Beginners' Rodeo Terminology: From Chutes to Spurs

Educational Resources > Rodeo Terminology


Every Rodeo Term You'll Need to Know

Rodeo is a thrilling sport with deep roots in ranching culture, combining athletic skill, animal handling, and fast-paced competition. But for those new to the rodeo scene, the terminology can feel overwhelming at first. From timed events like barrel racing to the excitement of rough stock rides, each part of the rodeo has its own set of words and phrases, and learning the lingo can help you to better understand what's happening in the arena and enjoy the action like a pro.

Arena: The enclosed space where all rodeo events are held

Average: The total score or time from multiple rounds, used to rank overall performance

Bareback Riding: A rough stock event where a rider holds onto a rigging with one hand and rides a bucking horse without a saddle

Barrier: A rope or line used to make sure the steer or calf gets a fair head start. If it's broken early, a time penalty is added.

Barrel Racing: A speed event where riders race their horses around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern

Box: The area beside the chute where a horse and rider wait before beginning a timed event

Breakaway Roping: A timed event where a rider ropes a calf and the rope "breaks away" from the saddle when the calf is caught

Bridle: The headgear used to guide and control a horse, including the bit and reins

Bronc: A bucking horse used in saddle bronc or bareback riding

Buck Off: When a rider is thrown off of the animal before completing the required ride time

Bullfighter: A person who protects riders from bulls after they dismount or are thrown off

Bulls: Male cattle used in bull riding, known for their power and unpredictability

Calf Roping: Also known as tie-down roping. In this event, the rider ropes a calf, then dismounts and ties three of the calf's legs together as quickly as possible.

Chute: A narrow gate or pen where the animals are held before being released into the arena

Clown (Rodeo Clown): A performer who entertains the crowd and helps protect riders from bulls

Cowboy: A male rodeo competitor or horseman

Cowgirl: A female rodeo competitor or horsewoman

Crossfire: In team roping, an illegal move where the heeler ropes before the header has turned the steer

Dally: The act of wrapping the rope around the saddle horn during team roping

Day Money: Prize money paid to winners of a single day's performance, regardless of the overall rodeo standings

Draw: The process of assigning random animals to contestants for each round

Drop: The motion of a horse or bull dropping its front end during a bucking motion

Dummy Roping: Practicing roping techniques on a stationary target shaped like a steer

Entry Fee: The money a contestant pays to enter a rodeo competition

Fall: When a rider or horse hits the ground during an event

False Start: Beginning an event too early, often resulting in a penalty

Flagger: The official who signals the end of a timed event and records the time

Flank Strap: A padded strap used to encourage animals to buck by creating slight pressure around their hips

Funnel: The area leading animals into the chute

Gate Man: The person responsible for opening the chute gate to release the animal

Go-Round (or Round): One complete round of competition. Large rodeos often have several go-rounds.

Header: In team roping, the rider who ropes the front end of the steer (usually the horns)

Heeler: The second rider in team roping, who ropes the steer's back legs

Hooey: The small knot tied around the calf's legs in calf roping

Hung Up: When a rider gets caught in the gear or animal and can't get free

Lasso: A rope used for roping animals

Latigo: The leather strap that secures the cinch around a horse's belly to hold the saddle in place

Lead Steer: A trained steer used to guide other cattle during practice runs or training sessions

Mark Out Rule: In bronc events, the rider must have both feet above the horse's shoulders when it jumps out of the chute, or else they receive no score.

Mugger: A person who helps hold an animal still once it's on the ground during steer wrestling

NFR (National Finals Rodeo) : The top championship event in rodeo, held annually and featuring the highest-ranking contestants in each event

No Score: When a contestant fails to meet the rules or time requirements and earns no points

Out Gate: The exit point of the arena where animals leave after an event

Payout: The prize money given based on rankings and performance

Penalty: Extra time or point deductions given for breaking a rule (like breaking the barrier)

Pickup Men: Horseback riders who help competitors safely dismount after riding events and help guide animals out of the arena

Pole Bending: A timed event where a horse weaves through poles in a zigzag pattern

Pulling Leather: When a rider grabs the saddle for balance. In some events, this results in disqualification.

Re-Ride: A second chance given to a rider if the first ride was affected by a problem that wasn't their fault

Rigging: The handhold strap used in bareback riding

Rodeo Queen: A spokesperson and competitor who represents the rodeo at public events

Rough Stock: The bucking horses and bulls used in bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding events

Saddle Bronc Riding: A rodeo event where a rider tries to stay on a bucking horse while using a specialized saddle and holding a rein

Score Line: A marker that must be crossed legally to avoid penalties in timed events

Slack: Extra competition held outside the main rodeo showtime due to too many contestants

Spur: A small metal tool worn on boots, used to signal the horse or bull during the ride

Steer Wrestling: A timed event where a rider jumps off of their horse and wrestles a steer to the ground

Stock Contractor: An individual or business that supplies animals for rodeos

Team Roping: A two-person timed event where one rider ropes the steer's head and the other ropes the back legs

Timed Events: Rodeo competitions that are judged by speed, like calf roping, barrel racing, and team roping

Turn Out: When a contestant chooses not to compete after being entered in an event

Western Saddle: A heavy-duty saddle with a horn, designed for work and rodeo events

Wrangler: Someone who takes care of the horses and helps manage livestock at the rodeo

Youth Rodeo: Rodeos specifically organized for kids and teens to compete in junior versions of standard events

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