Rodeo Events
Riding Events
Riding events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Riding contestants receive a score from each of the judges based on riding style, control and ability to make the 8 second whistle. Each judge awards points on how well they ride and they score the horse or bull on the same point scale for how well the animal bucks. If the animal bucks the rider off, the judges will record a score only for the animal.
Timed Events
Timed events include steer wrestling, team roping, cowgirls barrel racing, and calf roping. Contestants try to compete their event the quickest without receiving any time penalties for breaking the rules of their event.
Bareback Bronc Riding:
Sponsored by Valley Insurance Service, Inc.
The rider holds onto the leather handle of a rigging which is a wide belt that fits around the horse’s mid section just behind the shoulders. The cowboy must “mark the animal out” by positioning his heels over the horse’s shoulders on the first jump out of the chute. Each time the horse kicks, the cowboy brings his knees toward his body, keeping his heels against the horse and his toes turned out (an action called “spurring”), then stretches his legs out again. Higher scores reflect frequent “spurring” because of the degree of difficulty.
Steer Wrestling:
Sponsored by Thomas Recycling
This event was originally called “bulldogging” and requires the cowboy to lean from a running horse onto the back of a 600-pound steer, catch it behind the horns, stop the steers forward momentum and wrestle it to the ground with all four of it’s legs and head pointing in the same direction. The bulldogger is assisted by the hazer, who rides along the steers right to keep the animal running straight.
Team Roping:
Sponsored by Big 6 Farm
Team roping is the only rodeo event that features two contestants. The team is made up of a header and a heeler. The header ropes the horns, then dallies or wraps his rope around his saddle horn and turns the steer to the left for the other cowboy who ropes the heels. The heeler must throw the loop with precision timing to catch both of the steers hind legs. Once both ropers have made a catch, pulled their horses and steer to a stop, and are facing each other, the time clock stops.
Women’s Breakaway Roping:
Sponsorship Slot Available
Breakaway roping is a rodeo event that features a calf and one mounted cowgirl who will attempt to rope the calf. The roper must throw her rope in a loop around the calf’s neck. Once the rope is around the calf’s neck, the roper signals the horse to stop suddenly. The rope is tied to the saddle horn with a string. When the calf hits the end of the rope, the rope is pulled taught and the string breaks. The breaking of the string marks the end of the run. The fastest run wins.
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Sponsored by the Big Dog Bar-B-Q and Captain Jacks Crab Shack
Known as rodeo’s classic event or original contest, saddle bronc riding can easily be identified by the “rocking chair motion” of the rider. A bronc rider holds onto a thickly braided buck rein which is attached to the halter of the horse’s head. On the first jump out of the chute, the rider must “mark the animal out” by keeping his heels in the well of the horse’s neck, which makes it tougher for the rider and easier for the horse. If he fails to do it, he is disqualified. Saddle Bronc horses are usually bigger and stouter than those in bareback riding.
Barrel Racing:
Sponsored by the Fort Valley Utility Commision
This event is a horse race with turns. The contestants time begins as the horse crosses the starting line in the arena. The rider makes the run around three upright barrels which are arranged in a cloverleaf pattern and back to the starting line where the clock stops. Tipping a barrel is permitted, but if it is knocked to the ground, a 5-second penalty is added to her time.
Calf Roping:
Sponsored by Peach Regional Medical Center
Calf roping is an authentic ranch skill that originated with working cowboys. Once the calf has been roped, the cowboy dismounts and runs down the length of the rope to the calf. When the calf is on the ground, the cowboy ties three legs together with a six-foot pigging string. Calves must be given a head start, and if the cowboy’s horse leaves the box too soon and breaks the barrier, a 10-second penalty is added to the roper’s time. In calf roping, a tenth of a second can often make the difference between winning and losing.
Bull Riding:
Sponsored by Robins Federal Credit Union
Bull riders, who might not weight more than 150 lbs, place a flat braided rope around a bull that weighs almost 2,000 lbs. The bull rope is placed around the animal, just behind it’s shoulders. It is then looped and threaded through itself and the cowboy wraps it around his riding hand with only his grip holding him in place. While there is no “mark out” rule in bull riding, the rider relies on balance and leg strength to make the 8-second buzzer. Look for bull riders to sit up close to their bull ropes and to turn their toes out because rides are judged on the riding style of the competitor and the bucking ability of the bull. Youngest of the seven standard rodeo events, bull riding has been voted on by sportswriters as the most dangerous sport in America because a bull will often attack a rider once he is on the ground.
