Bareback Bronc Riding

The cowboys ride with a bareback "riggin" - a leather pad that is cinched around the horse's middle with a stiff leather handle, within which the cowboy tightly wedges his hand. A qualified ride requires riding for eight seconds and "marking the horse out" (when the horse makes the first step out of the chute, the rider must have his spurs over the point of the horse's shoulders). If he fails to do so, or touches himself or the horse with his free hand, he is disqualified. A perfect score is 100.

Saddle Bronc Riding

The same rules apply as in Bareback Riding except the cowboy rides in a saddle and a halter with a braided rope rein. The rider can be disqualified if he wraps the rope rein around his hand, changes hands, touches any part of the horse with his free hand, or loses a stirrup. A perfect score is 100.

Steer Wrestling

Steer wrestlers use a helper called a hazer to parallel the steer to keep it running straight. When the 500 lb. steer leaves the chute, the steer wrestler and hazer must give him a head start. Failure to do so will result in a broken barrier and add a 10-second penalty to the time. The steer wrestler must catch up to the steer, lean off his horse going top speed (up to 35 mph), and end up with a firm grip on the horns. Once on the ground, the steer wrestler must wrestle the steer to the ground. A judge will stop the time when the steer is on its side.

Calf Roping

Calf Ropers must give the calf a head start out of the chute. If not, a broken barrier will result and a 10-second penalty will be applied. A calf roper must rope the calf, dismount from his horse, and run down the rope to "flank" the calf (lay it on its side). When he gets the calf on the ground, the cowboy gathers three legs and ties them together with a soft nylon "piggin string." When he has completed the task, he throws his hands up to signal the flagger that the run is over. The cowboy must then remount his horse and ride forward to loosen the rope. The judge checks to see that the calf stays tied the required six seconds.

Cowgirl Barrel Racing

The barrel horse must run at full speed throughout the three-barrel cloverleaf pattern. Knocking over a barrel results in a 5-second penalty being added to the time of the run, and a barrel racer is disqualified for going off course or "breaking the pattern." The barrel racing event is so competitive that electronic eye timers, which measure time in thousandths of a second, are used. Contestants are allowed to run to either the right of left barrel first.

Cowgirl Breakaway Roping

Breakaway roping features a calf and one mounted cowgirl. The calves are moved through narrow pathways leading to a chute with spring-loaded doors. A 10-foot rope is fastened around the calf's neck which is used to ensure that the calf gets a head start. On one side of the chute will be the breakaway roper who will attempt to rope the calf. The breakaway roper is behind a taut rope fastened with an easily broken string which is fastened to the rope on the calf. When the roper is ready, she calls for the calf and the chute man trips a lever opening the doors. The suddenly freed calf breaks out running. When the calf reaches the end of his rope, it pops off and simultaneously releases the barrier for the roper. The roper must throw her rope in a loop around the calf's neck. Once the rope is around the calf's neck, the roper signals the horse to stop suddenly. The rope is tied to the saddle horn with a string. When the calf hits the end of the rope, the rope is pulled taught and the string breaks. The breaking of the string marks the end of the run. The fastest run wins. Breakaway roping is usually seen in school rodeos.

Team Roping

Team roping is the only event in rodeo that features two cowboys competing together - the "header" and the "heeler." The header must give the steer a head start. If not, he breaks the barrier and receives a 10-second penalty. The header ropes the steer's head or horns and dallies (wraps the end of the rope around the saddle horn) and pulls the steer with the rope. The heeler moves in, roping the back legs of the steer, dallying, and stopping his horse. When the heeler catches and dallies, and both ropes are tight, the header stops and turns his horse to face the healer, and the clock is stopped. A 5-second penalty is applied if the heeler only catches one leg.

Bull Riding

Bull riders use a flat-braided manila "bull rope" that is wrapped around the bull's girth, just behind his shoulders. A bell is attached underneath to help the rope fall free when the ride is complete. The bull rope is stretched around the bull and griped in the rider's gloved and rosined hand. The rider must keep his body up close to his hand during the ride to stay on, with his legs slightly forward and toes turned out, heels clinching the bull's sides. A perfect score is 100.