Category: Free Inquiry

As I wrap up my free inquiry project, I have been able to reminisce on my summer of fun rodeos and the great people I met through them. I have been able to enhance my own learning about the rodeo world. As well as being able to look at my own personal progress in my goals. I am beyond lucky to able to have the opportunities that let me enjoy the rodeo life.

Breakaway roping is a rodeo event that has grasped a lot of attention from women within the rodeo industry, so much attention that it has become the fastest growing women’s rodeo event. Due to this growth, a National event just for breakaway roping was created in 2020 and the American Rodeo added the event in 2019. With the creation of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in 1948, the focus of breakaway roping has been professionally run for over 75 years.

History of Breakaway Roping

Well it was not always a competition, it started in the early days of ranching as cowboys and cowgirls used doing to capture and retrain the cattle in order to preform branding or treatments. As rodeos became more popular, roping was added into the events where they showed off their skills of roping and riding. Breakaway roping removed the tying down the cattle aspect and turn it into a quick catch and release.

Getting Started

Breakaway roping is a sport that is fun, engaging, useful and achievable, although you must put in the time to practice. It is not a sport that you just wake up and become good at. You are working with your horse as a team therefore you must have good horsemanship and control of your horse. You also need the proper equipment to get started, this includes a breakaway top, a proper roping saddle for your horse, a barrier string and a roping dummy. It is best to start with a stationary roping dummy so you can get the technique down and solidified before moving onto a moving target. There are many options for roping dummies, included a calf head that can be placed on a hay bale, a calf body that can be placed on the ground, a calf that you can pull behind a quad and the list goes on until you get to the real thing.

This video was created with World Champion Breakaway Roper Jackie Crawford, where she explains how to create the perfect breakaway loop.

My experience with breakaway roping

I didn’t have much experience with roping until the last two years. My boss was a former breakaway roper so I have been able to get a lot of insider information. I also have met and become friends with some people who spend their time competing in the breakaway roping events. These people have given me lots of tips and tricks as well as shown me the challenges that come along with it.

Ever since I can remember I have been around the horse world. I have spent many May Long weekends at our local rodeo hosted in Mount Currie, where I watched many of my friends participant and hoped that one day I could be just like them. I spent years doing riding lessons where I learnt how to run barrel patterns but I never went on to compete. Later on, I participated in the English horse world where I practiced and competed in show jumping. Although it was a lot of fun and I learnt so much, I also learnt that was show jumping was just not for me. In the last four years, I got back into the western side of the horse world and more specifically this year, I was able to spend my summer learning and watching more rodeos. Thanks to my boss, I also was given the opportunity to focus on learning to breakaway rope.

Here is a video of me and my horse first time attempting to rope a chair.

Here is a video of us practicing with a chair a few weeks later.

For the first month or so I practiced with a chair until we invested in a steer head dummy which sticks into a hay bale. This was more realistic to practice with.

Here is a video I made involving the rodeos I was able to attend this summer.

What is the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR)

The Canadian Finals Rodeo is final event of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) season. This event is held in Edmonton, Alberta for a week, generally during the first week of October. The CFR hosts the 10 leading money winners of each event throughout the Canadian circuit season, as well as the 1st and 2nd place winners in each event from the last 10 rodeos of the season. Each event has six rounds throughout the five days of events. The event has fun for all, including themed nights. Each night has a posted theme / dress code. For example, night one was Heritage Night where everyone is asked to wear Fringe and Turquoise. It is also a week filled with Western Heritage, showcasing trade show exhibits, western art shows, educational workshops and more. The event holds more like concerts, after parties, buffets, and kids zones.

History of the CFR

The CFR has been held in Edmonton, Alberta at Northlands Coliseum starting in 1974 until 2017, where it then got moved to Red Deer, Alberta for 2018 to 2023. Although now it is back to being held in Edmonton at Rogers Place. Before 2006, Canadian Residents were the only competitors who could qualify and participate in the CFR. As the years have gone on, international competitors are now eligible for qualifying and competing. From 1974 to 2007, the CFR had a special format where the competitors did not carry over any prize money earned during their season to the finals. During each round, the top 4 finishers would earn points from 40 to 10. By the end of the events, the top 4 in the average scores, total times or score across rounds, received points on the same scale. The competitor who would be named Canadian Champion, was the individual who had the highest score/points in their event.

However things changed in 2008 when the competitors ask for the CFR format to be more like the National Finals Rodeo in the United States. Now, the competitors are able to carry over their winnings from the season and any money won during the CFR is added to their season total. This means that the contestant with the most earnings in their event at the end of the CFR is declared champion. The contestants asked for the NFR format because it was impossible to secure a season title before finals, and having the NFR format would help boost the participation within smaller late season rodeos.

