by Janette Peel

Created on: June 29, 2009

Wrestling a steer is not for the feint hearted. It demands courage, strength, skill, good timing and a well-trained horse. Also known as bulldogging, a steer wrestling event can be the quickest event performed at a rodeo, usually within the vicinity of 3.5 to 10 seconds, from when the gates open to the official waving the flag.

The aim of this event is for a rider to drop from his galloping horse while grabbing a 500 to 700 pound steer by the horns bringing it to the ground in the fastest possible time.

As in all sport, events proceed in a certain way and particular rules and regulations apply to them. In the event of steer wrestling, two riders are involved. The participant wrestling the steer begins by waiting, mounted on his horse, in readiness on the left side of the chute behind a taut rope barrier. This contestant must keep his horse in check and remain behind the rope barrier until it is released. If he breaks through the barrier he will suffer an added ten second penalty to his time.

The second rider, the hazer, acts as a wing man and is positioned on the right side of the chute. His purpose is to gallop alongside the steer, keeping it heading in a straight direction.

When ready, the steer wrestler nods to the chute-man for the steer to be released. The spring-loaded gates open and the steer races away with the hazer close by. After a 10 foot head start the barrier rope is released and the mounted bulldogger gallops at top speed to reach the side of the steer.

Edging in closely, the steer wrestler leans from his galloping horse and grabs the steer's left horn with his left hand and the right horn he holds in the crook of his right elbow. With the forward motion of the galloping horse and the slowing speed of the held steer, the bulldogger is naturally pulled free from his horse. If the rider totally misses the beast as he leaves his horse, he will be awarded a 'no' time.

With his legs extended in front of him, the cowboy's feet meet the ground. He digs in his heels and slides himself and the steer to a halt. The steer must be standing before it is wrestled to the ground. If the steer stumbles and falls before being thrown, the wrestler must wait for the steer to be upstanding.

The bulldogger now releases the left horn from the crook of his elbow and reaches for the steer's nose. With feet sliding and pushing down on the right hand horn and twisting the steer's head up with the left arm, the steer is pulled off balance and tossed to the ground.

The time is recorded when the steer is lying flat on its side with all four legs extended off the ground. An official waves a flag signifying the end. The steer is then released and sent back to a holding yard.

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