CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The rodeo is one of the most beloved events at Cheyenne Frontier Days. On Sunday, July 30, the rodeo championship will take place at Frontier Park.
The rodeo consists of two types of competitions: roughstock events and timed events. Each competition has its own set of rules and order of events.
Haven’t been keeping up with the rodeo, but want to get in on the hype? Listed below are basic descriptions of the nine unique events. The following information is provided by Cheyenne Frontier Days and Bill Gentle from the CFD Public Relations Committee.
Breakaway Roping
Breakaway roping is a timed event in which female contestants compete for the fastest roping time. During the event, contestants ride on horseback and rope a running calf around the neck. The calves are given a head start before the contestant leaves the box, or waiting area, to go after it. The rope breaks away from the saddle once the calf is far enough away from the horse. A 10-second penalty is added to the rider’s time if they leave the box early.
Bareback Riding
In bareback riding, contestants ride one-handed on horseback without a saddle and must stay aboard the bucking horse for eight seconds. Contestants are disqualified if they touch the animal, themselves or any of their equipment with their free hand during the ride. The horse is scored on a scale of 1 to 50 points based on their front-end drop and high kick. The rider is also scored in the same range based on their leg action and timing of movement, how pointed out their toes are and how much control they have. The scores are combined and the rider with the highest amount wins.
Saddle Bronc Riding
Saddle bronc riding is a classic rodeo event, and one of the oldest. Contestants ride on horseback with a modified western saddle. The rider and horse are scored on a scale of 1 to 50 and are added together for a possible 100 points. Horses are scored based on their front-end drop and high kick, while the riders are scored based on the mark out, the height of their leg, how pointed out their toes are and their leg motion.
Bull Riding
Like bareback and saddle bronc riders, the bull rider must use one hand to stay aboard the bucking animal during the eight-second ride. The bull is scored from 1 to 50 points based on the quality of its front-end drop, backspin, kick and directional changes. The rider is also scored from 1 to 50 points based on his body position, position of his free hand and leg motion.
Team Roping
In team roping, there are two people to team. The header ropes a steer either around the horns, one horn and the head or around the neck, while the heeler must try to rope the legs. At CFD, the steer is given a 30-foot head start and if contestants start before then, they are given a 10-second penalty. The team with the quickest time wins.
Steer Wrestling
Steer wrestling is a timed event in which contestants jump off a horse and try to wrestle a steer to the ground as quickly as possible. Wrestlers are scored based on how they lower themselves off the horse and how they grab the steer by the horns, slow it down and throw it down. All the steer’s legs must be facing the same way as the nose for the ride to qualify.
Tie-Down Roping
In tie-down roping, another timed event, contestants must chase down a calf horseback, dismount and then rope the calf’s legs together. When a contestant is finished, they must remount their horse, slacken the rope and wait six seconds before receiving their score. At CFD, the calf is given a 30-foot head start and contestants are given a 10-second penalty if they ride after the calf before then. Scoring is based on how well the cowboys rope the calf, flank it to the ground and tie any three of the four legs together.
Women’s Barrel Racing
Barrel racing was introduced into rodeo as an exclusive timed event for women on horseback. Riders must race their horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. Barrel racing uses electric timers, which are stationed between each of the barrels. Riders must finish the course in order to stop the clock.
Wild Horse Racing
Teams of three compete against one another to see which of them can saddle and ride a wild horse the fastest. Scoring is based on how well the mugger keeps control of the horse’s head; the shanker holds the lead rope so the horse doesn’t run away; and the rider saddles the horse and races it around the track. The first team to ride the horse across the finish line wins.
