Professional rodeo events are a staple of American culture, particularly celebrated in the Western and Southern United States. These events test cowboy and cowgirl skills derived from the daily demands of ranch life. Below are some of the core competitions you might see at a rodeo.

Bareback Riding

Bareback riding offers a pure form of challenge as the rider attempts to stay mounted on a bucking horse without the aid of a saddle. Competitors must stay on the horse using only a leather rigging, which resembles a handle, as the horse tries to buck them off. Scoring for this event is based equally on the performance of the horse and the rider’s ability to stay aboard and control their movements with the horse’s leaps and kicks.

Steer Wrestling

In steer wrestling, also known as bulldogging, the cowboy must chase down a steer, leap off their horse, and wrestle the steer to the ground by twisting its horns. It’s a display of both speed and strength, and the cowboy’s timing and technique, combined with the steer’s behavior, determine the final success.

Team Roping

This event involves two riders: the ‘header’ and the ‘heeler.’ The ‘header’ ropes the front of the steer, usually the horns, then turns the steer so the ‘heeler’ can rope the hind legs. Effectiveness and speed are crucial in this collaborative event, making it one of the most strategic and partnership-driven competitions in the rodeo.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Saddle bronc riding is similar to bareback riding but involves the use of a specialized saddle. This event requires the rider to maintain control and style, all while matching their movements with the bronco’s unpredictable bucking.

Barrel Racing

Primarily a women’s event, barrel racing requires horse and rider to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. This event tests the agility and speed of the horse and the skilled riding and precise judgment of the rider.

Bull Riding

Considered by many to be the most dangerous of the rodeo events, bull riding challenges cowboys and cowgirls to stay mounted on a bucking bull for eight seconds. The rider holds onto a bull rope, and like bareback riding, scores rely on both the bull’s performance and the rider’s ability to stay mounted.