Events in rodeo
Rodeo is a collective name for a number of various events, just like e.g. motor sport. In addition to cattle, we use both riding horses and unbroke horses. The events are divided into two main groups: rough stock, where you ride a bull or a bronc (an unbroke horse) for eight seconds and get a number of points for how well you do it, and timed events, where the winner is the one who finishes in the shortest time.
Click on the links to the left to see a short description of each event.
Bull riding
This is one of the more amusing side-effects of the Y chromosome and was probably observed for the first time shortly after the first men in the world had seen a bull.
In rodeo, you tie a special rope (bull rope) around the chest of the bull, approximately where you place the saddle strap on a riding horse. At one end of the rope, there is a loop through which you pull the other end when you attach the rope. The rider holds on to a braided-in handle on the rope and lays the free end coming from the loop over the handle so that he is holding both in his hand. He then either wraps the free end of the rope around his hand (full wrap) or folds it back over the hand (butterfly); in both cases he ends up holding three 'layers' of rope in his hand, in order to have a better grip. A butterfly does not give the rider such a firm and stable grip as a full wrap but it makes it easier to get the hand out fast, which can be an advantage if you are bucked off.
To improve the grip, the rider applies rosin on this part of the rope and his glove. While the rider is getting ready for the ride, he will rub his hand up and down on the rope while a helper holds the rope in position. This is called rope burn and is done in order to melt the rosin with the friction heat and make it sticky. You may also see him knock his fist down on the rope in his hand. This is in order to make the little bumps on the surface of the rope go in mesh with each other so that he has a solid 'handle' to hold on to.
During the ride, the rider must only hold on to the rope with one hand. If he touches any part of the bull, himself, or the equipment with the other hand, he gets the note DQ (disqualified) on the point list and zero points for the ride. He has to stay on the bull for eight seconds after the gate opens and the bull bursts into the arena.
The winner is the rider who gets the highest number of points. The maximum is 100, of which 50 are given for how skillfully and powerfully the bull tries to throw the rider off and the other 50 are given for how well the rider manages to stay on the bull for the eight seconds – if he manages that. If not, he gets the note BO (bucked off) on the point list and zero points for the ride. At the national finals and the world championships, the best riders typically get between 85 and 92 points.
It is not just to show off that all bull riders wear a protective vest and some of them also a helmet: They ride an animal that weighs about a ton (the minimum weight is 1,500 pounds), can jump three feet up in the air, and does not have much else on his mind during and just after the ride than crunching the rider. According to a statistic I have found on the website of Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, bull riding accounts for almost half of all injuries and far the most fatalities at rodeo.
This is where the bullfighters get into the picture. Some people also call them clowns because of their outfit, and it does happen in some cases that they perform clown acts in the breaks between two events. But they are bullfighters and their job is to save the rider's life after he has come off the bull. To do this, they direct the bull's attention away from the rider by using themselves as bait. It often looks like a harmless game, however, if you have seen what the bulls can do to people who do not get out of reach fast enough – and remember that the rider is not always able to walk after he has come off the bull – you will understand what a dangerous and important job the bullfighters are doing.
The bullfighters, knowingly and voluntarily, put their own life at stake to save that of the riders. They are the true heroes at the rodeos.
Stefan Haltiner on Rodeo America's Paintball at the rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012 (Photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Saddle bronc riding
In this event, you ride a bronc (an unbroke horse) using a special saddle. The main differences between this and a normal western saddle are that there is no saddle horn (you can probably figure out why) and the stirrup straps are shorter and mounted further towards the front.
The rider holds on to a thick rope which is attached to the halter on the horse. Therefore, there is no bit and the nose strap is 2-3 inches wide in order to spread the pressure over a larger area.
In the later years, I have often seen, at least at the rodeos in Germany, that the thick rope is replaced by a thinner rope in double length. This rope is not attached to the halter at all but is just is lead through a relatively large ring mounted on the halter, under the chin of the horse. The purpose is that, in case the horse steps on one end of the rope after the rider has come off, it will pull the other end out through the ring. Thus it will not get a sudden and abrupt pull on its head when it pulls the rope tight.
At the start of the ride, the rider must make his marks (or mark out the bronc) in order for the ride to be qualified: Immediately when the gate opens and the horse starts moving, he must stretch out his knees completely and hold this position until the horse has put both front hoofs on the ground after the first step or jump out of the chute. If he does not manage this, he gets zero points and the note MM (missed marks) on the point list.
During the ride, the rider must only hold on to the rope with one hand. If he touches any part of the horse, himself, or the equipment with the other hand, he is disqualified and gets zero points and the note DQ on the point list. He has to stay on the horse for eight seconds after the gate opens and the horse enters the arena.
