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CSPRA
Rodeo Events
Most of today's rodeo events evolved from work done on ranches
in the Old West. Cowboys became adept at bronc bustin' through
efforts to prepare wild/untouched horses for daily ranch work.
The various roping events sprang from the need to catch and secure
calves and cows so they could be doctored out on the rangre. From
these early days, arose competitions between neighbouring ranches
- the forerunners to today's rodeos!!
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Saddle Bronc Riding, the "classic" event in
rodeo, is characterized by a rhythmic rocking chair type of
motion by the rider in time with the horse. The cowboy must
have his feet over the break of the horse's shoulders during
the first jump out of chute, then he spurs from the animal's
neck in a long stroke toward the back of the saddle in rhythm
with the bronc's actions. A cowboy can be disqualified if
before the seven second buzzer, he touches the animal, himself
or the equipment with his free hand; or if he loses a stirrup,
drops the bronc rein or does not mark the horse out of the
chute. |
Considered the most physically demanding event in rodeo, Bareback
Riding requires that the rider use one arm to hold onto
the suitcase-like leather handle of the bareback "riggin"
which is cinched around the horse. As in the Saddle Bronc
event, the rider must start his ride with his feet above the
break of the horse's shoulders, If the cowboy fails to mark
the horse out (have his feet over the break in the horse's
shoulder when the horse hits the ground on its first jump
out of the chute), he is disqualified.
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Throughout
the seven second bone-jarring ride, the cowboy must maintain
his hold on the riggin' handle while spurring the animal.
Riders try to spur the horse on each jump - reaching as far
forward as possible with their feet, then bringing their ankles,
with toes turned out, back toward the riggin'. A rider is
disqualified if he touches his equipment, himself or the animal
with his free hand. A good ride involves the rider's control
and spurring ability as well as the horse's performance.
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Certainly
the most dangerous event in rodeo, Bull Riding pits
a cowboy against a 2000 lb animal for seven nerve-wracking
seconds. The cowboy, inserts his hand into a braided "bull
rope" which is wrapped around the bull with a weighted
cowbell hanging underneath. The rope has a woven handhold
which is pulled tight around the rider's hand. Bull riders
must stay close up on the leather handhold using upper body
control, strong legs and solid balance to complete the ride.
The rider who remains "over his hand", has good body
position including use of the free arm, and for added points,
is able to spur, can score well provided the bull demonstrates
good effort. |
As in
the other riding events, half the score in bull riding is
determined by the contestant's performance and the other half
is based on the animal's effort/ability. A bull rider will
face disqualification if he touches the animal, himself or
his equipment with his free hand.
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| Calf
Roping is undoubtedly the most technical rodeo event in
that it depends on a high skill level on the part of horse
and cowboy; hours of practice are needed to perfect the skills
of both the roper and the horse. Drawing a good calf is also
a factor. A calf that runs fast or kicks hard can challenge
a roper's best effort. To start a calf run, the roper must
remain behind a rope barrier until the calf crosses the scoreline.
The length of the scoreline provides the calf with a headstart.
(Breaking the barrier adds a 10 second penalty to the cowboy's
time). After roping the calf, the cowboy dismounts, runs down
the rope and flanks or throws the calf by hand. |
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He then
ties any three legs on the calf with a "piggin string".
When the cowboy completes his tie, he throws his hands in
the air as a signal to the judge. He then remounts his horse
and they take a step or two forward to create slack in the
rope while the calf remains tied. The run is declared invalid
if the calf kicks free within six seconds.
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Team Roping, as the name suggests, involves two ropers
- a "header" and a "heeler". First, the
header and his horse must leave the roping box (without breaking
the barrier), catch up to a fast-running steer and rope him
around the horns, neck or "half-head" (a partial horn-neck
catch). Then the header must turn the steer to the left, giving
his partner, the heeler, a chance to slip his rope around
the steer's hind feet. |
The heeler
must demonstrate solid timing... he throws his loop out in
front of the steer's hind legs. When the steer runs through
the loop, the heeler must quickly pull the slack out of his
rope to make the catch on the hind legs. Catching only one
hind leg results in a five-second penalty. If the heeler throws
his loop before the header has changed the direction of the
steer and has the animal moving forward, it's called a "crossfire"
and results in disqualification. The clock is stopped when
the slack has been taken out of both ropes and the contestants
are facing each other. As with other timed cattle events,
if the header fails to give the steer a head start, a 10-second
penalty is added to the total time.
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A very popular crowd pleaser, Ribbon Roping is also
a team event, but one involving a cowboy and cowgirl. The
roper throws a loop around the calf while his partner, the
ribbon runner, waits in the arena. As soon as the roper dismounts
from his horse and takes hold of the calf, the cowgirl runs
to the animal and snatches the ribbon tied to the calf's tail.
The ribbon runner then races back to the finish line. |
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A
ladies event involving excellent horsemanship skills and fast
horses, Barrel Racing is essentially a horse race.
A crowd favorite, this event requires that the horse and rider
enter the arena at speed, complete a cloverleaf pattern around
three barrels and head back across the finish line. As they
begin the pattern, the horse and rider trigger an electronic
eye that starts the clock; re-crossing the electronic beam
of light at the end of the run stops the clock or timer. The
contestant can touch or even move the barrels, but hitting
a barrel results in a five-second penalty for each barrel
that is overturned. A fast, well-trained horse that can negotiate
tight turns yet maintain solid speed is the key to winning
this event. |
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| Steer
Wrestling involves timing, coordination and strength on
the part of the cowboy or steer wrestler. Mounted on horseback,
the cowboy must remain behind the rope barrier, which is stretched
across the front of the starting box, until the steer crosses
the scoreline ensuring the animal a headstart. (If he breaks
the barrier, a 10 second penalty is added to the cowboy's
time). This event also involves a second horse ridden by a
"hazer"; his job is to keep the steer running as
straight as possible until the wrestler "gets down"
on the steer. |
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| The steer
wrestler's horse is trained to run alongside the steer, then
run on by as the steer wrestler reaches for the steer and
leaves the back of the horse. The steer wrestler catches the
right horn in the crook of his right arm, then hits the ground
with his legs extended foreward in order to bring the steer
to a halt. Using his left hand as leverage under the steer's
jaw, the cowboy throws the steer off balance and "wrestles"
it to the ground. The steer must be flat on its side with
all four legs extended before the offical time is declared. |
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