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CALF ROPING
Calf Roping has evolved directly from the cowboy's work on the
range. It is a timed event in which the calf gets a head start
on the cowboy and his horse. At the ready sign (a nod of the
head) from the cowboy, the calf is released from a narrow chute
which enters directly into the arena starting the clock.
As soon as the rope is on the calf, the horse comes to a sudden
stop, the rider dismounts while holding on to the rope and runs
to the calf. The horse keeps the rope taunt as the cowboy throws
the calf down and ties 3 of his legs with a "pigging string,"
approximately 6 feet long. The clock will only stop when the
cowboy throws his hands up in the air. He then remounts and rides
forward to slacken the rope. The calf must remain tied for 6
seconds or the cowboy's score reads "no time."
STEER WRESTLING
This event, formerly known as bulldogging, was invented by an
Afro-American cowboy named Will Pickett while working in the
Wild West Show over 75 years ago. It involves 2 cowboys on horseback
and a steer. The positions his horse to the left of the steer
and his partner, the "hazer," is to the right of the
steer. It is very important for the hazer to keep the steer close
to the bulldogger so that he can lean out of his saddle to grasp
the steer's right horn and slide his right arm around the horn
into the crook of his elbow, similar to a half Nelson. Then the
cowboy's left hand grabs the steer's left horn and his horse
veers left so that the cowboy's feet are on the ground and in
front of the cowboy . By pushing down with his left hand, pulling
with his right elbow, and planting his heels into the ground,
the bulldogger slows the steer's forward motion. He continues
this action into a left-hand turn, bringing his left hand onto
the doggie's nose for more leverage and then throws the steer
onto his side so that all four of its feet are off the ground
and stretched out straight. A good time for this event is 4.5
seconds.
TEAM ROPING
This is another event which has its roots in the everday work
of the range cowboy . Cattle often must be caught in order to
treat injuries, change brands due to a transfer of ownership,
or to brand one that escaped branding as a calf. It is necessary
to rope by both the horns and the hind feet which means two cowboys
are needed. Team roping requires not only teamwork between the
two cowboys but also between their horses.
The steer is released from the chute when the cowboy on the left
of the steer or "header" nods his head. Any premature
breaking of the barrier by the header requires a 10 second penalty
assessed against the team. The "heeler," or the cowboy
on the right , is a and back of his partner. once the header
has roped the steer around both horns, around half of the head,
or around the neck, he "dailies" (wraps) his rope around
the saddle horn and turns his horse to the left, also turning
the steer so that it is in position for the heeler to rope the
2 hind legs and to dally his rope. If only one hind leg is caught,
the team will be penalized 5 seconds. Both horses must then be
turned so that they face each other to "shape the steer."
BARBEACK RIDING
Bareback riding is a spurring contest for a mandatory 8 seconds.
The action begins with the horse comes out of the chute and the
cowboy sitting so that his spurs extend over the break of the
horse's shoulders, called marking the horse out, as the forelegs
hit the ground. There are no stirrups or rein, just the riggin
- a suitcase-type handle attached to a rigid, triple layered,
leather base saddle about 9" wide. The rider must hold on
with either hand, but only one hand, and at no time may his free
hand touch anything else. Spurs are allowed but the rowels (notched
wheels) are blunted. The cowboy will jerk and twist his knees
to match the horse's movements thereby keeping his tailbone up
against the riggin'.
The cowboy will be judged on form, control and how well the bronc
bucks. This includes the turn-out of the toes, the proficiency
of the spurring motion, the difficulty of the horse, and who
is in control, the cowboy or the horse. Two judges in the arena
score from 1 -25 points each for the horse and the rider for
a total of 100 points available.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Saddle Bronc Riding is the classic event of rodeo having begun
long before rodeos began. It has been going on ever since man
first decided that he could get around a lot faster if he rode
a horse than if he walked. The horse probably disagreed with
that notion and from that point on man and horse have tried to
best one another. Whenever cowboys from different outfits met
on the trail, the best from each competed against one another
in bronc riding. Later on these contests were held in communities
with the addition of steer roping and horse racing to ensure
a sizable crowd. The cowboy starts his ride by "marking"
his horse out of the chute. His spurs must be over the horse's
shoulders as the horse's front feet hit the ground or he will
be disqualified. All the cowboy has to hold on to is the buck
rein and his two feet in stirrups. The rider will be disqualified
if his free hand touches either the horse or any of the equipment,
if he loses either stirrup or if he is bucked off.
Both the horse and the cowboy are judged by two judges each who
are in the arena. There is a 25 point maximum for both the horse
and the rider from each judge for a total of 100 points. The
horse is judged by how hard it bucks but the cowboy is judged
on form, how much he spurs, and if he has control of the horse.
The rider tries to keep in time with each jump, spurring from
the shoulder back to the cantel part of the saddle. The danger
is not only in being bucked off but also having a foot caught
in the stirrup as the cowboy is thrown.
BULLRIDING
Bull riding is the most dangerous and the most exciting of the
rodeo events. These bulls are very fast, powerful and can weigh
as much as a ton. Consequently, bull riding is saved until the
last and no one leaves until the final bull has been ridden.
It also draws a lot of participants because the cowboy usually
gets a tough, mean-spirited bucking bull - there are no duds
- and, therefore, more money can be made. Not only does the bull
rider have to stay on the twisting bull for 8 seconds but he
has to escape on foot once he gets off. He does have some help
reaching safety from the clowns whose job it is to distract the
bull and to free the cowboy if he gets hung up in his bull rope.
Many a cowboy has been saved from serious injury by the clowns.
Horses and pickup men can't be used because cross-bred bulls
will attack the horses.
The cowboy hangs on to a loose rope tied around the bull's middle
with one hand, but his free hand can not touch the bull, himself,
or the equipment at anytime. Disqualification results if he touches
anything or if he gets bucked off. There must be a bell attached
to the rope around the bull's middle. judging is based on control
and the rider who sits upright, extra points are awarded for
spurring, as are turned-out toes.
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