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Posse Post: Spring Rodeo 101- See you this weekend

Apr 5, 2017 | 9:51 AM

Bareback Bronc Riding

BAREBACK BRONC RIDING is one of the most physically demanding events in rodeo. A bareback rider sits directly on a bucking horse, with only his  “riggin’” to hang onto. As the horse comes out of the chute, the cowboy’s feet must be above the break of the horse’s shoulders.He must hold on for 8 seconds.

Team Roping

TEAM ROPING consist of two cowboys, a “header”, the person who ropes the front of the steer, usually around the horns and the “heeler”, who ropes the steer by its hind legs after the “header” has turned the steer.

Boys Steer Riding

BOYS STEER RIDING this event is the training ground for future bull riders. As with the other roughstock events one half of the score is awarded for the contestant’s ability to ride and the other half is for the stock’s ability to buck. The cowboys are allowed to ride with one hand or two.

Steer Wrestling

STEER WRESTLING also known as bulldogging is an event in which a horse-mounted cowboy chases a steer, drops from the horse to the steer, then wrestles the steer to the ground by twisting its horns.

Saddle Bronc Riding

SADDLE BRONC RIDING is rodeo’s classic event. The cowboy sits on a specialized saddle – it has no horn, and the stirrups are set forward. His only handhold is a six-foot braided rope; his free hand may not touch his equipment, his body or the horse. He must try and hold on for 8 seconds.

Tie Down Roping

TIE DOWN ROPING – is a timed event in which a mounted cowboy must catch a calf by throwing a loop around its neck, dismount from the horse, run to the calf, and restrain it by tying three legs together, in as short a time as possible.

Ladies Barrel Racing

LADIES BARREL RACING is just that – a race against time in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels set up in the arena. The timer begins when horse and rider cross the start line, and ends when the barrel pattern has been successfully executed and horse and rider cross the finish line. A rider can choose to begin the cloverleaf pattern to the right or left.

Bull Riding

BULL RIDING is rodeo’s most dangerous event. In the chute, the bull rider settles on the bull’s back, wraps his braided rope around the bull’s girth, then loops the rope around his hand and back into his palm so he can grip it tightly. When he nods, the gate is opened and the bull lunges out of the chute and the cowboy tries to hang on for 8 seconds.

We have a great line up of contestants in the Spring Rodeo this weekend, including 6 Canadian Finals Champions, 3 National Final Rodeo Champions and 6 of our 8 Spring Rodeo 2016 winners.

We look forward to welcoming you to our 130th Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede July 26-29, 2017.

Like us on Facebook and Instagram, plus follow us on Twitter. For more information check out www.mhstampede.com or you can call 403-527-1234.