Events at the CFR

Rough Stock Events

These events include Bareback Bronc, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding. These events are judged by two judges, each evaluating a side of the rider and the stock. Each judge scores the rider and stock due out of 50, 25 points are for the rider technique, which includes spurring and maintaining balance without using free hand. The other 25 points are on the stocks performance, which includes bucking intensity. They are then ranked out of 100. The rider must complete the 8 second ride in order to be properly judged and ranked.

Bareback Bronc

• Rider uses leather rigging instead of a saddle
• Rigging acts as a handle
• The “Mark Out Rule” is the rule that when the gate opens, the rider’s feet must be above the horse’s shoulder breaks.
• Scoring is based on the riders control and spurring the horse in sync with the bucking.
• If the rider touches the horse, equipment or body with free hand or falls off the horse before 8 seconds, their ride results as a “no time”
• If rider completes the 8 second ride, their ride is then ranked by the two judges who are each scoring them up to 50 points, once points are put together their final score is out of 100.

Saddle Bronc

• Rider uses a special saddle without a horn and has forward-set stirrups
• The “Mark Out Rule” also applies to Saddle Bronc Riding.
• Once the horse first jumps, the rider spurs synchronized with the horses movements. Riders legs are straight when the bronc comes down from the buck/jump and their spurs are used towards the back of the saddle during the top of the buck/jump.
• If the rider touches his equipment, horse or body or does not last the required 8 seconds their rides results in a “no time”
• If rider completes the 8 second ride, their ride is then ranked by the two judges who are each scoring them up to 50 points, once points are put together their final score is out of 100.

Bull Riding

• Bull Riding is the most dangerous event.
• The rider uses a braided rope to hold on, which goes around the bulls girth. and is then looped around the riders hand and gripped tightly.
• Spurring is optional as the main goal is to ride the bull for the 8 seconds.
• If the rider touches his equipment, bull or body or does not last the required 8 seconds their rides results in a “no time”
• The judges assess the ride points based on the difficulty of the bull’s movements (spinning, jumping and bucking) and the riders control and central balance.

Timed Events

These events include Steer Wrestling, Tiedown Roping, Team Roping, Breakaway roping and Barrel Racing. In each event there is a designated barrier line from the event box or set of timers that the contestant crosses in order for their time to start. For the roping and wrestling events, the rider and horse start in a timed event box where a rope barrier is across the front, this provides a head start for the stock in the chute. These four events also have a Field Judge who is on horseback in the arena and signals when the run is complete by waving a flag. Whereas Barrel Racing is not judged and soul a timed event. Each of the events have their own set of rules that ensure fairness and consistent standards in competition with other stock. If the contestants do not follow these rules their ride will likely result in a “no time”. The timed events are events that highlight both the rider and horses skills and their ability to work as a team.

Steer Wrestling

• Also known as Bull Dogging
• The rider will exit the box, dismount their horse and proceeds to wrestle the steer to the ground.
• The “Hazer” is responsible for keeping the steer running in a straight line out of the chute.
• Their time gets stopped when the steer’s direction is changed and their four legs point the same way.

Team Roping

• This is a team of 2 event : the header and the heeler.
• The header ropes first and is responsible for roping the steers horns or neck, where they position the steer for the heeler to catch.
• The heeler ropes second and is responsible for roping the steers hind legs.
• The timer is stopped when the horses are facing each other and the steer is in the middle with no slack in their ropes.
• The “legal” head catches include both horns, half head and neck.
• The team gets a five second penalty added to their time if only one hind leg is roped.

Tie Down Roping

• In tie-down roping, the rider is timed on roping the calf, dismounting their horse and then tying three of the calfs legs.
• The timer gets stopped when the rider raisers their hands which signals completion
• After the rider remounts and slackens the rope, the calf must remain tied for 6 seconds.
• “No time” is given out if the calf gets up before 6 seconds or if there is not a legal tie.

Breakaway Roping

• Riders are required to rope the calf around the neck (bell collar catch).
• There is a string that attaches the rope to the saddle horn and it will break upon pulling and releasing the calf and rope.
• the judge is repsonsible for stopping the timer by dropping a flag.
• Riders get a “no time” if they do not have a clean bell collar catch.
• The fastest time is the winner of the event.

Barrel Racing

• A timed event for cowgirls
• The competitors ride in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels.
• Time starts once they cross the timer line entering the arena and to stops once they cross it on their way out.
• Riders are allowed to touch the barrel to avoid it falling over, if the barrel falls the rider gets 5-seconds to their time.
• Breaking the pattern results in “no time”.

Sources

Canadian Finals Rodeo, https://www.cfr.ca.

Canadian Pro Rodeo Association, “Canadian Finals Rodeo”, https://rodeocanada.com/canadian-finals-rodeo/, 12 October 2024.

