Bareback-bronc riding developed as an arena contest in the 1910s. (A bronc [bronco, broncho, or bucking bronco] is an unbroken range horse picked for its resistance to training and its tendency to buck, or throw, its rider.) This event gained favour as rodeo venues installed side-opening arena chutes and as cowboys adopted the standard Bascom rigging—a surcingle (strap) with a single riveted handhold, or “suitcase handle.” Bareback riding became a standard event at the majority of sanctioned rodeos in the 1950s. The contestant must spur the animal over the shoulders as it leaves the chute (“marking out”), and the contestant’s free hand must not touch the animal, the rigging, or the contestant’s own body. Qualifying rides last eight seconds, and scoring is based on a cumulative total of up to 50 points each for the performance of the bronc and the rider. Competitive scores usually exceed 80 points.

Calf roping

Calf roping, today usually referred to as tie-down roping, evolved directly from the traditional tasks of the roundup, when calves were roped and subdued for branding and doctoring. A timed event, it pits the contestant and his or her well-trained horse against the clock and a 250- to 350-pound (about 110- to 160-kg) calf. With a designated head start, the calf bursts from the chute and trips a barrier that signals pursuit by the roper. As the horse overtakes the calf, the contestant must rope it around the neck and simultaneously bring the horse to an abrupt stop, halting the calf’s flight while dismounting. The horse keeps a taut rope while the contestant runs to the calf, throws it on its side, and ties three legs securely with a “piggin’ string.” Time is declared when the roper throws up his or her hands after the tie-down. For a qualified time, the calf must stay tied for six seconds after the contestant has remounted and slackened the catch rope. If the contestant breaks the start barrier, a 10-second penalty is added.

Saddle-bronc riding

Saddle-bronc riding is the classic rough-stock competition of rodeos past and present, having evolved from the traditional horse-breaking tasks of the 19th-century cowboy. A judged event, saddle-bronc riding requires strength and balance on the part of the contestant, who has to stay atop a 1,200-pound (545-kg) bucking horse for the eight-second qualifying time. The standard riding equipment consists of a hornless saddle and a plain halter with a 6-foot (1.8-meter) braided rein. To make a qualifying score, the contestant must leave the chute with his or her spurs over the shoulders of the horse; the contestant’s feet must remain in the stirrups, and the contestant’s free hand cannot touch the horse, the saddle, or the contestant’s body. Event scoring combines a total of up to 50 points apiece for horse and rider; winning scores typically exceed 80 combined points, while 85 or above represents a superior ride.

Steer wrestling

Steer wrestling, also called bulldogging, is strictly a rodeo contest; real working cowboys never practiced it on the range. American cowboy Bill Pickett first performed the feat in the early 1900s, biting the animal’s nose to gain control before pulling it to the ground. The modern contestant omits the biting technique in favor of momentum, leverage, and strength. A timed event, steer wrestling combines good horsemanship, expert timing, and muscle to bring down a 550- to 650-pound (250- to 295-kg) steer from a running steed. As with roping events, the steer is released with a designated head start, tripping a barrier that allows the steer wrestler and a partner, the “hazer,” to pursue at the gallop. The hazer keeps the steer on a straight run while the contestant jumps onto the steer’s head and neck, grasps its horns, and then goes to the ground, planting his heels to brake the run. Once the steer slows, the bulldogger wrestles it to the ground with a twisting and falling motion. Time is declared when the steer lands on its side with all four legs extended in the same direction. A 10-second penalty is added for breaking the start barrier.

Team roping

Team roping first appeared among the cowboys of Arizona and California, becoming a regular rodeo competition at the Prescott Frontier Days in 1919. It came into wider vogue in the 1950s, and by the early 21st century it was contested as a standard event at PRCA-sanctioned rodeos. Like the other roping events, the steer is given a predetermined head start, after which the two contestants pursue. The leading roper, or “header,” must catch the steer about the horns, dally his or her rope (i.e., wrap it around the saddle horn one or more times), and change the direction of the steer’s run to benefit the throw of the other roper. This roper, the “heeler,” then ropes the steer’s back feet, dallies his or her rope, and stops the horse. Time is marked as the steer is immobilized between the two horses, both facing the steer in a straight line. Penalties of 10 and 5 seconds, respectively, are added for breaking the start barrier and for catching only one hind foot.

Barrel racing

Barrel racing is the only women’s event regularly featured at contemporary PRCA-sanctioned rodeos. The contest came to prominence in the early 1950s through the Girls Rodeo Association (later renamed the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association). Often ranked second only to bull riding in popularity, this timed event combines superb horsemanship with breakneck speed. Contestants have a running start, entering the arena and tripping the clock at the gallop. They must negotiate a cloverleaf pattern of three barrels and then ride all-out to exit and stop the clock. Riders may use spurs and crop to urge the horse to greater speed, but finesse in turning the barrels is equally important. Tipping a barrel adds a five-second penalty to the time, while running an incorrect pattern disqualifies the rider.