Rodeo is more than just a sport—it’s a tradition deeply rooted in Western heritage, showcasing incredible athleticism, skill, and a deep connection between rider and animal. If you're new to the world of rodeo, this guide will break down the key events and what to expect when you step into the stands for an action-packed rodeo experience.
Rodeo traces its roots back to the working practices of Spanish vaqueros and American cowboys in the 18th and 19th centuries. Early rodeos were informal competitions among cowboys to showcase their ranching skills, such as roping, riding, and herding cattle. As these contests gained popularity, formal rodeo events began emerging in the late 1800s, with Prescott, Arizona, hosting one of the first organized rodeos in 1888. By the early 20th century, rodeo evolved into a structured sport with standardized rules and professional organizations, eventually leading to the creation of the PRCA in 1945. Today, rodeo remains a vital part of Western heritage, celebrating the skill, bravery, and traditions of the American cowboy.
In the roughstock events—bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding—a contestant's score is equally dependent upon his performance and the animal's performance. To earn a qualified score, the cowboy, while using only one hand, must stay aboard a bucking horse or bull for eight seconds. If the rider touches the animal, himself, or any of his equipment with his free hand, he is disqualified.
Considered rodeo’s “classic event”, the cowboy rides in a saddle with his feet in the stirrups and holds on with just one hand to a perfectly measured “bronc rein”, which is a thick strap connected to a halter on the horse’s head.
There is a mandatory “markout rule,” requiring the cowboy to exit the chute with his spurs in contact above the horse’s shoulders until it makes its initial jump hitting the ground with its front two feet. Failure to do so results in disqualification.
Similar to the saddle bronc event, bareback riders are required to “mark out” at the beginning of their ride. In this event however, the cowboys ride bareback, or in other words with no saddle on the horse.
In place of a bronc rein, they hold onto a “riggin.” Connected to a belt-like strap wrapped around the horse, its handle resembles that of a suitcase — which is all that the cowboy has to hold onto.
Known as “the most dangerous eight seconds in sports”, bull riding is well known for how grueling it is.
Just like saddle bronc and bareback riding, bull riding requires the cowboy to remain aboard the animal for at least eight seconds and only have one hand to hold on with. In this event, however, the markout rule does not apply. Instead, the contestant holds on to a thick braided rope and can earn extra points for spurring. “Bullfighters” and “barrelmen” are in the arena during these rides to keep the cowboy safe from the bulls, once dismounted.
During the regular season, two judges each score a cowboy's qualified ride by awarding 0 to 25 points for the rider's performance and 0 to 25 points for the animal's effort. The judges' scores are then combined to determine the contestant's score. A perfect score is 100 points.
In timed events—steer wrestling, tie-down roping ,team roping, barrel racing, and breakaway roping—cowboys and cowgirls compete against the clock, as well as against each other. A contestant's goal is to post the fastest time in his or her event.
Steer wrestlers are known for being notably strong and athletic. In this event, also known as bulldogging, there are two cowboys, which are the steer wrestler himself, and the hazer.
As both of them are backed up into two separate “boxes,” they wait for the steer to reach the head start point after being released from the chute. They then run horseback along both sides of the steer- the hazer executing his job of keeping the animal running in a straight line to put it in good position for the steer wrestler.
While running nearly full speed, the wrestler then slides off of his horse, grabbing and turning the steer by the horns, with the objective of laying it flat on the ground with all four legs facing in the same direction, which is when the clock stops.
Otherwise known as calf roping, this event is another classic demonstration of common ranching duties since the days of the early west.
The calf is first released from the chute. After the cowboy waits horseback in the box for the calf to reach its head start, he then runs up behind the calf with the goal of roping the animal. Once his loop catches the calf, he quickly dismounts, “flanks” the animal, or lays it on the ground, and ties three of its legs together with a rope called the “pigging string”.
As soon as he completes the tying, he throws his hands in the air to stop the clock. The calf must remain tied on the ground for six seconds after it is tied. The cowboy mounts his horse again and takes pressure off of the rope. So long as the calf stays tied for six seconds, the roper qualifies for a time.
