Cowgirl Up - Rodeo Terms

Barrel - To score well in this event, the rider must maintain balance, rhythm and control, while at the same time spurring vertically above his heart and horizontally away from the animal with the follow-through of each spurring lick up the neck and shoulders of the horse. Broncs are scored for high kicking action, power - how hard they kick, lunge, and hit the ground - changing direction, and roiling and twisting. Judges stand on either side of the chute, and the first thing they look for is whether the rider's feet are over the point of tile horses shoulders when the animal's front feet hit the ground on the first jump out of the chute. Each judge will mark one side using a span of 1 to 25 points each for horse and rider. The four marks will be totaled for the score; 100 points would be the perfect bareback ride. Horses will be ridden eight seconds. Riders cannot touch horse with free hand.

Steer Wrestling - The mounted steer wrestler is placed in a box behind a barrier; his hazer in a box on the opposite side of the steer. The steer must be given a head start. The contestant and his hazer overtake the steer at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. He starts to leave the saddle as his horse reaches the steer's tail. The hazer is allowed only to keep the steer running in a straight line. As the steer wrestler drops over the steer, the horse carries him up to the steer's head. He scoops the right horn in the crook of his right arm and grasps the left horn in his left hand. The horse carries his feet out in front and at a slight angle for the best position to make the throw. Timing is critical: the point is to turn the steer back instantly so that its own momentum aids in wrestling it to the ground.

Breakaway Roping - Two loops will be allowed if two ropes are carried. Each rope is tied to the saddle horn with string. Rider, starting when the barrier drops, rides after the calf, throwing loop over its head. As rider pulls up her horse, the running calf breaks the string and the rope falls free from the saddles horn. A white flag must be attached to the rope at the saddle horn so judge can tell when rope breaks free. Time is called when judge drops his flag. Ropes must be released from contestant's hand to be a legal catch. Horse must clear box before loop is thrown. A ten-second fine for broken barrier will be assessed.

Calf Roping - If the cowboy intends to use two loops, two ropes must be carried. Catch as catch can. Cowboy must dismount, go down the rope, throw the calf by hand, and cross and tie any three feet. If the calf is down when the roper reaches it, he must allow the calf to get up and then throw him. If the roper's hand is on the calf when the calf falls, the calf is considered thrown by hand. Tie must hold for six seconds after the roper calls for time, and slacks the rope. There will be a ten-second fine for breaking the barrier.

Bull Riding - Riding is to be done with one hand and loose rope, with bell attached. The bull is to be ridden eight seconds. Rider will be disqualified for being bucked off or touching animal with free hand. A resined soft leather glove is worn on the hand the rider uses to grasp the bullrope. Only the squeeze of his hand on the handhold and the wrap of the rope's tail hold him to the bullrope. The bull rider's chaps, perhaps more than in any other event, afford protection against scrapes, stomps arid bruises. His dull rowed spurs complete his equipment list. Each of the two judges scores a bull from 1 to 25 on how hard he bucks and kicks, whether he spins, and if he rolls and twists and changes directions during the ride. A high kicking spin is much more difficult for the rider than is a flat spin, and a change in direction in spin is a most difficult move for the rider to adjust to. The rider, on a similar point spread, is scored on his balance, timing, and, most important, his degree of control. A bull rider is not required to spur the animal, as are bronc riders, but his score is higher if he does. Watch the motion of his free arm, for there is the key to balance in the ballet he performs on the bull's back.

Saddle Bronc Riding - As in the other riding events, the two judges on either side of the chute each score the horse and rider on 1 to 25 point spreads, for a total possible 100 points. The saddle bronc, like the bareback horse, is rated on how high he kicks, the strength and force of his bucking action, his reverses in direction and for rolling and twisting action. For the control looked for by the judges, the saddle bronc rider's spurring action must be exquisitely timed to the horse's bucking rhythm. The more the rider turns out his toes, the more his spurs will drag in contact with the horse. Length of stroke from neck rearward to the back of the saddle also increases the rider's score. Riding rein and hand must be on same side. To qualify, rider must have spurs over the break of the shoulders and touching horse when horse's front feet hit the ground first jump our of the chute. Ride to be eight seconds. Rider will be disqualified for being bucked off, changing hands on rein, losing stirrup, or touching the animal, saddle or rein with free hand. The classic event of rodeo, an outstanding saddle bronc rider is a beautifully choreographed dance of man and wild horse pitted spirit to spirit in intense poetry in motion.