Steer Roping

Steer roping, also known as steer tripping or steer jerking, is a rodeo event that features a steer and one mounted cowboy.

The steer roper is behind a "barrier" - a taut rope fastened with an easily broken string which is fastened to the rope on the steer. When the roper is ready he calls for the steer and the chute man trips a lever opening the doors. The suddenly freed steer breaks out running. When the steer reaches the end of his rope, the string breaks simultaneously releasing the barrier for the roper (Should the roper break the barrier, a 10-second penalty is added to his time). The roper must throw his rope in a loop around the steer's horns.

Once the rope is around the steer's horns, the roper throws the slack of the rope over the steer's hip and then turns his horse to the left, when the rope comes tight it lefts the hip up and pulls the steers head around or tripping the steer.

The roper will jump off the horse while the horse continues pulling the steer along the ground. The horse stops and the roper ties three of the steer's legs together with a piggin string using a half hitch knot. colloquially called a hooey. The roper returns to his horse, mounts, and moves the horse forward, releasing the tension on the rope. An official will then time six seconds. If the steer is still tied at the end of the six seconds, an official time for the event is taken.

Team roping is an unrelated event using two riders, one which ropes the head, the other the heels, immobilizing the animal between them.

The event is considered controversial due to concerns about animal welfare, however, within the United States has only been made explicitly illegal in Rhode Island as of 2001.

In 2012, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association record for steer roping was set by Cody Scheck, with a time of 7.7 seconds.

Famous quotes containing the word steer:

    Earth laughs in flowers, to see her boastful boys
    Earth-proud, proud of the earth which is not theirs;
    Who steer the plough, but cannot steer their feet
    Clear of the grave.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)