Western Pleasure
A competition that judges horses on manners, gait, and the rider’s ability to work in harmony with the horse in a relaxed and natural state.
Tie-Down Roping
A timed rodeo event where a calf is roped by its neck, briefly lifted off the ground, and then tied by three legs.
Steer Wrestling
A rodeo event where a rider jumps off a galloping horse onto a steer and wrestles it to the ground by twisting its horns.
Reined Cow Horse
An judged event that combines elements of reining, cutting, requiring a horse to control a cow by keeping it within a certain section of the arena.
Reining
A judged western riding competition where a horse and rider perform a specific pattern that demonstrates the horse’s athletic ability and willingness to perform various maneuvers.
Ranch Sorting
A cattle-herding event where a team of riders separate numbered cattle from a larger group into separate pens in numerical order.
Ranch Rodeo
A rodeo competition focusing on events that simulate real ranch work, like calf branding, stray gathering, and team sorting.
Ranch Horse
A versatile horse skilled in various ranch tasks, showcased in competitions that can include trail riding, cattle work, and patterned arena work
Heeling
The second part of the team roping event where the second roper (heeler) lassos the steer’s hind legs after the header has made their catch.
Pole Bending
A timed event that features a horse and rider weaving through six poles arranged in a straight line.
Cutting
A judged western riding event where horse and rider separate a single cow from a herd and keep it away for two and a half minutes.
Heading
One part of the team roping event where the first roper (header) lassos the steer’s horns, head, or neck to slow it down for the heeler.
Breakaway Roping
A rodeo event where a rider on horseback attempts to rope a running calf by its neck, but allows the rope to “break away” once caught, without roping it to the ground.
Barrel Racing
A timed rodeo event where a horse and rider complete a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels as quickly as possible.