Bull Riding
Fast, furious and dangerous. The rider holds on with one hand and must stay on the bucking bull for eight seconds. Both animal and rider are judged – the rider on his style and the bull’s ability to buck the rider before the buzzer. The rider uses his feet to pull into position or hold himself upright while the bull is spinning and disqualified if he touches the bull or equipment with his free hand.
Saddle Bronc
As the rider leaves the chute, he must synchronise his spurring action with the horse’s bucking and stay on for eight seconds. The rider is judged on his style and spurring action and disqualified if he touches the horse or equipment with his free hand, loses a stirrup or bucked off before the end of the ride.
BAREBACK BRONC
With only a leather pad and a handle, the rider must hold on with one hand for eight seconds. As the horse bucks, he jerks his feet towards the wither, snapping them back into position in front of the shoulder ready for the next jump. The rider is judged on his spurring action and disqualified if he touches the horse, himself or equipment with the free hand or bucked off before the end of the ride.
STEER WRESTLING
With the use of a helper or hazer riding alongside of the steer to keep it running straight, the rider must lean from his horse and grasp the steer’s horns. The rider then dismounts the horse and uses his feet to stop the steer’s forward momentum before rolling the steer to the ground. The clock is stopped once the steer is on its side with all four legs pointing in the same direction. Winning times are under five seconds from when the barrier is released.
ROPE & TIE
The calf is given a head start before the rider gives chase. From horseback, the rider ropes the calf and dismounts, rolling the calf on one side and tying three of the calf’s legs together. The time is recorded once the tie is complete. The rider remounts his horse to prove the tie will hold – no time is given if the animal kicks free. The rider is disqualified and fined if the animal is pulled backwards off his feet or dragged after it is roped.
Team Roping
Featuring a two-rider team, the steer is given a head start. The header ropes the steer around the neck, head or horns before the heeler moves in to rope the hind legs. The rope is then dallied around the saddle horn. Once secured, time is recorded when both horses are facing each other with no slack in the rope. Winning times are around eight seconds. Improper catches result in disqualification and five second penalties are incurred if only one leg is roped.
Ladies Barrel Racing
Competing against the clock, the rider guides her horse around a clover leaf pattern of three 205L drums. Time penalties are imposed for knocking over a barrel and disqualification for running in an incorrect pattern. The rider may hold the barrel from the riding position to prevent her from falling. Time is taken by an electric eye to the hundredth of a second.
Ladies Breakaway Roping
After a head start, the rider gives chase and catches the calf with a rope attached to the saddle horn with a ribbon. Once the catch is made, the horse slides to a halt, the rope breaks away from the saddle horn and the clock stops. A piece of coloured cloth is attached to the end of the rope to assist the judges in seeing and timing the break.
Poddy Rides
Poddy Rides is an event for riders aged eight to 13 starting out in their rodeo careers. Similar to bull riding, the rider is strapped down to the poddy with one hand using a bull rope. The free hand must be raised at all times without touching the poddy or himself. While not compulsory, the rider may pick up extra points if he spurs. The rider must stay on the poddy for six seconds.