22 Rodeo Terms You Should Know

Whether you’re new to rodeo, what we would call a “greenhorn,” or an avid rodeo fan, it never hurts to learn new things or test your rodeo knowledge. Below are 22 words you should know when you attend a rodeo.

Breaking the barrier:
Ensures that cowboys don’t get a head start as they chase after the calf or steer.

Bronc:
An untamed horse that habitually bucks.

Bucking:
The rodeo word for a bull or bronc “kicking” in roughstock events.

Bulldogger:
Otherwise known as a steer wrestler, this is the cowboy who wrestles the steer to the ground.

Bullfighter:
After each bull ride, this person distracts the bull so the cowboy can escape the arena safely.

Chaps:
Made of sturdy leather, they are designed to protect the cowboy’s legs during a ride.

Chute:
A pen that holds bulls, horses, steers, and calves before each rodeo event.

Cloverleaf:
The name of the pattern riders have to run in barrel racing.

Cowboy nod:
Indicates to the judge to start the clock and/or open the chute gate.

Flank strap:
A sheepskin-lined or padded leather strap that encourages the roughstock to buck.

Freehand:
Cowboys must have one hand holding on to the animal and their other hand up in the air.

Hazer:
This is the cowboy that helps keep the steer running straight for the steer wrestler to catch in steer wrestling.

Header:
This is the cowboy that ropes first in team roping, aiming for the steer’s horns.

Heeler:
This is the cowboy that ropes second in team roping, aiming for the steer’s hind legs.

Hung up:
When the cowboy gets caught on one of the bull’s horns during bull riding.

No score:
This occurs when the rider falls off the stock before eight seconds in roughstock events or misses the steer or calf in timed events.

Pickup men:
After each ride, these men will help direct or catch stray stock and lead them to the exit.

Re-ride:
If a rider receives a low score due to poor performance from the bull or bronc, they will be given the chance to do a re-ride.

Riggin’:
This is a type of suitcase hold, customized to a rider’s grip.

Roughstock events:
This refers to the category that bronc and bull riding events fall into. All of the other events are called timed events.

Tipping a barrel:
In barrel racing, the rider has to go around all three barrels in the arena. But, sometimes riders will knock barrels over.

Spurs:
Spurs act as a way to encourage the stock to perform or speed up (in the timed events.)