Bare Back riding

In Bare back riding, cowboys ride bucking horse, also called rough stock, without a saddle or rein. Competitors ride one-handed using a leather rigging and are not allowed to touch themselves or their horse with their free hand. The rider begins his ride with his feet placed above the break of the horse’s shoulder. If the rider’s feet are not in the correct position when the horse hits the ground on its’ first jump out the chute, he has not “mark out” the horse and he is disqualified. A qualified ride is eight seconds long. Riders are judged on their control and spurring technique. The horses are judged on their power, speed and agility. A good score in the bareback riding is in the mid 80s.

Steer Wrestling

Steer wrestling, also known as bulldogging, is the quickest of all the rodeo events and requires strength, speed, timing and an understanding of the principles of leverage. Steer Wrestling is a timed event, which means cowboys compete against each other and the clock. The cowboys start off in the box, which is a three sided fence area at the end of the rodeo arena. A barrier is placed across the box and the steer is loaded into the chute. The rider will nod his head and the steer is released and he charges after it on his horse. The wrestler will catch up to the steer, leans over, jumps off his horse and grabs the steer by its head and horns. He then plants his feet and tosses the steer onto its side, stopping the clock. A winning time is usually between three to four seconds, and breaking the barrier results in a 10 second penalty.

Saddle Bronc

Unlike bull riding and bareback riding, saddle bronc riding relies less on strength and more on timing and the skill of the rider. The rider spurs from the front of the horse then back to the skirt of the saddle in an arcing motion. The cowboy must con- stantly lift on the rein to keep his seat in the saddle. Cowboys are judged on control, spur motion and timing. Saddle broncs are judged on their bucking ability. A good score is in the high 80s.

Tie-Down roping

Formerly known as calf roping, Tie-down roping is the most competitive of the rodeo events. Tie-down ropers start in the box. The calf is released and the cowboy ropes it as fast as possible. Once the calf is caught, the cowboys dismounts, runs to the animal, tosses it on its side, which is known as flaking and ties up three of the calf’s legs and the time stops. After the tie, the roper remounts his horse and waits six seconds to see if the calf struggles free. If it does, roper receives no time and is disqualified from the round. If it does not, he receives his time. If the roper breaks the barrier he receives a 10 second penalty added to his time.

Barrel Racing

In barrel racing the fastest time is what counts as cowgirls compete against each other and the clock. The most important thing about barrel racing is cooperation between the horse and rider. For the event the arena is cleared and three barrels are set up at different marked locations. The riders enter the arena at full speed then quickly rounds each barrel in a cloverleaf pattern and exits where they entered. The rider receives a time at the end of the event. For each barrel a rider knocks over, a five second penalty is added to the total time. Leaving the barrels standing is what every rider wants. A winning time is generally between 13 to 14 seconds depending on the size of the arena.

Bull riding

Bull riding is the most recognized sport in the rodeo world and the most dangerous. Just like bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riders ride with one hand and cannot touch themselves or the bull with their free hand. Judging for bull riding is the same as bare back and saddle bronc. Two judges give 25 points for the cowboy’s performance and 25 points for the animal’s performance. The maximum score is 100 points and is considered a perfect ride. Bull riders use a bullrope and rosin to ride. The bullrope is a thickly braided rope with a cowbell attached to it which acts like a weight. This allows the rope to safely fall off the bull when the ride is over. The rosin is a sticky substance that helps in the grip of the ropes. The Bull riders wrap their bullrope around the bull and use the remainder of the rope to wrap around their hand to secure themselves to the bull. The main priority is to stay on the bull for eight seconds, but the cowboys can spur extra points. A good score in the bull riding is in the 90s.

Central’s Rodeo Club members and competitors will be tough enough to wear pink this Friday at the first of their two annual college rodeos, and hope spectators will bravethe color as well.

This year, the Rodeo Club teamed up with Wrangler and their Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign for breast cancer. For Friday’s Northwest Regional Rodeo No. 4 (NWRR4), competitors, club members and audience members can wear pink in support of breast cancer research.

“We’re really excited that we can turn our whole Friday rodeo into something really good for a worthwhile cause,” Rodeo Club advisor Kay Davis said.

When asked to pick somewhere to give all the proceeds to, the club decided on a place close to home. ’Ohana Mammography, part of the Yakima Valley Memorial Hospitals, will receive all of the proceeds from Friday’s event.

“They [’Ohana] are completely beside themselves,” Davis said. “They can’t believe we picked them.”

In honor of the event, the club will have Tough Enough to Wear Pink stickers, bandannas, beads, bracelets and other items for sale for anyone who doesn’t have pink of their own.

“No pink, no problem,” Rodeo Club president Ashley Smith said. “We will have merchandise for sale. The most expensive thing is $3.”

According to Davis, the club decided to keep things smaller based on the audience filled with students who may not have a lot of money to spend.

In addition to having merchandise sales and a 50-50 raffle benefit the cause, the club got the community involved. According to Davis, some people stepped up to sponsor the event and agreed to donate money if the winner of a particular event is wearing pink.

“We’re hoping we got the word around enough and that all of the competitors from other schools will wear pink,” Davis said. “This will be a nice, rewarding addition to our weekend rodeo.”

The second rodeo of the weekend will begin Saturday, with finals on Sunday. The sixth annual Central Washington University Todd D. Anderson Memorial Rodeo holds a special place in the hearts of rodeo members.

“The thing I look forward to the most is keeping Todd’s memory alive,” Smith said. “I get to see the people who knew him again.”

Anderson passed away in a house fire at his Ellensburg residence in January 2003. He was serving as Rodeo Club president at the time.

According to Davis, all of the members who knew Todd personally have graduated or left Central, but his memory has been passed on to new members every year through conversation and an annual PowerPoint presentation.

“Todd was an amazing person,” Smith, who was close to Todd’s roommate, said. “He is the most inspirational person our club has ever had.”

A Silent Auction, known as “Todd’s Auction,” will take place on Saturday. Volunteered labor, horse riding lessons, gift certificates and various items will be on auction. All proceeds will go towards the Todd D. Anderson Memorial Scholarship.