Order of Events

The Tulsa State Fair Rodeo consists of six PRCA events, as well as the Grand Entry, Priefert Texas Thunder Hitch and the Calf Scramble.  The events occur in the following order:  Grand Entry, Bareback Riding, Priefert Texas Thunder Hitch, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Barrel Racing and Bull Riding.

Terminology of Events

Bareback Riding

Contestants must ride a bucking horse for eight seconds, holding nothing but a single-handhold rigging cinched around the horse’s girth.  Half of the cowboy’s score comes from his spurring technique and “exposure” to the strength of the horse; the other half is determined by the bucking strength of the horse.  A cowboy is not allowed to touch his equipment, himself, or the animal with his free hand.

Steer Wrestling

The concept seems straightforward enough-drop from a horse, grab a steer by the horns and wrestle it to the ground, stopping the clock as quickly as possible.  Timing, technique, strength and the horsemanship of the hazer, who guides the steer in a straight path for the cowboy, are the primary necessities of this event.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Rodeo’s classic event matching a cowboy’s will against the rankest of unbroken horses.  A bronc rider must begin the ride with his feet placed over the bronc’s shoulders, then synchronize his spurring action with the animal’s bucking style in order to receive the highest score possible after the eight second trip.

Tie-Down Roping

A tie-down roping run begins with a mounted cowboy giving a head start to a calf of about 250 pounds, then giving chase down the arena.  After roping the calf, the cowboy dismounts, runs down the rope, (which is anchored to the saddle horn), lays the calf on its side and ties any three of its legs together with a “piggin’ string” he carries clenched in his teeth.

Barrel Racing

A skilled rider and her well-trained horse must work as one to complete the cloverleaf pattern around three barrels and cross the finish line.  Women are allowed a running start before entering the arena and may begin their run on either front barrel.  Time is marked when the rider breaks the starting line and recrosses it for the finish.  When one or two hundredths of a second can separate the final standings, precision and teamwork between the horse and the rider is imperative.

Bull Riding

Perhaps the easiest event to understand, a cowboy tries to ride a bull for eight seconds while holding a simple rope looped around the bull’s midsection.  The rules aren’t complicated:  don’t use your free hand and don’t fall off.  Scoring is based on a possible perfect score of 100 points, with half deriving from the contestant’s efforts and half coming from the bull’s action.

***Information courtesy of the PRCA