The winner is the rider who gets the highest number of points. The maximum is 100, of which 50 are given for how skillfully and powerfully the horse tries to throw the rider off and the other 50 are given for how well the rider manages to stay on the horse for the eight seconds – if he manages that. If not, he gets zero points and the note BO (bucked off) on the point list. At the national finals and the world championships, the best riders typically get between 85 and 92 points.
Hans-Hermann "Garfield" Büter on Rodeo America's Black Bart at the Rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012 (photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Bareback riding
In this event, you ride a bronc (an unbroke horse) without a saddle. The rider holds on to a rigging, which is basically a wide saddle strap with a handle, attached to the bronc just like the saddle strap on a riding horse.
During the ride, the rider must only hold on to the rigging with one hand. If he touches any part of the bronc, himself, or the equipment with the other hand, he is disqualified and gets the note DQ on the point list and zero points for the ride. He has to stay on the bronc for eight seconds after the gate opens and the bronc enters the arena.
At the start of the ride, the rider must make his marks (or mark out the bronc) in order for the ride to be qualified: When he has closed his hand in the rigging and sat down on the bronc, he places his feet on the bronc's back, just in front of the rigging, with the toes pointing inward. As soon as the gate opens and the bronc starts moving, he stretches his legs forward over the horse's shoulders, with the knees completely straight and the toes pointing outwards. He must hold this position until the bronc has put both front hoofs on the ground after the first step or jump out of the chute. If he does not manage this, he gets zero points and the note MM (missed marks) on the point list.
The winner is the rider who gets the highest number of points. The maximum is 100, of which 50 are given for how skillfully and powerfully the bronc tries to throw the rider off and the other 50 are given for how well the rider manages to stay on the bronc for the eight seconds – if he manages that. If not, he gets zero points and the note BO (bucked off) on the point list. At the national finals and the world championships, the best riders typically get between 85 and 92 points.
Bareback riders can gain a few extra points for good spur work: In contrast to other kinds of horse sports, rough stock riders do not prick the flanks of the broncs to make them run faster. We use special spurs with wheels (called rowels) which are approx. 5 mm thick and have a round edge, which we roll back and forth on the shoulders of the bronc, in rhythm with its movements.
Contrary to what some rodeo opponents say, the riders do not dig the spurs into the shoulders of the bronc (or anywhere else on the bronc). Furthermore, you should remember that horse hide is four times as thick as human hide and covered by the fur and that bareback spurs are used on the shoulders where the skin is not lying directly on any bones.
Nevertheless, in 2007, some German animal rights activists managed to convince the administrative court in Freiburg that the use of spurs in the rough stock events should be forbidden in Germany. I do not see which purpose this serves: It is no problem for the riders to ride without spurs but I am not sure that it is so much less unpleasant for the broncs that we rub our boot heels back and forth on their shoulders instead of rolling with a pair of wheels that legal action against the spurs is necessary.
Yours truly on Rodeo America's Black Bart at the Rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012 (photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Steer wrestling
The contestants in this event are one steer and two riders. The steer runs out of the middle of three chutes and gets a little head start before the riders are allowed to exit theirs. One of the riders, the wrestler, rides up on the left side of the steer, jumps off his horse and grabs the steer by the horns, with his right elbow from below around the right horn and with his left hand around the left horn from above. Simultaneously, he swings both his feet forward and puts his heels into the ground. By doing so, he makes the steer turn a quarter round left and lay down on the left side with all four legs and the muzzle pointing in the same direction.
As soon as the steer is lying down, the wrestler lets go of the horns and they both get up and go their separate ways.
The other rider, the hazer, rides on the right side of the steer, parallel to the wrestler, to make sure that the steer runs straight out. Just like the cattle used in the other events, steers can not only run fast, they can also turn on a dime and they like to change direction just when you think you know where you have them. When the wrestler grabs the steer by the horns, the hazer turns his horse away from the steer.
The weight limits for the steers are min. 450 pounds and max. 600 pounds. I have not seen steer wrestling on my side of the Atlantic.
Photo to be inserted when I get one.
Wild horse race
In this event, a team of three people have to catch a bronc (an unbroke horse) and put a bareback rigging on it and then one of them has to ride a certain distance on the bronc.
Ideally, that is if the bronc does not escape from them and/or injure them so much that they are unable to continue, the procedure is that each team holds a rope attached to the halter before the bronc is let out of the chute. One of them, the anchor, holds on to the rope when the bronc comes out. Another, the mugger, tries to calm down the bronc by holding around its head, speaking calmly to it, etc. The third one, the rider, puts the rigging on, gets up on the bronc, and rides it required distance. He then dismounts, takes off the rigging, and runs over and gives it to one the judges who are sitting on the fence, one on each side of the arena.