“Canadian Finals Rodeo.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Finals_Rodeo#:~:text=The%20CFR%20takes%20place%20in,usually%20worth%20over%20C%241%2C000%2C000.

The National Finals Rodeo otherwise known as the “Super Bowl of Rodeo”.

What is the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) ?

The NFR is the championship rodeo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Taking place annually throughout the first full week of December at the Thomas & Mack Center in Nevada, Las Vegas. The event highlights the talents and dedication of the PRCA’s top 15 competitors for each rodeo event including bull riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and steer wrestling as they compete for the world title.

The competitors must earn their spot at the NFR through qualifying, which includes winning the season title during regular rodeo season. It is the grand finale of the rodeo year. The event showcases the rich culture and traditions of rodeo, along with having a competitive spirit from the participants. The NFR atmosphere is filled with excitements and adrenaline, it has live entertainments, vendor exhibits and sense of community.

Events within the NFR

There are seven events and nine championships sanctioned by the PRCA.

• Bareback Riding – the rider must stay on a bucking horse for eight seconds with only the support of their “rigging” which is attached by a cinch and latigos. The riders goal is to complete a 8 second ride while maintaining control of themselves while the horses bucking, jumping etc, and then is judged out of 100 points. The better control and movement preformed by the horse and rider the higher the score. Bareback riding is one of the most challenging events that highlights both rider and horse skill and strength.

• Steer Wrestling – other wise known as “Bulldogging”, this event has two participants, one participants job is to stay beside the steer to make sure it doesn’t go astray, where as the other (contestant/main rider) will jump/lean off his horse grabbing onto a steers horns and “wrestle” it to the ground. The winner of this event is the contestant who wrestles the steer to the ground the fastest.

• Team Roping – this is the only professional team event in the rodeo. There are two riders on horseback, one is called a “header”, the other called a “heeler”, these riders chase and restrain a full-grown steer. The header ropes the steers horns and pulls the steer so that the heeler is able to rope the steers two hind legs. Once roped successfully, the riders pull the steer between them to make sure the rope is taut. Again, this is a timed event and the fastest team wins. This event originated through the methods of roping and retraining the steer while on the ranch.

• Saddle Bronc Riding – similar to bareback riding, the rider must ride a horse for 8 full seconds although they use a saddle without a horn and a bronc rein to support them. The same rules apply between bareback bronc riding and saddle bronc riding, they also have the same judging system, where the best control taken into consideration.

• Tie-Down Roping – like team roping, this event is also based off of ranch work where calves are roped for branding, veterinarian appointments and more. This event is the oldest / longest running timed event within the rodeo. The rider will follow a calf out of the chute, where they rope the running calf around its neck, then the horse will stop and holds the roper taut as the rider dismounts, runs to the calf and then throws calf to the ground where the rider ties three feet together. In all events the animals and riders have purpose although in this event the horse and rider work as a team to succeed.

• Barrel Racing – another timed speed event within the rodeo, this event the rider and horse work as a team to complete a clover leaf pattern around three barrels. Horses and rider must make agile turns without knocking the barrels. This event is exclusively a women’s sport although males occasionally compete in certain rodeos. The contestant with the fastest time throughout the pattern with the least amount of faults wins.

• Bull Riding – this event is another bucking animal event, riders attempt to ride an adult bucking bull for 8 seconds. The same rules and judging system from the bucking horse categories apply to bull riding. The harder the bull is to ride and the more control that the rider has throughout the 8 seconds will get a higher score. Although this event has the same rules and system it is quite different from the bucking horse events, the skills and equipment differ in a sense but the overall difference is the danger involved. Bulls have a fight response, which means once the rider has fallen they more likely to get injured by the bull after the ride. Bull fighters and occasional rodeo clowns work to distract the bull during and after the ride to prevent injuries or “attacks” from the bull.

• All – Around – this is not an event whereas it is an world title award. This is given to the contestant who has earned / won the highest amount of money is two or more events. This is often why rodeo participants ride in multiple events.

The Animal Athletes within the NFR

The animals in the NFR are just as much athletes as the contestants. Like the contestants, the animals must qualify for the competitions. In the events like bronc riding and bull riding, the stock contribute half of the total score. The NFR showcases the animals talents just as much as the riders. In order for the stock to be selected for the NFR, they are judged as soon as rodeo season starts, by the time that season has ended, many have already completed the qualifications needed for the competition. Like the riders, the bucking animals are able to win money and awards.

The stock contractor is a person or company that supplies the bucking stock to rodeos, their job is to breed, raise and train the animals and are responsible for making them suitable for competition. For many, their goal is to have their bucking animal selected for the NFR, which is a huge honour. In order to qualify, the animal must have competed on a minimum of eight times at PRCA events which gives the contractors the opportunity to nominate their best horses and bulls. These nominations must be submitted by September 1st, where the event directors review, and create a list of 100 animals that give the riders the best opportunities. The NFR General Manager of Production and the PRCA Administration review the final selection before the official stock rosters is published.