This is one of the events that require two competitors: a header and a heeler. Once the steer leaves the chute and reaches its head start point, both cowboys come out of the boxes horseback. The header is in charge of roping the horns, and the heeler is in charge of the feet.
Upon exiting the box, the header ropes the steer’s head, either around both horns, the neck, or the neck and one horn. Any other ‘catch’ is illegal.
Once he makes a legal catch, he turns the steer to set it up in good position for the heeler. The heeler then ropes the back two legs of the steer. A one-leg catch gives them a 5 second time penalty.
After both the header and heeler have done their jobs, they face their horses towards each other to stop the clock.
This is all about speed. In this event, there are three barrels set up in a triangle inside of the arena. The rider must perform a cloverleaf pattern horseback, looping around each of the three barrels without knocking any of them down.
The fastest run wins, but a knocked barrel results in a five-second penalty added onto their time. This event requires immaculate control and balance from the rider, and extreme speed and agility from the horse.
This event is similar to tie down roping. It was recently added to professional rodeos and is quite popular among women.
Like in other roping events, the breakaway rider waits for the calf to have its head start before leaving the box. They then run horseback, rope the calf around the neck, and stop their horse. At the other end of the rope, there is a nylon string which fastens it to the saddle.
As the calf continues to run and the rope comes close to tightening, the nylon string breaks (which is where the name “breakaway” comes from) and the clock is stopped, marking the end of a run. There is often a cloth tied to the end of the rope to make it more visibly obvious to judges when the string breaks.
Featured in this image is one of our rodeo athletes, Wiley Karas. Photo by Emma Folz Photography.
Attending a rodeo is an experience like no other! You’ll witness thrilling rides, impressive horsemanship, and fast-paced roping skills. Beyond the competition, rodeos often feature grand entry parades, patriotic tributes, rodeo clowns keeping the crowd entertained, and plenty of Western-style fun. It is an event designed to celebrate the athletes, animals, and the heritage of the sport.
Dress the Part – If you want to! Cowboy hats, boots, and denim are always welcome, even if you aren't a cowboy/girl
yourself, it's fun to dress for the occasion!
Head over to our Sackett Ranch T-shirt collection for the perfect fit for the rodeo!
Arrive Early – Enjoy pre-rodeo entertainment and find the best seats.
Cheer Loudly – Support the riders and celebrate great performances!
Respect the Animals – Rodeo stock are well-cared for, and their well-being is a top priority.
There is lots of jargon in the rodeo world just like any other sport. Here's a few lesser known words and their meanings:
Bulldogger: A steer wrestler
Slack: Excess entries at some rodeos may be scheduled for preliminary (slack) competition, usually before the rodeo opens to the public.
Roughstock: The bucking horses and bulls used in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding, usually bred and raised for the job.
Pickup men: Two mounted cowboys who help riders dismount, release a bucking horse’s soft flank strap, and escort bucking horses and bulls to the exit gate after a ride.
Hazer: In steer wrestling, the cowboy who rides on the right side of the steer from the contestant to make sure the steer runs straight.
Ropes: The correct term is rope, not lasso, lariat or riata; most ropes used in ProRodeo timed events are made of strong yet flexible braided materials such as nylon/poly blends, and a cowboy may change his rope selection depending on the weather and the cattle; bull ropes and bronc reins are often made of sisal or poly blends.
Reride: If a cowboy’s score is affected by equipment failure or a horse or bull that doesn’t buck to performance specifications, the judges may offer the cowboy a clean-slate chance on a different horse or bull.
These animals are bred to buck. They love the sport as much as we do! As prized members of rodeo, they are taken care of VERY well. "The PRCA has more than 60 rules to ensure the proper care and treatment of rodeo animals included in its official rules and regulations."
Many of these sports are derived from actual ranching practices used for hundreds of years.
Rodeo is a celebration of Western heritage, grit, and athleticism. Whether you're watching your first rodeo or becoming a lifelong fan, understanding the events and traditions will make the experience even more enjoyable. So grab your western apparel, find a seat in the stands, and get ready to cheer on the best cowboys and cowgirls in the sport!
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