his
spurs back to the horse's neck just before its front feet hit the
ground.
Bull
Riding:
Bull Riding is
rodeo’s most dangerous and exciting event, competitors must ride a bucking
bull for eight agonizing seconds with no more than a bull rope as a
handhold. Unlike the bronc riding contestants, bull riders are not
required to spur. It’s usually impressive enough just to remain
seated on an animal that can weigh more than a ton and is as quick as he
is big. However, those cowboys who do manage to spur are usually rewarded
with extra points! Total score possible for a bull ride is 100 points.
Judging is based half on the bull's performance and half on the riders
ability to match moves with the bull. The rider must stay atop the bull
for a full 8 seconds holding on with only one hand, and is not allowed to
touch the bull, himself, or any part of his equipment with his free hand
or he will be disqualified .
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Saddle Bronc Riding is
rodeo's classic event, tracing its roots back to the Old West where
cowboys would break and train wild horses. Scoring for this event is based
half on the bucking action of the bronc, and half on the control and
spurring technique of the rider. Only allowed to grasp the "bronc rein"
with one hand while sitting in a specially built saddle, the cowboy must
stay on the horse for 8 seconds, and is disqualified if either foot comes
out of the stirrups, or if he touches his equipment, himself, or the
animal with his free hand. The bronc rider starts out in the chute with
his feet placed above the break of the horse’s shoulders. If the cowboy’s
feet are not in the correct position when the horse hits the ground on the
first jump out of the chute, the cowboy is disqualified for failing to
“mark out” properly. The cowboy then pulls his spurs along the horse's
neck or shoulders to the "cantle" (back of the saddle) while the bronc is
in the air, then snapping his spurs back to the horse's shoulders just
before its front feet hit the ground.
Steer
Wrestling:
Steer Wrestling, also known as a bulldogging, starts with the cowboy
(bulldogger) behind a barrier on horse back. The steer wrestler is assisted by
a hazer, another cowboy on horseback, whos main job is to keep the steer
running straight so that the bulldogger can ease down on the right side of
the horse and grab the steer by its horns. The cowboy then digs his heels
into the dirt slowing the steer down while turning the animal and taking
it to the ground. The clock will stop as soon as the animal is on the
ground with all four legs pointed in the same
direction.
Team
Roping:
Tie-Down Roping
:
Tie-Down
Roping, previously known as Calf Roping, originated in the Old West, where
sick calves were roped and tied down for medical treatment. This is a
timed event requiring not only roping skill, but extraordinary teamwork
between the cowboy and his horse. The calf is given a head start while the
horse and rider wait behind a barrier. If the barrier is broken before
being dropped, a 10 second penalty is added to his time. The cowboy ropes
the calf, then gets off the horse and flanks the calf, throwing it to the
ground. While the horse maintains enough tension on the rope (without
dragging the calf), the cowboy then ties any three of the animal's legs
together using “pigging string” he carries in his teeth until needed. When
the cowboy completes his tie, he throws his hands in the air as a signal
to the judge and timing is stopped. The cowboy then remounts his horse
allowing the catch rope to slacken. If the calf kicks out within 6 seconds
the run is invalid.
Barrel Racing:
Barrel Racing is a timed
event, the contestant enters the arena at full speed, usually riding
an American Quarter Horse, in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels
positioned in the arena. The pattern may be started from either the left
or right, however, if the horse deviates in any other way the rider is
disqualified. As the pattern is started the horse and rider trigger an
electronic eye that starts the clock. The racer rides the cloverleaf
pattern around the barrels and sprints back to the finish, tripping the
eye and stopping the clock as she leaves. While Barrel Racing may have
started out as a friendly competition of horsemanship skills between
cowgirls, the riding skills and competitive drive in this fast and furious
event make it a crowd favorite.
