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ENLARGE
Cowboy up! It's time again for a season of rodeo.
The Snowmass Rodeo is the oldest ongoing event in the Brush Creek valley and is unique in that it hearkens back to the ranching days that preceded the development of the ski area. With a taste for Western heritage, local and visiting families flock to the stands each week to watch the cowboys and cowgirls compete in events that reflect the ranching life of old, a life that settled the West and helped to unify this country from coast to coast.
Knowing the rules of the rodeo can enhance one's enjoyment of this Western spectacle.
For every type of sports competition, there are rules and referees. At the rodeo, look for the two men, Mark Carson and Orrin Moon, in white shirts and black and white vertically striped vests. They are the rodeo judges who make sure that all the competitions are fair and square.
Carson and Moon are in the arena to judge all the roping and rough stock events, and also the barrel racing, mutton busting and calf scramble. Being a rodeo judge is a paid position and these men earn their paychecks by being in the ring from the start to finish.
The most popular events for the competing cowboys and cowgirls are those that involve roping. In fact, so many want to compete that there is not time during the regular rodeo which starts at 7 p.m. each Wednesday.
To accommodate the overflow, the Snowmass Rodeo offers the slack, which starts at 6 p.m. or earlier depending on how many have signed up. So those of you who love to watch the roping events should come out early to catch all of the action.
Regardless of whether they compete in the slack or in the regular rodeo, these roping experts are all competing for the series buckle which is awarded at the end of the 10-week series.
Team roping rules
Team roping is a timed event, where two ropers on horseback chase and rope a steer that is released from a chute. First out of the box is the header, who must rope the steer's head, followed by the heeler who ropes the steer's hind legs. If the steer is roped correctly, then the clock is stopped and the time recorded. The fastest times determine the winners and the points awarded toward the buckle.
The steer has to have a head start, since the horses can run faster, or it would be an unfair advantage for the ropers. Electric eyes are used at the Snowmass Rodeo to ensure that the header doesn't leave the box before the steer gets to the start line. If that happens a buzzer sounds and a 10-second penalty is added to the run.
“There are only three legal catches for the header; clean around both horns, around one horn and part of the head, or around the neck. It is illegal to make a catch with the loop in a figure eight, called a junk loop, or with a bridle catch which goes through the mouth and is inhumane,” said Carson.
For any catch by the header, other than the three legal ones, the team is disqualified.
Once the header has made a legal catch, the steer must be turned and moving forward in tow, which is called “making the switch,” before the heeler can throw his loop; otherwise the team is disqualified. If the heeler only catches one leg, there is a five-second penalty. Both legs must be caught for a smooth or clean run.
When both riders have legal catches, they must face each other, with ropes tight and “dallied,” or tied around the saddle horn, before the timer is stopped.
The safety of the steer is paramount. According to the rules of the Snowmass Rodeo, “All roping steers will have horn wraps, which offer protection for both the ears and the base of the horns. Any steer that is jerked down or falls down shall be immediately released and the flagger shall immediately declare a no time.”
In team roping, both judges are in the arena to look for infractions. Carson and Moon rotate each rodeo between the two positions of line judge and field judge. The line judge watches the start line to make sure that the header does not break out too soon, or that the heeler does not precede the header.
The field judge is on horseback and watches to make sure that all the catches are legal. In reality, both judges watch each roping event from their different perspectives to catch any infractions.
Rough stock rules
While team roping is the most popular event for the contestants, the rough stock events of bull riding, bareback riding and saddle bronc riding are the most popular for the fans. The thrills and virtual spills of these eight-second rides excite the stands like nothing else.
The riders of the bucking horses and bulls must stay on for the requisite eight seconds to qualify for scoring which is done by the two judges. A total of 100 points are possible for a ride. Up to 50 points can be awarded for the performance of the bull or horse, while the other 50 points rate the rider's ability.
“The bulls and horses are judged on how hard they are to ride. For the bulls we look for quick turns, spins, how high they kick, and if they change direction. The horses usually don't spin, we judge them on how high they kick,” said Moon.
The riders are judged on their ability to stay in control and to match the rhythm of the bucking.
In bareback and saddle bronc, the competitors must keep their heels above the horse's shoulders until after the first jump. Failure to do so results in no score.
In all the rough stock competitions, the rider holds on to the rigging with one hand. The rider's free hand cannot touch the bucking animal or the himself. Doing so results in no score.
Before the bucking events the judges inspect the rigging and spurs of the cowboys to make sure it's humane. The spurs should be somewhat rounded and less sharp than the normal spurs that cowboys usu. They help the cowboy stay on the animal somewhat, but mainly it is leg muscles that hold them on the bull or horse.
As in the roping event, no act or action that can be perceived as animal abuse is tolerated.
“We have fined cowboys for being too rough with the steers, the rough stock or even their own horses. They can even be barred from ever competing in a rodeo again. It's just plain wrong. We agree with the PETA people on this issue,” said Carson.
The bucking stock, the roping steers, calves and sheep are all brought to the rodeo by various stock contractors. These animals are the source of their livelihood and they take very good care of them.
Mark Carson and Orrin Moon help to make the rodeo a safe and fair contest for the competitors and the animals. They both have a passion for Western heritage of ranching and rodeos.
