Timed Events
Team Roping:
Team Roping is a timed event that requires the collaboration of a header, a heeler, a steer, and horses to make it happen. The team ropers start from their own roping boxes and the steer is in a roping chute, specifically made for the steers. When the header nods their head, it signals to the chute help to open the chute and to begin the run. When the steer begins to leave the chute, the header and the heeler, on their horses, leave the roping boxes. Then the header ropes the head of the steer, dallies the rope around the saddle horn, and turns the steer to the left. The heeler turns in and ropes the back feet of the steer, after the header has turned it, and dallies the rope around the saddle horn in order to make the ropes come tight to get a time. The clock is stopped when there is no slack in the ropes and the horses are facing each other.
When the header leaves the roping box, they are also up against a barrier. A barrier, either electric eyes or rope, is placed in front of the roper and the steer. If the header breaks the barrier before the steer reaches his advantage point, the team receives a penalty on the run of either 5 or 10 seconds added to the time. Sometimes there is a heeling barrier, but not often. The point of the barrier is to allow for the steer to get a head start out of the chute.
If the heeler only ropes or catches one hind leg, then a 5 second penalty is added to the run as well. If 2 hind feet are caught and the barrier isn’t broken, it is called a clean run.
There are 3 legal head catches for the header: around both horns, half head, and around the neck. If the head catch is illegal, the team is flagged out and will receive a no time.
Both cowgirls and cowboys of all ages compete in team roping. When the header and heeler enter the boxes, they are considered partners and are working together to win as a team. It is fun for all ages and is a great family event!
Tie-Down Roping:
Tie-Down Roping, formerly known as Calf Roping, requires a roper, a horse, and calf. The roper, riding his horse, starts from the roping box. The roping box used in Tie-Down Roping, is the heeling box used in Team Roping. When the roper nods his head, the roping chute is opened and the calf leaves the chute. Then the roper leaves the roping box and ropes the calf around the neck. When the calf is roped, the horse stops and the roper steps off of the horse and runs to the calf. The rope used is tied to the saddle horn so the calf cannot get away. When the roper reaches the calf, he flanks or flips the calf onto its side and ties any of the three legs using a pigging string. The time stops when the roper successfully completes the tie and throws his hand in the air, which signals to the judge and flagger that they are complete.
The roper must get back on his horse and ride forward, toward the calf, to allow for slack in the rope. When there is slack in the rope the judge starts the timer. The calf must stay tied for 6 seconds in order to get the time. The roper will receive a no time if the calf doesn’t stay tied for the 6 seconds.
As in Team Roping, there is a barrier used in Tie-Down Roping. If the roper beats the calf out of the chute before it reaches the advantage point, the roper is given a 10 second penalty, which is added to the final time.
Steer Wrestling:
Steer Wrestling, also referred to as Bull Dogging, is a sport that requires strength, agility, and speed. This event includes the rider, horses, a steer, and a hazer. The rider, also known as the bulldogger or steer wrestler, starts in the heading side of the roping box mounted on his horse, the hazer, also riding a horse, starts from the heeling box, and the steer starts in the roping chute. When the steer wrestler nods his head, it signals to the chute help to open the gate. When the gate opens, the steer leaves the chute and the steer wrestler and hazer leave from the roping boxes, after the steer reaches his head start or advantage point. As the steer wrestler approaches the steer and gets into position, he leans to the right and jumps off of his horse onto the steer and wrestles the steer to the ground. When all four legs of the steer are pointing in the same direction and the steer is on its side, the flagger drops his flag and the time is stopped.
As in Team Roping and Tie-Down Roping, there is a barrier used in Steer Wrestling. If the steer wrestler leaves the roping box before the steer reaches its head start, the steer wrestler receives a 10 second penalty added to the total time of the run.
The hazer has a very important and unique job in steer wrestling. His job is to guide the steer toward the steer wrestler so that the steer does not move away from the cowboy during the run.
Horse Roping:
Horse Roping involves two ropers, horseback, and a wild horse. The header starts from the heading box, the front footer (heeler) starts from the heeling box, and the horse starts from a horse chute, specifically made big enough for horses. As in other roping events, when the header nods their head the chute gate is opened and the horse is turned out into the arena. When the horse gets to their advantage point, the ropers leave their boxes and chase after the horse. The header ropes the horse around the neck, dallies, and attempts to slow down the horse for the front footer. Then the front footer (heeler) follows around the horse and ropes the horse around its two front feet. The time is stopped when the ropes come tight.
