The Ranching Roots

Out on the expansive open ranges, cowboys/cowgirls frequently had to safely catch and temporarily secure calves to properly identify them or administer vital medical treatment. Working entirely alone, a cowboy/cowgirl relied completely on their highly trained horse to maintain gentle tension on the rope while they safely handled the calf on the ground. Today, this essential daily ranch practice has evolved into a lightning-fast, highly technical rodeo event.

The Basic Rules

• The Start and The Barrier: The calf is given a head start, and the cowboy/cowgirl must wait behind an automatic barrier on a “score line” that is set between 8 and 12 feet. If the cowboy/cowgirl anticipates the start and breaks the barrier too early, a 10-second penalty is added to their final time.
• The Catch and Tie: The cowboy/cowgirl tosses their lasso, safely dismounts their horse, and must carefully guide the calf to the ground using only their hands. They then use a short rope called a “pigging string” to cross and safely secure three of the calf’s legs together, finishing it off with a half-hitch knot.
• Hands Off: Once the cowboy/cowgirl finishes securing the calf, they raise their hands in the air to signal the clock to stop.

How It’s Scored

• Just like Steer Wrestling, this is strictly a timed event.
• The clock stops the moment the cowboy/cowgirl raises their hands.
• Cowboys/cowgirls have to be incredibly fast and precise, as there is a strict 25-second time limit to complete the entire event.