You compete in two or more teams at a time and the team that finishes first has won – provided a team finishes within the 90-second limit, which is not always the case.
It looks dramatic when all 8 contestants (when there are 2 teams) run around between each other in the arena, and it is. On the other hand, you should remember that some of the contestants weigh about half a ton, have four hoofs with which they can kick, and are allowed to do to the smaller ones whatever they please, whereas these have no hoofs and are not allowed to hurt the big ones at all. It is my impression that the four-legged contestants are a lot more brutal to the two-legged ones than vice versa. The injury statistics indicate this too.
Photo to be inserted when I get one.
Tie-down roping
This event originates in the cowboy's work with catching calves for branding and/or veterinarian examination.
The calf runs out of the chute and gets a head start before the rider is allowed to exit his chute. He crosses the trail of the calf to get into position to throw his rope around its head. When the horse stops and the calf pulls the rope tight, the rider gets off the horse and runs along the rope to the calf. He grabs the calf by the shoulder and the hind quarter and lays it down on the side. He then ties its upper front leg and both hind legs together with a smaller rope, the pigging rope, which he most often has been holding between his teeth. He then puts both hands in the air as a sign to the timer, who stops the clock. Finally, the rider walks back to his horse, mounts it again and loosens the rope to the calf.
The rider who finishes in the shortest time has won.
It is important that the rope is placed on the calf in such a way that it will turn a bit to the side when it pulls the rope tight. If the calf is pulled up backwards (like when a little dog lead by a strap presses so much forward that its front paws are hanging a bit over the ground), the rider is disqualified. At some rodeos, he will also be fined for this.
Furthermore, the horse must stand still until the rider has loosened the rope, so that the horse will not drag the calf along the ground. At some rodeos, the rider will be disqualified and/or fined if this happens.
Photo to be inserted when I get one.
Break-away calf roping
This event is practically just the first third of tie-down roping: The calf runs out of the chute and gets a head start before the rider is allowed to exit his chute. He crosses the trail of the calf to get into position to throw his rope around its head. In contrast to tie-down roping, the other end of the rope is attached to the saddle horn with a thin thread which breaks when the horse stops and the calf pulls the rope tight. There is also a brightly colored rag on this end of the rope to make it easier for the timer to see exactly when the thread breaks.
Another solution, which I have seen ever more often the last few years, is a so-called break-away honda. (The honda is the small loop at the end of the rope through which you pull the rope to form the larger loop which you throw over the head of the calf.) Normally, the honda is made with a special knot at the end of the rope but the break-away honda is made of steel coated with e.g. nylon. It forms an oval ring and the rope is attached to one end of it. At the other end, it can be opened. When the calf pulls the rope tight, the rope will push the 'jaws' of the ring open so much that it the rope slips out. Now the loop around the neck of the calf is open and the calf can run away. The timer stops the clock when he hears the loud click of the honda jaws closing again.
The rider who finishes in the shortest time has won.
The weight limits for the calves are the same as for tie-down roping: min. 220 pounds and max. 280 pounds. When the calves have reached the minimum weight, they are both physically and mentally robust enough to participate, and they are also in the "rascal age" where they are not only able to do it but also may even find it amusing, just like e.g. dogs and many other animals tend to chase around after each other just for fun.
Photo will come when I get one.
Team roping
The contestants in this event are one steer and two riders. The steer runs out of the middle of three chutes and gets a little head start before the riders are allowed to exit theirs. The first rider, the header, throws his rope around the head of the steer and makes it turn in a quarter circle. The other rider, the heeler, then throws his rope around the hind legs of the steer. You have to watch this in slow motion to see how much skill it requires. This makes the steer stop and the riders then position themselves so that all three animals are in a straight line, the riders facing each other.
The team that finishes in the shortest time has won.
This event, too, originates in the cowboys' daily work where you have to catch an animal and make it stand still so that the vet can examine or vaccinate it.
I have not seen team roping on this side of the Atlantic.
Photo will come when I get one.
Steer roping
Sorry folks, there is no description of steer roping here. An important part of the concept of this website is that the entire content is based exclusively on what I have seen with my own eyes and, embarrassing though it may be, I have not seen steer roping – yet.
Photo will come when I get one.
Rescue race
For this event, you have to imagine the great drama in a western: You and your buddies are driving a herd of cattle across the plains and suddenly there is thunder and lightning, which triggers a stampede: The cattle panic and run away in all directions. Now you have to get them under control again before they are spread evenly on 500 acres. Suddenly, a cowboy falls off his horse and it runs away without him. Now one of the others has to save him before he is run down by the cattle.
