Bareback Riding
A leather and rawhide device called a rigging—fitted with a suitcase-style handle—is cinched onto the bucking horse’s back. The cowboy sits just behind the rigging, gripping the handle with one gloved hand. When he nods his head, the chute gate opens and horse and rider burst into the arena.
To receive a score, the cowboy’s heels must be touching the horse above the points of the shoulders on the first jump out of the chute.
Scoring is 50% based on the horse’s performance and 50% on the cowboy’s performance. The cowboy with the highest total score wins.
Saddle Bronc Riding
In this classic rodeo event, the cowboy rides in a saddle and holds a single braided rein attached to a halter on the horse’s head. As in bareback riding, the rider’s heels must be above the horse’s shoulders on the first jump out of the chute.
To qualify for a score, the cowboy must stay on the horse for 8 seconds without touching anything with his free hand.
The score is determined 50% by the horse’s performance and 50% by the rider’s control, spurring, and style. The highest combined score wins.
Bull Riding
The cowboy sits on the bull’s back and ties one hand to a flat braided rope that encircles the bull just behind the front legs. When he nods, the chute gate opens, and the bull explodes into the arena.
To receive a score, the cowboy must stay on for 8 seconds without touching anything with his free hand.
Scoring is 50% based on the bull’s difficulty and performance and 50% on the cowboy’s control and style. The cowboy with the highest score wins.
Steer Wrestling
Also known as bulldogging, this event involves two cowboys: the steer wrestler and the hazer. The hazer rides alongside the steer on the right to keep it running straight, while the steer wrestler rides on the left, slides from his horse onto the steer, catches it by the horns, plants his feet, and uses leverage to wrestle the animal onto its side.
The clock stops when all four of the steer’s legs are pointing in the opposite direction of its nose. The cowboy with the fastest time wins.
Tie-Down Roping
A men’s timed event that originated from ranch work, tie-down roping tests precision and speed. The cowboy starts behind a barrier designed to give the calf a head start. Breaking the barrier results in a 10-second penalty.
Once the calf is roped around the neck, the cowboy dismounts, runs to the calf, flanks it to the ground, and ties three legs together.
Time starts when the calf crosses the score line and stops when the tie is complete. The fastest time wins.
Team Roping
A men’s and women’s timed event with two riders—the header and the heeler—working together. The header starts from the left box, the heeler from the right. Both must start behind a barrier attached to the steer’s neck; breaking it adds a 10-second penalty.
The header ropes the steer around both horns, one horn and the neck, or just the neck, then turns the steer left. The heeler ropes the hind legs; catching only one leg adds a 5-second penalty.
Time begins when the steer crosses the score line and stops when both riders have dallied their ropes to their saddle horns. The fastest total time wins.
Barrel Racing
A women’s timed event showcasing speed, precision, and horsemanship. Three barrels are set in a cloverleaf pattern in the center of the arena. The rider may start to the right or left, depending on the horse’s preference, circling all three barrels before sprinting to the finish line.
Time starts when the horse crosses the starting line and stops upon crossing it again after completing the pattern. Knocking over a barrel adds a 5-second penalty.
The fastest clean run wins.
Breakaway Roping
A women’s timed event that mirrors tie-down roping but without dismounting. The cowgirl’s rope is tied to the saddle horn with a small string. She starts behind the barrier—which ensures the calf a head start—and breaking it adds a 10-second penalty.
She ropes the calf around the neck and stops her horse; when the rope pops free from the horn, the timer stops.
The cowgirl with the fastest time wins.
Goat Tying
In this women’s timed event, the cowgirl races her horse toward a tethered goat at the far end of the arena. Dismounting quickly, she runs to the goat, flanks it to the ground, and ties three legs together with a short rope.
Time stops when she releases the string. The goat must remain tied for 6 seconds for the run to count.
The fastest successful time wins.