New to watching a ranch rodeo event? Here’s a little information (from Wikipedia, the WRCA website, and other sources) that will help you follow the action in the ring all weekend.
Each year, the Motley-Dickens Old Settlers Reunion hosts aninvitationalranchrodeosanctioned with the WRCA. Spectators can watch teams compete on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m.
A ranch rodeo is a traditional type of rodeo in which teams of cowboys or cowgirls from different ranches compete against each other in events based on the type of work they do every day.
Ranch rodeos differ from the more common PRCA-style rodeos in several ways. For starters, the contestants are not professional rodeo cowboys; instead, they are usually full-time ranch hands who compete in annual ranch rodeos for fun and for bragging rights.The events in ranch rodeos are more similar to the tasks commonly performed on a ranch, and the equipment and tack used are the same as those used during everyday ranch work. Instead of competing as individuals, the contestants in ranch rodeos compete as a team representing the ranch they work for. Though there are often individual awards such as “Top Hand” and “Top Horse,” the main prize is for the top overall ranch team.
Sanctioning bodies include the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, which sponsors the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas; and the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association, whichsponsorstheWSRRANational Finals in Winnemucca, Nevada.
The Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) was established in 1995 in Amarillo,Texas, as a professional association for ranch owners, foremen, and cowboys. One of their stated goals was to keep the western heritage, ideals, and work ethics alive.
Most ranch rodeos consist entirely of timed events, with the goal being to complete the assigned task in the shortest possible time.Commonranchrodeoevents include:
• Calf Branding – Teams have to find and rope specific calves (identified by a randomly-assigned number) out of a larger herd of cattle, bring the calves to the branding area, and “brand” them by marking the calves with chalk.
• Steer Doctoring – Similar to calf branding, except the cattle are older and larger, and the event simulates bringing a sick animal in from the herd for veterinary care.
•Team Penning – Teams must sort off a few specific cattle (each identified by a specific flank number) from a larger herd, and move those cattle into a small pen at the other end of the arena.
• Wild Horse Race – Teams must saddle a wild horse and ride it across the finish line at the far end of the arena.
• WildCowMilking –Theteams rope a wild cow and hand-milk it into an empty soda bottle. One member runs the bottle across the finish line on foot, then pours out some for judges to prove they accomplished their task!
• SaddleBroncRiding: Derived from the practice of “breaking” or training saddle horses in the early days of the American West, a contestant sits in a standard saddle attached to the back of the horse – but with no saddle horn. For leverage, he holds a thick “rein” or rope that is attached to the horse’s halter, which can only be held with one hand.
WRCA GENERAL RULES
Teams will consist of 4 to 6 members with any four members eligible to compete in the team events. Only team members registered and approved for that team by the WRCA may compete under penalty of no time for each event infraction that occurs.
All contestants in the arena must wear boots, hats, long sleeve shirt, leggings or chinks.
The Judges have the authority to give a no time in an event for the intentional abuse of livestock.
No harassmnent of the Judges will be tolerated. The result will be disqualification of the team involved. The Judges’decision will be final. ln all events there will be NO loping into the herd. A 20 second penalty will be added for violation as determined by Judges per infraction in each event.
Three (3) minute time limit on all events.
If a cowboy dismounts his horse,hisropemustbecompletely off of the horse and saddle in all events. A 20 second penalty will be added to the team’s time for the event if rope is not off.
Ties for first place prize will be broken by: First—the team with the least no time events. In the case neither team had a no time, the prize will go to the highest placing team, of the two tied teams, in tbe branding. ln all ties, monies for both placings will be added together and divided evenly between the two tied times.
One loop limit per man in all events, except Wild Cow Milking is a two loop limit.
Team Captain must cbeck in at rodeo oflice betore 6 p.m. Captains’ meeting will begin at 6 p.m. All teamsmustbemountedandready tor introductions by 7:00 p.m. Every teamthatisatthemeetingonTIME and signed in will receive 5 points to their score.
