Steer roping

Steer roping, also known as steer tripping or steer jerking, is a rodeo event that features a steer and one mounted cowboy.[1][2]

Steer roping event in Texas in 2019

Technique

The steer roper starts behind a "barrier" - a taut rope fastened with an easily broken string which is fastened lightly to the steer. When the roper calls for the steer, the chute man trips a lever, opening the doors. The steer breaks out running. When the steer reaches the end of the tether, the string breaks, releasing the barrier for the horse and roper. Should the roper break the barrier, a 10-second penalty is added to his time[3]). The roper must throw his rope in a loop around the steer's horns.[1]

Once the rope is around the steer's horns, a right-handed roper throws the slack of the rope over the steer's right hip and then turns his horse to the left; when the rope comes tight, it pulls on the steer's hip up and turns the steer's head around, tripping or unbalancing the steer so that it falls.[4] The roper dismounts while his horse continues to gallop, pulling the steer along the ground, which prevents the animal from getting back to its feet. The horse is trained to slow once the rider is completely off the horse and has reached the steer, but to keep the rope taunt while the contestant ties three of the steer's legs together with a piggin string using a half hitch knot[5][6] colloquially called a hooey.[7]

The roper returns to his horse, mounts, and moves the horse forward, releasing the tension on the rope. An official will then time six seconds. If the steer is still tied at the end of the six seconds, an official time for the event is awarded.[5]

Team roping is an unrelated event using two riders to rope a steer, one which ropes the head, the other the heels, immobilizing the animal between them. Calf roping or tie-down roping is an event, using a weanling calf that the roper manually throws to the ground after roping and then ties. A related event using calves is breakaway roping, where the calf is roped but not tied.

Professional steer roping

Professional steer roping occurs at the highest level in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). At the end of each season, there is a finals event called the National Finals Steer Roping (NFSR) which takes place in early November at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas. Other PRCA events take place in early December at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.[8][9]

Animal welfare
Further information: Animal treatment in rodeo

Steer roping is considered controversial due to concerns about animal welfare.[10][11] Within the United States it has been illegal in Rhode Island since 2001.[4]

Steer roping is recognized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), but downplayed, mentioned only in passing at the official PRCA website.[12] It is only held at some rodeos,[13] currently about 60 per year,[14] the annual championship competition is held separately from other championship events,[13][15] and steer roping is not included as part of the widely televised National Finals Rodeo.[16]

References
  1. Lawrence, Elizabeth Atwood (1984-05-15). Rodeo: An Anthropologist Looks at the Wild and the Tame. University of Chicago Press. pp. 36–. ISBN 9780226469553. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  2. Rogers, Will; Wertheim, Arthur Frank; Bair, Barbara (1996-02-01). The Papers of Will Rogers: The Early Years : November 1879-April 1904. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 159–. ISBN 9780806127453. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  3. Santos, Kendra (March–April 1995). "When Rodeo Goes on the Run". American Cowboy. p. 74. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  4. Curnutt, Jordan (2001-11-01). Animals and the Law: A Sourcebook. ABC-CLIO. pp. 271–. ISBN 9781576071472. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  5. Wishart, David J. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Great Plains: A Project of the Center for Great Plains Studies. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 785–. ISBN 9780803247871. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  6. Sherman, Josepha (2000-04-01). Steer Wrestling. Heinemann-Raintree. p. 23. ISBN 9781575725079. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  7. Strickland, Charlene (2012-10-19). The Basics of Western Riding. Storey Publishing. pp. 256–. ISBN 9781612122243. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  8. "National Finals Steer Roping". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  9. "National Finals Rodeo". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  10. LeCompte, Mary Lou (2000-02-01). Cowgirls of the Rodeo: Pioneer Professional Athletes. University of Illinois Press. pp. 116–. ISBN 9780252068744. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  11. Baxter, John O.; Slatta, Richard W. (2008). Cowboy Park: steer-roping contests on the border. Texas Tech University Press. p. 4. ISBN 9780896726420. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  12. PRCA Event categories
  13. Britannica.com "Steer roping'
  14. Pendleton Round Up: Steer Roping Archived 2012-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
  15. Steer roping finals
  16. WNFR Standings by event
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