At rodeos, for practical reasons, this event takes place without cattle and thunder. Most often, the cowboy's fall from his horse is also left out. Instead, one contestant walks over and stands behind a distance mark in the arena (mostly just a line which one of the helpers has made with his heel). The other comes riding from the opposite end of the arena and makes a U turn around his colleague, who jumps up behind him during the turn, and then they ride "into safety" where the rider started.
The team that finishes in the shortest time has won.
Jana and Franz Waldenberger on Jana's horse Bissy at the rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012 (photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Barrel race
In this event, you ride in a clover-leaf pattern around three barrels in the arena: one in each side, approximately half-way down the long sides of the arena, and one at the middle of the distant end. The riders are free to choose if they will start with the barrel to the left or to the right so long as the route has the shape of a clover leaf: first a loop around the barrel in one side, then a loop the other way round about the barrel in the other side, and finally a loop the same around the barrel at the distant end as around barrel number 2 (crossing your own trail in all 3 loops). And then you just have to get back home in a hurry.
In the USA, the riders most often start outside the arena, enter the arena at full speed, ride around the barrels, and leave the arena at full speed. Over on my side of the Atlantic, they usually start and end with a U turn in the arena.
In the USA, this event is normally only rode be women. Over here, it is often performed by both genders.
It is not just a question of who can ride fastest through the route, the important thing is getting the shortest registered time: If you knock over a barrel, a penalty of five seconds per barrel is added to the time measured and that is enough for the others to get all the prize money.
Maren-Samantha Schulz on her horse Chileno at the rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28 2012 (photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Pole bending
In this event, a row of poles are standing along the lengthwise mid-line of the arena. You ride up along one side of the poles, turn around the last pole, and then zigzag down between the poles. You then turn around the last pole, zigzag up between the poles, and finally ride back along the other side of the poles.
In the USA, the riders most often start outside the arena, enter the arena at full speed, zigzag down and up between the poles, and leave the arena at full speed. Over on my side of the Atlantic, they usually start and end with a U turn in the arena.
In the USA, this event is normally only rode be women. Over here, it is often performed by both genders.
It is not just a question of who can ride fastest through the route, the important thing is getting the shortest registered time: If you knock over a pole, a penalty of five seconds is added to the time measured (per pole) and that is enough for the others to get all the prize money. And if you deviate from the prescribed route, you are disqualified.
Maren-Samantha Schulz on her horse Chileno at the rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012 (photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Flag race
In this event, four barrels are placed in a square in the arena and on top of each barrel is a bucket with sand. In bucket no. 1 and 3, there is a little flag on a stick. As you ride around on the outside of the square, you snatch the flag on barrel 1, plant it in the bucket on barrel 2, snatch the flag on barrel 3, and plant it in the bucket on barrel 4.
In the USA, the riders often start outside the arena, enter the arena at full speed, ride around the barrels, and leave the arena at full speed. Over on my side of the Atlantic, they usually start and end with a 180-degree turn in the arena.
It is not just a question of who can ride fastest through the route, the important thing is getting the shortest registered time: At some rodeos a penalty of five seconds is added to the time measured if you miss a flag, which is enough for the others to get all the prize money; at other rodeos you are out of the competition. In either case, the winner is the rider for whom the shortest time is registered.
In the USA, this event is normally only rode be women. Over here, it is often performed by both genders.
Maren-Samantha Schulz on her horse Chileno at the rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012 (photo: Heiko Wünsch)
Mailbox race
Some people do not consider this a "real" rodeo event and I have not seen it at all the rodeos where I have been. Nevertheless, I think it can be justified to include it.
At one end of the arena, there is a pole (or a barrel) with an American mailbox on top of it. In the mailbox, there is a letter which the rider must fetch. On the ground in front of the mailbox, there are either three planks in a U with the opening pointing away from the mailbox, or four planks in a square.
The rider starts at the other end of the arena and rides in between the planks and dismounts. At some rodeos, the rider must walk (not run) once around the horse before he/she goes over to the mailbox and takes the letter. Then the rider mounts the horse, backs out of the U or the square, and rides back with the letter in his hand or pocket.
This does not sound very dramatic – and it isn't. The difficult thing is to make the horse stand still between the planks while you walk around it and pick up the letter. At the rodeo in Friesoythe, Germany, May 26-28, 2012, this worked out for e.g. Jana Waldenberger and her horse Bissy (photo left), whose time was not bad, but in many cases the last part of this event is performed like on the photo to the right.
Still, it is a competition where the winner is the one who gets the shortest time registered and at least the audience can often get a good laugh.
Photo: Heiko Wünsch
Photo: Heiko Wünsch