While simplistic in equipment, bareback riding is trickier than it looks.

Not only are the horses powerful, but the riders must be in excellent physical shape to stay aboard during the eight-second ride. With nothing to hold but a suitcase-like handle on a strap, known as a “rigging,” the cowboy must maintain balance, and remain controlled and coordinated with the horse’s motion, throughout the ride. The rider atop the horse, hand grasping the rigging, nods his head to signal he’s ready and the chute gate opens. The cowboy must have his feet touching the horse’s shoulders until the animal’s front feet hit the ground – this is referred to as “marking out.” As the horse begins its bucking motion, the rider rolls his feet up the animal’s shoulders and back down just in time for when its front feet return to the dirt. The ride is not only judged on the cowboy’s spurring motion, control, and consistency to stay in motion with the horse’s movement, but also on the degree that his toes remain turned out, and the bucking action of the animal. A rider is disqualified if he touches any part of the horse or himself during the eight-second ride, or fails to stay on for the full eight seconds.

Steer wrestling is the quickest men’s event in rodeo. The objective of the endeavor is evident in its name: to wrestle a steer to the ground using only leverage and strength.

The steer wrestler, or "bulldogger," begins his run along with his "hazer," a second cowboy whose task is to keep the steer from veering away from the steer wrestler. The steer is given a head start, the length of which varies depending on the size of the arena. After the steer has reached the "score line" and the barrier is released, the steer wrestler and hazer chase the steer on their specially trained horses until the bulldogger is in position to dismount onto the racing steer. The steer wrestler slides down the right side of this horse until he can reach the steer's right horn and grasps the left horn in his left hand, then digs his heels deep into the dirt and uses leverage to bring down the steer. All this occurs in 3 to 5 seconds, depending on the size of the arena. In addition to sheer strength, timing and balance are important to the steer wrestler. The hazer also is an important factor in the equation. Without him, the steer could quickly sour a run by veering away from the steer wrestler. Many hazers also supply horses for the steer wrestlers.

Partnership, precise timing, and anticipation – this is what team roping is about. Between header and heeler, this is the only true team event in rodeo.

Both contestants being in their respective “boxes” – a three sided fenced area with an opening facing the arena – on either side of the chute containing the steer. Once the steer has received its head start, the electronic barrier signals for the header to race through. The header takes off in pursuit of the steer, roping it around the horns, neck, or a horn-neck combination, then turns the steer quickly to the left so the heeler has a shot at both of its hind legs.

The clock starts when the header leaves the box and stops when both horses are facing each other and their ropes are taut on the steer. If the header fails to give the steer its allotted head start, the team receives a 10-second penalty in addition to their final time. If the heeler catches only one leg, a five-second penalty is added.

Saddle bronc riding is known as “rodeo’s classic event.” It derived from the practice of breaking saddle horses, but evolved into an event that combines strength, style, grace, and rhythm.

The contestant sits in a saddle, much like one that you would ride comfortably in, but there is no saddle horn at the front. For support, the rider holds a thick rein that is attached to the horse’s halter, which can only be held with one hand. When the gate swings open, the cowboy’s feet must be in front of the horse’s shoulders, a move referred to as a “mark out,” until the front feet of the horse hits the dirt. Every move that the rider makes is in effort to remain synchronized with the horse’s movements. When the horse’s front feet are on the ground, the rider’s heels must be in front of the horse’s shoulders, toes turned out. As the horse resets for his next move, the cowboy brings his heels to the back of the saddle, all the while anticipating the animal’s next jump. If the contestant touches any part of the horse or himself with his free hand or bucks off before the eight-second whistle he is disqualified.

Judges score on various movements: the horse’s bucking quality, the cowboy’s control aboard the horse, as well as his synchronized spurring action. A good solid ride is one where the cowboy looks like he is simply sitting in a rocking chair, rocking back and forth in unison with the horse.

More than any other event in professional rodeo, tie-down roping has roots dating back to the Old West. When a calf was sick or injured, it had to be caught and immobilized quickly for treatment. Ranch hands prided themselves on how fast they could rope and tie calves, and soon they began informal contests.

Being quick and accurate with a lasso aren't the only requirements in tie-down roping. A successful roper also must be an experienced horseman and a fast sprinter. After giving the calf a predestinated head start, the horse and rider give chase. As the cowboy throws his loop, the horse comes to a stop. After catching the calf, the cowboy dismounts, runs to the calf, places it on the ground by hand (called "flanking") and ties any three legs together using a "pigging string" he has carried in his teeth or belt loop throughout the run. While the contestant is accomplishing all this, the horse must keep the slack out of the rope, but not pull it tight enough to drag the calf. If the calf is not standing when the roper reaches it, the cowboy must allow the calf to stand before making the tie. When the roper has completed this tie, he throws his hands in the air as a signal to the flag judge. He then remounts his horse and rides toward the calf, making the rope slack.

Don’t blink or you may just miss the run.

Breakaway roping is the event comparable to the men’s tie-down roping on the cowboy side except the cowgirls are not required to dismount and tie the calf. 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. Once the barrier is released and the calf leaves the roping chute, the cowgirl gives chase throwing the loop around the calf’s neck. 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. The time in the breakaway roping can sometimes get as fast as 2.0 seconds and since it is a timed event, the fastest time wins.

Three barrels, one horse and one woman – simplistic and graceful…until you throw in a stopwatch!

The rider must race around the barrels set in a cloverleaf pattern, while making sure not to knock any over. The horse must not only be swift, but also accurate in its ability to maneuver around the barrels with ease and agility. If the rider or horse makes contact with the barrel, causing it to fall over, the duo will be accessed a five-second penalty to their final time. It is legal for the rider to touch the barrel in an effort to keep it from falling. Because so many barrel racers have so finally tuned their skills, the sport is timed to the thousandths of a second. An “electric eye,” serving as the timer on the arena floor, starts and stops once the horse and rider have broken the plane.

While this event is much harder than it seems, the goal is simple: stop the clock as quickly as possible while leaving all three barrels standing.

Intentionally climbing on the back of a bull – sounds fun, right? What if that bull weighs 2,000+ pounds and explodes from a gate with one thing on his mind: to get you off his back. Those who are brave enough (and have a craving for adrenaline) climb in the chutes onto these unpredictable animals, with one thing on their minds: winning.

To stay aboard the bull, the rider grasps a flat braided rope, which is wrapped around the bull’s girth, takes the handhold into his palm, then loops the rope around his hand and back into this palm so he can grip it tightly. With a nod of his head, the gate is flung open and the bull lunges into the arena.

While this is the most dangerous event in rodeo, it involves the least amount of rules. Riders must stay on for eight seconds, while refraining from touching themselves or the bull with their free hand. If the contestant makes contact with the animal or themselves or bucks off prior to the eight second whistle, they receive a no score. Points are based solely on if the rider remains aboard the animal with only one hand, as well as the bull’s bucking action.