In this event, a barrier is not normally used. There is a marker located on the fence that shows the flagger and judges when the time starts and when the header can throw their rope. If the header throws before the horse crosses the line, they are given a 10 second penalty that is added to the final time.
If the front footer only catches one front foot and dallies they are disqualified and given a no time. In most horse ropings, the team is allowed three chances to throw their ropes to make a qualified time. If the horse is not standing up when the front footer ropes the horse, they are disqualified and given a no time. The horse being roped may not be handled in a rough way at any time during the run and if the judge feels the ropers have done so, they will be disqualified.
This event is very popular with ranchers, but is not a typical rodeo event. It is very interesting and fun to watch!
Rough Stock Events
Bull Riding:
Bull Riding is a widely known sport and a fan favorite! Agility, strength, size, power, flexibility, quick reflexes, a strong bull, and one tough cowboy are what you need to make bull riding happen.
As the bull waits in the bucking chutes, the rider slowly and quietly sits down on the bull. After sitting on the bull, the rider takes a bull rope, which is wrapped around the bulls body, and clinched and twists the rope in his hand in a desired way. This bull rope and one hand is all the rider has to hold onto when completing his ride.
After wrapping and tightening the rope in one hand, the rider puts his other arm and hand in the air and nods his head to signal for the gate to be opened. When the chute gate swings open, the bull turns and starts bucking into the arena with the rider on top. A flank strap is placed around the bull and tightened around its flanks, which causes the bull to buck.
In order to make a complete and successful ride, the rider must stay on the bull for eight seconds without touching the bull with his free arm that is in the air. When the eight seconds is over a buzzer is sounded letting the rider know they have completed the ride and he can dismount. If the rider touches the bull at any time during the eight seconds, he is disqualified and receives a no score.
The score given to the ride is based on how well the rider rode and how well the bull performed. The rider is given a score between 0-50 and the bull is scored 0-50, giving a total of the two up to 100 points.
Team Roping:
Team Roping is a timed event that requires the collaboration of a header, a heeler, a steer, and horses to make it happen. The team ropers start from their own roping boxes and the steer is in a roping chute, specifically made for the steers. When the header nods their head, it signals to the chute help to open the chute and to begin the run. When the steer begins to leave the chute, the header and the heeler, on their horses, leave the roping boxes. Then the header ropes the head of the steer, dallies the rope around the saddle horn, and turns the steer to the left. The heeler turns in and ropes the back feet of the steer, after the header has turned it, and dallies the rope around the saddle horn in order to make the ropes come tight to get a time. The clock is stopped when there is no slack in the ropes and the horses are facing each other.
When the header leaves the roping box, they are also up against a barrier. A barrier, either electric eyes or rope, is placed in front of the roper and the steer. If the header breaks the barrier before the steer reaches his advantage point, the team receives a penalty on the run of either 5 or 10 seconds added to the time. Sometimes there is a heeling barrier, but not often. The point of the barrier is to allow for the steer to get a head start out of the chute.
If the heeler only ropes or catches one hind leg, then a 5 second penalty is added to the run as well. If 2 hind feet are caught and the barrier isn’t broken, it is called a clean run.
There are 3 legal head catches for the header: around both horns, half head, and around the neck. If the head catch is illegal, the team is flagged out and will receive a no time.
Both cowgirls and cowboys of all ages compete in team roping. When the header and heeler enter the boxes, they are considered partners and are working together to win as a team. It is fun for all ages and is a great family event!
Tie-Down Roping:
Tie-Down Roping, formerly known as Calf Roping, requires a roper, a horse, and calf. The roper, riding his horse, starts from the roping box. The roping box used in Tie-Down Roping, is the heeling box used in Team Roping. When the roper nods his head, the roping chute is opened and the calf leaves the chute. Then the roper leaves the roping box and ropes the calf around the neck. When the calf is roped, the horse stops and the roper steps off of the horse and runs to the calf. The rope used is tied to the saddle horn so the calf cannot get away. When the roper reaches the calf, he flanks or flips the calf onto its side and ties any of the three legs using a pigging string. The time stops when the roper successfully completes the tie and throws his hand in the air, which signals to the judge and flagger that they are complete.
