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July 18-27, 2025
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Women’s breakaway roping is comparable to men’s tie-down roping, except the cowgirls are not required to dismount and tie the calf
The quickest breakaway roper takes home the buckle.
In breakaway roping, the cowgirl has a flag tied close to the end of her rope and a nylon string tied from the rope to the saddle horn.
When the rope grows tight after the calf is roped, the string breaks away from the saddle horn and the flag goes flying, signaling the timer to stop the clock.
In order to score, the rider must
The clock stops. The fastest time wins.
The most common penalty in breakaway roping is the 10 seconds added when a roper breaks the barrier, failing to give the calf the appropriate head start. Breakaway ropes may also be flagged out (disqualified) for any catch other than a bell-collar catch—that is, a clean catch around the calf’s neck.
One of the first rodeo events and as western as the word itself, the wild horse race started in the 1800’s as a competition between ranch teams. From its roots as a race through town with only wagons as fences, the wild horse race is now a fully grown rodeo event. In today’s wild horse races, true wild horses are no longer used. Instead, cowboys race ranch-raised horses.
10 or more teams of 3 cowboys each with their own job, saddle the horse and ride it across the finish line.
When the pistol is fired the teams begin
The mugger’s job is to keep control of the horses head, so it doesn’t rear back.
The shanker holds the lead rope so the horse doesn’t run away.
The rider must saddle the horse and race it around the track.
The first team to successfully ride the horse across the finish line wins.
Barrel Racing evolved from the relay races in the old wild west shows. Introduced into rodeo as an exclusive event for women on horseback, our barrel racing is sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. The competition shows true teamwork between rider and horse.
Barrel racing uses electric timers and three barrels set in a clover-leaf pattern. They may enter the arena at a leisurely pace, but when they run between the timers it is full speed ahead. They can go around the left or right barrel first depending on what their horse likes best. They circle the second then third barrel and race back across the line stopping the clock.
If the contestant breaks the pattern they are given a no time.
A 5-second penalty is added to the contestant’s time for any barrel that is knocked over.
Beginning as a chore that can be traced back to the 1800’s at the old working ranches of the west, derived from roping calfs for medical treatment and branding, tie-down roping started when ranch hands went head-to-head to see who was the fastest roper. Starting out as informal competition between ranch hands, tie-down roping now relies on good horsemanship and cowboy athleticism just as much as roping.
The quickest tie-down roper takes home the buckle.
Here in Cheyenne the calf is given a 30 foot head start, if the rider starts before then, a 10 second penalty is given
While the cowboy flanks and ties the calf, the horse assists by keeping the rope tight.
In order to score, the rider must
The clock stops, and the rider must remount his horse, slacken the rope and wait 6 seconds. The calf must remain tied, The fastest time wins.
Animal care is a top priority at Cheyenne Frontier Days, and we make sure that animals are treated with the utmost care and respect.
Team Roping started in the old working ranches of the west, when two ropers were needed because the size of the animal was too much for a single man. One cowboy would rope the steer around the horns while the second would rope the legs to allow for branding or vaccination. These skills are essential to a working ranch and are still in use. Team Roping is an event that both men and women compete together.
The Header and Heeler, work together to rope a 600 pound steer in the quickest time to win
Here in Cheyenne the Steer is given a 30 foot head start, if the rider starts before than, he is given a 10 second penalty in given.
The header must rope the steer in one of 3 ways
Once a clean head catch is made, the header must turn the steer.
Then the heeler tries to rope both hind feet.
Team roping was the last addition to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, the first year it was added the rodeos payout topped 1 Million dollars for the first time.
Steer wrestling or Bulldogging is an event where men try to wrestle a 600 pound steer to the ground. Steer Wrestling has a long history at Cheyenne Frontier Days, first being introduced in 1904. It is said that the event is influenced by working cattle dogs who would grab the cattle when they were unruly. Steer Wrestling has evolved and now has a hazer and the Bulldogger. Cattle dogs are still used on ranches today to help manage the cattle.
The Steer is given a 30 foot head start in Cheyenne
To score, the rider must:
Fastest time wins.
Bareback riding is one of rodeos most physically demanding events. It grew in popularity in the early 1900s when there were no set rules, so some riders would hold on to the horses mane, or a loose twisted rope around the horse’s girth. A rigging similar to the one used today was introduced in the 1920s by Earl Bascom who invented it.
The rider must hold on for 8 seconds with only a small leather rigging to hold on to. His hand is wedged into the handle of the rigging and that is the only thing keeping him on the horse.
The rider must “Mark Out”, keeping his boots above the horse’s shoulders until the front legs drop on the first jump. The rider must keep his boots above the horse’s shoulders with his spurs touching the horse until it’s front feet hit the ground on the first jump. Failure to do this results in a disqualification.
The Horse is scored 1-50 points
The Rider is also scored from 1-50 points
Saddle Bronc riding was the first rodeo event introduced to Cheyenne Frontier Days and is often considered the classic event of rodeo, embodying the sport’s roots.
This event demands finesse, balance, and agility from competitors who use a modified western saddle, typically custom-made to their specifications. Unique to Saddle Bronc riding is the buck rein, which is attached to a halter, and the rider must decide precisely where to place and hold it.
Competitors must ride for eight seconds, adhering to strict rules such as keeping one hand on the rein, maintaining both feet in the stirrups, and ensuring their spurs touch the horse’s shoulders on the first jump, following the “mark out” rule.
The Horse is scored 1-50 points
The Rider is also scored from 1-50 points
Gaining popularity in the nineteenth century, Bull Riding started as a competition among cowboys to determine who was the toughest rider. Starting on small ranches and moving to wild west shows and finally going on its own, bull riding has become the rodeos most popular event to-date.
Some Bulls even become more famous than the riders, a Bull named “Mr. T” bucked off every bull riding champ of the 1980s. He was ridden for the first time in Cheyenne. Only two other men ever rode “Mr T” before he was retired in 1990.
The rider must hang on with one hand for 8 seconds to qualify. Sounds easy, right?
The Bull is scored from 1-50 points
The Rider is also scored from 1-50 points
All while not touching the bull with the free hand
Exclusive Bull Riding Events grew out of Rodeo and have become popular with both fans and contestants
