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Wear appropriate attire. When attending a rodeo as a spectator, it’s important to dress appropriately for the occasion. While there may not be a strict dress code, following some guidelines will ensure you feel comfortable and blend in with the crowd. Opt for casual attire that is suitable for outdoor events and allows you to move freely.
- Added money: Rodeo is different from most other sports in that it’s pay-to-play: at most rodeos, every contestant pays an entry fee, and those entry fees are part of the prize money for that event; added money (also called the committee purse) is what the local rodeo committee may put in for each event, which in the long run usually comes from sponsors.
- Average: Usually used to describe the aggregate score for a contestant who competed in more than one round, e.g., “He had times of 9.3 and 9.8 seconds in the two rounds and placed third in the average with 19.1 seconds on two head.”
- Barrelman: An entertainer who, after a bull ride, uses a barrel to distract the bull and protect the cowboy.
- Barrier: In timed events, a line at the front of the box that the contestant and his horse cannot cross until the steer or calf has a head start, usually marked with a rope and a flag so the timers can see it drop and start the clock.
May 9, 2024 · Each rodeo event has its own set of rules and scoring systems, but all share the common thread of heritage and skill that make rodeo a unique and enduring sport. Whether you’re a first-time spectator or a seasoned competitor, understanding these basics enhances the experience of the rodeo’s rich tradition and exciting action.
- Some Offer More Than The Main Event
- Dress Comfortably
- Rough Stock Events
- Timed Events
- Novelty Acts Between Events
- History of The Rodeo
- Where to See A Rodeo
Most rodeos offer entertainment leading up to and during the main event, such as a parade, carnival rides and games, a concert, an air show, or a dance. Many also include Mutton Busting, children’s rodeo events where kids compete to see who can ride a sheep the longest. Annual rodeos like Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Calgary Stampededraw thousand...
Bust Out Your Western Wear
You can wear just about anything you want to a rodeo but err on the side of comfort. You’ll be doing a lot of walking on (sometimes) uneven terrain. So, comfortable shoes are a must. You’ll also be sitting on wood or metal bleachers. If you identify with the Toby Keith hit “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” or need a socially acceptable reason to wear a cowboy hat, you’ll feel at home at a rodeo. Wear your cowboy hat, embroidered shirt, turquoise jewelry, and belt buckles with pride, and don’t forget...
A professional rodeo includes rough stock and timed events. Official rough stock events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. To get a score, contestants must stay on a bucking bull or horse for at least 8 seconds. Contestants are scored by two judges who award 50 points each — 25 to the rider and 25 to the animal. Horses a...
Timed events include steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, and barrel racing. Contestants race against the clock to get the shortest time. Contestants pay to compete in each event, and every cowboy and cowgirl aspires to be one of the top 15 contestants in their event based on money won during the regular season so they can qualify for the...
Most rodeos feature novelty acts such as trick roping and riding between events. One or more clowns also banter with the announcers to entertain the crowd during and between events. However, rodeo clowns also have the much more important job of distracting angry bulls so they don’t attack contestants, workers, or field judges. During the bull ridin...
After the Civil War, Southwest ranchers organized cattle drives to train stations to transport animals east. Cowboys needed a wide variety of skills to wrangle cattle. So, they entertained themselves in their free time by competing against each other to see who had the best riding and roping skills. By the late 19th century, rodeo was a popular spe...
Rodeo season runs from spring through fall and culminates with the National Finals in December. Check the scheduleto find a rodeo near you or in the area you plan to visit. It’s also important to consider the time of year. Outdoor rodeos in Arizona and Texas are usually held in the spring before the weather becomes too hot. 1. Fort Worth, Texas, ho...
Professional Bull Riding, better known as PBR, is back in full swing with in-person events that are the perfect way to experience one of the most exciting rodeo sports, bull riding.
Jun 6, 2024 · Before your first trip to the rodeo, you may want to familiarize yourself with bull riding terms and lingo, like mark out, miss out, average, and freehand. Words like roughstock, hung up, go-round, and hooey are also important terms for understanding the rodeo.
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Slack: excess entries at some rodeos may be scheduled for preliminary (slack) competition, usually before the rodeo opens to the public. 15. Turn out: a cowboy may turn out of a rodeo if, for example, he has a scheduling conflict; this is different from “doctor-releasing” due to injury.