MOTLEY-DICKENS RODEO RULES
From Motley-Dickens County Rodeo Facebook page
BRONC RIDING
Must ride for eight (8) seconds. A standard working saddle must be used. No Night Latches. No PRCA rigging allowed. No Hobbling of one or both stirrups. Horse has to be saddled as he would be for everyday use. A regular bucking horse leather halter must be used and must be provided by the contestant. A re-ride may be awarded at Judge’s discretion.
WILD COW MILKING
A FOUR (4) MAN TEAM INCLUDES A ROPER, A MILKER AND TWO (2) MUGGERS. Only roper will be horseback. Roper will be let in the arena at back but must stay behind start Line; muggers and milkers must be in circle with Judge on side of arena until roper crosses the start line; failure to do this will result in a thirty (30) second penalty. Cow will be released from bucking chute in front of arena. When cow clears gate, flagman will drop his flag starting the roper and the time. Three (3) minute time limit. Two (2) loop limit. Catch as catch can, but cow’s head must pass through the loop.
Cow must be standing when milked; any contestant can milk cow. Roper may dismount and help mug cow.The milker can pass off bottle to another man to run to Judge. Runner must bring rope with him to the circle and hand bottle to Judge. Judge will flag stop time. Bottle must have at least enough milk to drip out of bottle; team with fastest time wins.
Team will consist of four (4) horseback. Any combination of team members across the line is acceptable. Steers in the herd will be numbered. Each team will draw a number. Time will start and steer number will be called when first member crosses the line.
Numbered steer will be cut from the herd in a clean cut. A NO TIME will result from any steer crossing the line other than the designated number to be roped. Team is not responsible for herd after designated steer has crossed the line. After designated steer has been sorted it may not cross back over the line. Crossing back over the line will result in a NO TIME under any circumstances. Steer will be headed and heeled. Legal catches are horn, half head or neck. A five (5) second penalty for one hind leg will be added. Steer must be lying on side prior to doctoring; team member must place a mark between the eyes of the steer. Must take ropes off of the steer as time will be called when ropes are removed. Four (4) loop limit (one loop per man).
Team will consist of one roper, two flankers, one brander and two herdholders(ifteamdoesnothave enough members for 2 herd holders, theymaygetherdholdersfrom another team). One team at a time will work. Calves will be numbered; your number will be called and time will start when roper crosses time line. Brand must be placed on either side from the shoulder to the hip (no head, neck, leg, belly or tail). May not lope in or out of herd, 20 second penalty per infraction. Catch as catch can. Horse and calf must be behind the line when calf is roped. Flankers can not handle the calf until calf crosses the line. Branding iron can not leave the pot until the calf is flanked and the rope is clear from the calf. Judge will yell “Go” to release the brander. Calf must be on his side before branded. Time stops when branding iron returns to the pot. One team will run at one time.
Team will consist of four (4) horseback. Any combination of team members across the line is acceptable. Herd will consist of ten (10) head numbers 0 to 9. Only five (5) head will be sorted. Time will start and yearling number will be called when first member crosses the line. Number called will be first yearling sorted across the line.
Sorting order will follow in numerical order. (Ex. Number called is 8. 8 will be sorted first then 9, then 0, then 1 until five (5) yearlings have been sorted across the line.) Any cattle sorted from the herd incorrectly will result in a no time. Any correctly sorted cattle that return across the line will also result in a NO TIME. Cattle must be sorted from herd one at a time.
Time will end when fifth correct yearling crosses the line. There must be air space between each yearling to be considered a clean cut. ONLY one person in the herd at a time. A herd consists of 2 or more head of cattle.
All team members are eligible for Top Hand. All team members will be given a number to be worn at all times. All horses are eligible for Top Horse. A number will be provided for each horse in the competition. This number should be placed on the saddle blanket during all of the competition.
Points will be issued for each place. Twenty (20) points for 1st; nineteen (19) points for second; down to 1 point for 20th place. There will be. There will be no points for a no time. Overall placing will be determined by the total points over five events.
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