steer rop*ing 
What Is The Definition Of Steer Roping In Rodeo?
Steer roping is a rodeo event in which a rider on horseback lassoes a running steer, then dismounts and ties three of the steer’s legs together.
Steer roping is considered one of the most dangerous rodeo events. It’s also a controversial event, outlawed in Rhode Island and downplayed on some rode schedules. Steer roping should not be confused with team roping, a completely different rodeo event using two riders who try to rope a weanling calf.
What Is The History Of Steer Roping?
Steer roping started informally as a way for cowboys to contain their animals in the wild on round-ups and as playful competition to while away the time in the field. As cattle from different ranches would mingle on the range, ranchers needed to come together and round up their respective steers.
Many of the animals were difficult to control and required ranchers to use ropes to wrangle them and keep them together with the herd. After decades of round-ups, cowboys became extremely skilled in the techniques needed to track, find, and bring back the steer. Many local cowboys created informal competitions to compete against each other for steer roping and wrangling prominence.
Three early rodeos all lay claim to the earliest steer roping contests, including the Cheyenne Frontier Days (1897), Fourth of July at Prescott, Arizona (1888), and Pecos, Texas (1883).
Steer roping began in the early days with the round-up wagon. In those days, it was necessary to rope and throw steers for branding as they had reached an age and size which proved them hard to handle otherwise.
What Is The Technique For Steer Roping?
Steer roping requires a few things: A mounted horseback rider with a rope and a steer.
The steer holds the position in a barrier behind a string rope barrier. That barrier falls when the steer crosses through it, entering the arena. Once the steer has crossed that line, the rider can pursue the steer. The rider seeks to secure the rope around the steer’s horns.
Due to the way the rope is thrown and with the leverage of the horse, the steer becomes unbalanced and trips to the ground. The roper then dismounts from the horse, which is trained to move slower once the rider is off, and the rider attempts to tie three of the steer’s legs together using a half-hitch knot (also known as a hooey). The roper remounts the horse and continues a forward motion which loosens the rope tension on the steer. The clock begins, and if the steer has three legs that remain tied at the end of six seconds, he will be awarded an official time.
Example Of How Steer Roping Is Used In Commentary
1. This weekend, the world’s top 15 steer ropers will head to the national championship in Mulvane, Kansas, to see who can be crowned the top roper in the land.
Also Known As:
1. Steer tripping
2. Steer jerking
Sport The Term Is Used
1. Rodeo
