Professional
rodeo action consists of two types of competitions - roughstock events and
timed events - and an all-around cowboy crown.
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.
In saddle
bronc and bareback riding, a cowboy must "mark out" his horse; that
is, he must exit the chute with his spurs set above the horse's shoulders and
hold them there until the horse's front feet hit the ground after the initial
jump out of the chute. Failing to do so results in disqualification.
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, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and steer
roping; cowboys and cowgirls at "the other end of the arena" 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. In steer wrestling and the roping
events, calves and steers are allowed a head start. The competitor, on
horseback, starts in a three-sided fenced area called a box. The fourth side
opens into the arena.
A rope
barrier is stretched across that opening and is tied to the calf or steer with
a breakaway loop. Once the calf or steer reaches the head-start point -
predetermined by the size of the arena - the barrier is automatically
released. If a cowboy breaks that barrier, a 10-second penalty is added.