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 Showdown Rodeo 2007

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:

The steer is given a head start, while the header (the first roper) waits behind a barrier. If the header "breaks the barrier," the team is given a 10 second penalty. Once the chase begins, the header must rope the steer either around both horns, around one horn and the head or around the neck. Any other catch is considered illegal and the team is disqualified.

After the header makes a successful catch, he then "dallies" the steer. The heeler must then rope both of the sterr's hind legs. If he catches only one foot, the team is assesed a five minute penalty.

The clock is stopped when the steer is roped, secured between partners, with both horses facing the steer with ropes dallied and rope tight.

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.

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