In the other events like barrel racing and roping, the horse and rider work as a team to complete their goals. The horses are also breed, raised and trained for their jobs as a rope or barrel horse. The riders and horses work their way up in the rodeo world. You may be a great roper but if your horse doesn’t know what he/she is doing, you likely won’t get the job done. Like the bucking stock, the horses are there to do their job and make their owner look good.

The animals are highly respected in the rodeo world. The animals go through training and practice just like the competitors. With more than 700 head of livestock, including 310 head of bucking stock, 75 calves and 120 steers for roping, 90 contestant horses and 50 horses who participate in grand entry, the NFR would not be possible without these animal athletes.

Sources

Experience, NFR. “The Official NFR Experience.” NFR Experience, www.nfrexperience.com/.

“National Finals Rodeo.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Sept. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Finals_Rodeo. 

“National Finals Rodeo.” Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS, www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=NA008.

Schrock, Katie. “What Does It Take to Qualify for the National Finals Rodeo?” That Western Life, That Western Life, 31 Dec. 2022, www.thatwesternlife.com/podcast/episode108. 

1. an exhibition or contest in which cowboys show their skills at riding broncs, roping calves, steer wrestling etc.

Rodeo Origin

Rodeos originally originated in Mexico in the early 1800’s, where cowboys worked on perfecting their roping and riding. When not doing ranch work, the cowboys would make a competition between ranches of who could ride the rankest horses or throw the best rope, this quickly drew a crowd.

As the years went on and Texas took over parts of Mexico, this “competition” and culture got absorbed into the Western American culture. Eventually in 1883, the event Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show started and in 1893 it became one of the most popular events hosting three million attendees at the World’s Columbian Exposition. In 1945, the cowboy union named themselves as the Rodeo Cowboys Association, where the sports name became common. 30 years later, the organization had become one of the worlds largest associations and gained the name of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association otherwise known as the PRCA.

In the last few years, there are have been more than 5,000 competitors and thousands in noncompeting roles. Hundreds of events are hosted throughout the year by the PRCA, competitors then head to finals where they compete for the winning prize money of millions of dollars.

Womens History In Rodeo

Although many of the rodeo sports focused on the men of the Western World, women quickly took shot at the rodeo world in the early 1940s. They attempted the cowgirl bronc riding contest which was suggested by Gene Autry. However, this did not last long and quickly the cowgirl sections disappeared from the rodeos. However, these strong willed cowgirls did not give up on getting back into the sport and in 1948, the Girl’s Rodeo Association, which is now called the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) was formed by a group in Texas. The women quickly made their way back into the rodeo world specifically in barrel racing which spread through the country.

Sources

Murray, Katie. “A Brief History of Rodeo in the United States.” AGDAILY, 3 July 2024, www.agdaily.com/livestock/brief-history-of-rodeo-in-the-united-states/. 

Smithsonian Magazine. “A Brief History of the Rodeo.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-rodeo-180980341/ 

“History of Rodeo.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Aug. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rodeo#:~:text=Rodeo%20stresses%20its%20western%20folk,to%20the%20sixteenth%2Dcentury%20conquistadors. 

My Free Inquiry Project has taken me some time to come up with as I wanted it to be something that really interests me. In order to make my decision I started with the idea around my horse. Growing up I have always been involved in the horse world and it is something that I hope to carry throughout my entire life. I am lucky enough to be able to have a horse and move up in the industry. However, I found that focusing my project on my horse would be difficult as she is not on the island with me. I altered my idea to the horse world, which I didn’t think I could write enough on it so I altered my idea again which I ultimately landed on the topic of the Rodeo Industry.

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How and Why I chose this topic?

I chose the rodeo industry as my inquiry topic as it is something that really interests me. Throughout the spring and summer of 2024 I travelled around BC watching and supporting the rodeo circuit. I learned a lot through these trips and made some close connections to people within the industry. I also worked with a family friend who is a Champion Barrel Racer as well as a Champion Breakaway Roper, I learned a lot from her and am lucky to continue to work with her to learn more. Travelling to these events as well as working with her made me more and more interested in pushing myself and my horse to enter some of the events. Ultimately I chose this topic because it is something I am passionate about and hopefully something I will be able to pursue in the following years.

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Topics I will research

• Rodeo History
• NFR
• PBR
• Rodeos within BC
• History of Breakaway Roping
• Why Breakaway Roping interests me
• Rodeo Community

I will hopefully have a total of 10 subtopics. At the moment I have 7 but will expand my research as the project goes on.