GENERAL BENEFITS

•    Strength, agility, precise timing, and quick thinking

•    Teaches your child riding skills and to appreciate horses and other livestock.

•    Handle twirling ropes and memorize weaving patterns.

KIDS WHO TEND TO EXCEL

•    Children who excel at rodeo usually are athletic, outgoing, mentally tough, and able to concentrate under pressure.

•    Rodeo is physically demanding and requires strength.

BEST AGE TO START

•    The usual age to start rodeo lessons is between 10 to 13, but many children start as early as age 5.

•    Rodeo associations have junior members between the ages of 5 and 18.

•    Age groupings in junior rodeo events are often ages 6 & under, age 11 & under, and age 13 & under.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN GETTING STARTED

•    The program should teach your child how to ride a horse in both directions around the arena at a walk, trot, and canter, how to halt the horse effortlessly, and also turn it without a problem. Programs also teach grooming and saddling, as well as show etiquette. Once your child masters riding, then training can begin in rodeo riding events.

•    Almost all rodeo events have junior rodeo categories, grouped both by age and gender.

•    For girls, barrel racing, pole-bending events, break-away calf roping, and goat tying are popular. For boys, popular events include calf roping, calf wrestling, and bareback riding.

TYPICAL RODEO EVENTS

BAREBACK RIDING

•    If your child chooses to ride bareback, no saddle is placed on the horse. In order to earn the most points, your child’s legs need to be in the proper position. He cannot touch the horse, and his spurring technique also earns him points. However, almost half of the points are earned by the horse’s performance.

SADDLE BRONCO RIDING

•    This classic rodeo event, similar to bull riding, has its roots in the Old West, with ranch hands gathering to compete over who had the best style while riding horses not yet broken in.

•    In this competitive event, the rider must stay on the horse for eight seconds, and the rider’s style factors heavily in the judging. Points are also awarded for the strength of the horse’s bucking, the control throughout the ride, and the length of the spurring stroke.

•    Similar to bareback riding, your child starts with his feet over the shoulders of the horse and cannot touch the horse. In addition, dropping the rein or slipping a foot out of the stirrup results in disqualification.

CALF ROPING

•    Like bronco riding, calf roping originated in the Old West, where unhealthy calves were roped and tied down to be treated. Today, calf roping requires skills in riding, roping, timing and coordination as well as good horsemanship.

•    After the calf is released, both horse and cowboy chase it. The rider then ropes it, dismounts, and lastly runs to the calf and ties any three of its legs together using a “pigging string” he carries in his teeth. When the cowboy is finished, he raises his hands to signal to the judge, then gets back on his horse, letting the rope become slack. The calf must stay down for six seconds for the run to be valid. At that point the cowboy’s time is scored.

TEAM ROPING

•    This is the only team event in rodeo. The first rider, called the header, chases and ropes the steer around the horns or neck, while turning it to the left. The second rider, called the heeler, follows close behind and then ropes the steer’s hind feet. If the heeler only ropes one hind leg, they receive a five-second penalty. If the heeler tosses his loop before the header has turned the steer to the left, it’s called a “crossfire” and the ropers are disqualified. Their ropes are then tightened, and they position their horses facing each other on opposite sides of the steer. This entire event happens in seconds. When the slack is taken out of both ropes and the riders are facing each other, the clock is stopped.

MOUNTED BREAKAWAY ROPING

•    The roper is on horseback with one end of his rope tied to the saddle horn by a piece of string. The calf is released and the cowboy will pursue it with the lasso swirling above his head. The loop must land completely over the calf’s head. When the calf pulls away from the rider, the rope will grow taut and the string will break away from the saddle horn.

GOAT TYING

•    Girls and boys race their horses up to a goat, dismount, catch the goat, and then tie up its legs. (The riders carry a short rope in their teeth.) The fastest person wins.

RIBBON ROPING

•    The roper tosses a loop on a calf while the ribbon runner waits in the arena. When the roper dismounts and makes contact with the calf, the ribbon runner, or cowgirl, runs to the calf and snatches the ribbon tied to the calf’s tail.

•    The ribbon runner then races back to the finish line.

BARREL RACING

•    Barrel racing is traditionally a female event, but it is becoming more coed. The rider must maneuver the horse through a “cloverleaf” pattern of three (sometimes four) barrels. There is a five-second penalty for knocking down a barrel. In addition, if the rider breaks the pattern, she is disqualified.

•    Speed, agility, and riding ability are skills needed for this timed event.

POLE BENDING

•    Also a traditional female event, pole bending uses six poles set in a straight line, twelve feet apart from each other, down the middle of the arena.

•    In this timed event, the rider must run the horse in a straight line down the length of the poles, turn the horse around the first pole and then maneuver through the poles in a zigzag pattern as fast as possible.

STEER WRESTLING AND STEER ROPING

•    The art of steer roping was created on the ranges as a means of getting control of cattle in need of medical care by getting the animal safely to the ground and securely tied. Wrestling a steer requires brute strength along with leverage, and is not usually done by children. Steer roping is one rodeo’s oldest events, but held only in large arenas due to the large space required. A steer wrestler starts on horseback behind a barrier, and chases a steer that has been given a head start. After tossing a rope around a steer’s horns, the steer roper brings the steer to the ground, and then must tie three of the steer’s legs together. As with calf roping, the steer must remain tied for six seconds.

SAFETY & INJURY CONCERNS

•    Your child will need to wear a protective helmet, riding boots with a riding heel, and long pants.

•    Equipment should be in good condition, with no frayed or weak ropes and all riggings adjusted and tightened.

•    A protective vest is recommended to help absorb the shock of a blow from hitting the ground or being stepped on or horned by an animal. Some use spandex shorts to protect their buttocks and thighs while riding. Boys should consider using jock straps and protective cups.

•    Mouthpieces can be worn to protect your child’s teeth.

•    Gloves are also recommended, especially for stock events.

COST CONSIDERATIONS

•    The greatest cost involves your child having access to a place to ride and practice. For many, this means having a horse of their own. Purchasing a horse can be anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000. Other equipment you will also need is a pick-up, and trailers. Kids can lease horses, which can run around $700 a year, plus the cost of insurance.

•    Entry fees vary from state to state, with each event costing between $10 and $40.

•    Membership fees in local rodeo associations around $130 that includes national and state dues and a required insurance policy.

•    Other rodeo equipment your child may need include a facemask, handle pad, mouthpiece, and rosin.

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