Festival Western de St-Tite

RODEOS / DESCRIPTIONS
Descriptions of events

Roughstock Events :

		Bareback Riding
		Bull Riding
		Saddle Bronc Riding

Timed Events :

		Calf Roping
		Team Roping
		Steer Wrestling

Gymkhana / Skill Events :

		Rescue Racing
		Exchange Rider
		Barrel Racing

Team Roping

Team roping is the only rodeo event that features two contestants. The team is made up of a header and a heeler. The header ropes the horn, then dallies or wraps his rope around his saddle horn and turns the steer to the left for the other cowboy who ropes the heels. The heeler must throw the loop with precision timing to catch both of the steer’s hind legs. Once both ropers have made a catch, pulled their horses and steer to a stop, and are facing each other, the time clock stops.
(From How to watch an IPRA rodeo)

Team roping, while not an official CPRA event, is so popular with audiences that it is often included in many pro rodeos.
As in the other timed events, the steer starts the clock when he breaks the barrier of the starting box. A ten-second penalty is added to the team’s score if the header breaks the barrier prematurely.
The header throws a loop over the running steer’s head and dallies up to slow the animal’s headlong dash. This allows his partner, the heeler, to rope the critter’s hind legs. As soon as the animal is immobilized, the ropes are taut and the horses are facing each other, the judge drops his flag, stopping the clock.
These roping events are the most closely linked to skills working cowboys employ on the open range. There, calves and cows have to be roped for a little doctoring from time to time and this is the only practical way to catch them when the nearest corral may well be miles away.
(From Rodeoin’)