The rodeo is a great opportunity to get in touch with the history of how this country was settled. A time to remember the trials and tribulations of the pioneers, the settlers and the ranchers that made our current life in the West possible.
Ann Larson's e-mail address is alarsonco@earthlink.net
Knowing the rules of the rodeo can enhance one's enjoyment of this Western spectacle.
For every type of sports competition, there are rules and referees. At the rodeo, look for the two men, Mark Carson and Orrin Moon, in white shirts and black and white vertically striped vests. They are the rodeo judges who make sure that all the competitions are fair and square.
Carson and Moon are in the arena to judge all the roping and rough stock events, and also the barrel racing, mutton busting and calf scramble. Being a rodeo judge is a paid position and these men earn their paychecks by being in the ring from the start to finish.
The most popular events for the competing cowboys and cowgirls are those that involve roping. In fact, so many want to compete that there is not time during the regular rodeo which starts at 7 p.m. each Wednesday.
To accommodate the overflow, the Snowmass Rodeo offers the slack, which starts at 6 p.m. or earlier depending on how many have signed up. So those of you who love to watch the roping events should come out early to catch all of the action.
Regardless of whether they compete in the slack or in the regular rodeo, these roping experts are all competing for the series buckle which is awarded at the end of the 10-week series.
Team roping rules
Team roping is a timed event, where two ropers on horseback chase and rope a steer that is released from a chute. First out of the box is the header, who must rope the steer's head, followed by the heeler who ropes the steer's hind legs. If the steer is roped correctly, then the clock is stopped and the time recorded. The fastest times determine the winners and the points awarded toward the buckle.
The steer has to have a head start, since the horses can run faster, or it would be an unfair advantage for the ropers. Electric eyes are used at the Snowmass Rodeo to ensure that the header doesn't leave the box before the steer gets to the start line. If that happens a buzzer sounds and a 10-second penalty is added to the run.
“There are only three legal catches for the header; clean around both horns, around one horn and part of the head, or around the neck. It is illegal to make a catch with the loop in a figure eight, called a junk loop, or with a bridle catch which goes through the mouth and is inhumane,” said Carson.
For any catch by the header, other than the three legal ones, the team is disqualified.
Once the header has made a legal catch, the steer must be turned and moving forward in tow, which is called “making the switch,” before the heeler can throw his loop; otherwise the team is disqualified. If the heeler only catches one leg, there is a five-second penalty. Both legs must be caught for a smooth or clean run.
When both riders have legal catches, they must face each other, with ropes tight and “dallied,” or tied around the saddle horn, before the timer is stopped.
The safety of the steer is paramount. According to the rules of the Snowmass Rodeo, “All roping steers will have horn wraps, which offer protection for both the ears and the base of the horns. Any steer that is jerked down or falls down shall be immediately released and the flagger shall immediately declare a no time.”
In team roping, both judges are in the arena to look for infractions. Carson and Moon rotate each rodeo between the two positions of line judge and field judge. The line judge watches the start line to make sure that the header does not break out too soon, or that the heeler does not precede the header.
The field judge is on horseback and watches to make sure that all the catches are legal. In reality, both judges watch each roping event from their different perspectives to catch any infractions.
Rough stock rules
While team roping is the most popular event for the contestants, the rough stock events of bull riding, bareback riding and saddle bronc riding are the most popular for the fans. The thrills and virtual spills of these eight-second rides excite the stands like nothing else.
The riders of the bucking horses and bulls must stay on for the requisite eight seconds to qualify for scoring which is done by the two judges. A total of 100 points are possible for a ride. Up to 50 points can be awarded for the performance of the bull or horse, while the other 50 points rate the rider's ability.
“The bulls and horses are judged on how hard they are to ride. For the bulls we look for quick turns, spins, how high they kick, and if they change direction. The horses usually don't spin, we judge them on how high they kick,” said Moon.
The riders are judged on their ability to stay in control and to match the rhythm of the bucking.
In bareback and saddle bronc, the competitors must keep their heels above the horse's shoulders until after the first jump. Failure to do so results in no score.
In all the rough stock competitions, the rider holds on to the rigging with one hand. The rider's free hand cannot touch the bucking animal or the himself. Doing so results in no score.
Before the bucking events the judges inspect the rigging and spurs of the cowboys to make sure it's humane. The spurs should be somewhat rounded and less sharp than the normal spurs that cowboys usu. They help the cowboy stay on the animal somewhat, but mainly it is leg muscles that hold them on the bull or horse.
As in the roping event, no act or action that can be perceived as animal abuse is tolerated.
“We have fined cowboys for being too rough with the steers, the rough stock or even their own horses. They can even be barred from ever competing in a rodeo again. It's just plain wrong. We agree with the PETA people on this issue,” said Carson.
The bucking stock, the roping steers, calves and sheep are all brought to the rodeo by various stock contractors. These animals are the source of their livelihood and they take very good care of them.
Mark Carson and Orrin Moon help to make the rodeo a safe and fair contest for the competitors and the animals. They both have a passion for Western heritage of ranching and rodeos.
The rodeo is a great opportunity to get in touch with the history of how this country was settled. A time to remember the trials and tribulations of the pioneers, the settlers and the ranchers that made our current life in the West possible.
Ann Larson's e-mail address is alarsonco@earthlink.net