The roper must get back on his horse and ride forward, toward the calf, to allow for slack in the rope. When there is slack in the rope the judge starts the timer. The calf must stay tied for 6 seconds in order to get the time. The roper will receive a no time if the calf doesn’t stay tied for the 6 seconds.
As in Team Roping, there is a barrier used in Tie-Down Roping. If the roper beats the calf out of the chute before it reaches the advantage point, the roper is given a 10 second penalty, which is added to the final time.
Steer Wrestling:
Steer Wrestling, also referred to as Bull Dogging, is a sport that requires strength, agility, and speed. This event includes the rider, horses, a steer, and a hazer. The rider, also known as the bulldogger or steer wrestler, starts in the heading side of the roping box mounted on his horse, the hazer, also riding a horse, starts from the heeling box, and the steer starts in the roping chute. When the steer wrestler nods his head, it signals to the chute help to open the gate. When the gate opens, the steer leaves the chute and the steer wrestler and hazer leave from the roping boxes, after the steer reaches his head start or advantage point. As the steer wrestler approaches the steer and gets into position, he leans to the right and jumps off of his horse onto the steer and wrestles the steer to the ground. When all four legs of the steer are pointing in the same direction and the steer is on its side, the flagger drops his flag and the time is stopped.
As in Team Roping and Tie-Down Roping, there is a barrier used in Steer Wrestling. If the steer wrestler leaves the roping box before the steer reaches its head start, the steer wrestler receives a 10 second penalty added to the total time of the run.
The hazer has a very important and unique job in steer wrestling. His job is to guide the steer toward the steer wrestler so that the steer does not move away from the cowboy during the run.
Horse Roping:
Horse Roping involves two ropers, horseback, and a wild horse. The header starts from the heading box, the front footer (heeler) starts from the heeling box, and the horse starts from a horse chute, specifically made big enough for horses. As in other roping events, when the header nods their head the chute gate is opened and the horse is turned out into the arena. When the horse gets to their advantage point, the ropers leave their boxes and chase after the horse. The header ropes the horse around the neck, dallies, and attempts to slow down the horse for the front footer. Then the front footer (heeler) follows around the horse and ropes the horse around its two front feet. The time is stopped when the ropes come tight.
In this event, a barrier is not normally used. There is a marker located on the fence that shows the flagger and judges when the time starts and when the header can throw their rope. If the header throws before the horse crosses the line, they are given a 10 second penalty that is added to the final time.
If the front footer only catches one front foot and dallies they are disqualified and given a no time. In most horse ropings, the team is allowed three chances to throw their ropes to make a qualified time. If the horse is not standing up when the front footer ropes the horse, they are disqualified and given a no time. The horse being roped may not be handled in a rough way at any time during the run and if the judge feels the ropers have done so, they will be disqualified.
This event is very popular with ranchers, but is not a typical rodeo event. It is very interesting and fun to watch!
Rough Stock Events
Bull Riding:
Bull Riding is a widely known sport and a fan favorite! Agility, strength, size, power, flexibility, quick reflexes, a strong bull, and one tough cowboy are what you need to make bull riding happen.
As the bull waits in the bucking chutes, the rider slowly and quietly sits down on the bull. After sitting on the bull, the rider takes a bull rope, which is wrapped around the bulls body, and clinched and twists the rope in his hand in a desired way. This bull rope and one hand is all the rider has to hold onto when completing his ride.
After wrapping and tightening the rope in one hand, the rider puts his other arm and hand in the air and nods his head to signal for the gate to be opened. When the chute gate swings open, the bull turns and starts bucking into the arena with the rider on top. A flank strap is placed around the bull and tightened around its flanks, which causes the bull to buck.
In order to make a complete and successful ride, the rider must stay on the bull for eight seconds without touching the bull with his free arm that is in the air. When the eight seconds is over a buzzer is sounded letting the rider know they have completed the ride and he can dismount. If the rider touches the bull at any time during the eight seconds, he is disqualified and receives a no score.
The score given to the ride is based on how well the rider rode and how well the bull performed. The rider is given a score between 0-50 and the bull is scored 0-50, giving a total of the two up to 100 points.