This classic performance event evolved from a cowboy’s job of breaking and training wild horses to be used on the ranches and ranges of the Old West. Tie rider mounts a wild, bucking horse and attempts to ride him in the arena for 8 seconds. This event is a true test of the rider’s skill, strength, and understanding of the bronc’s natural movements in order to tame the horse into a smooth ride.

The steer wrestling event originates from Bill Pickett’s performance at the Real Wild West show in the early 1900s where there is a runaway steer, Pickett roped ’em and jumped off his horse to wrassle it to the ground. Also known as bulldogging, this method of capturing a steer, up to two times bigger than the cowboys themselves, and running up to 30 miles per hour, has evolved into a fast-paced team roping event that is sure to have adrenaline pumping through your body.

Back in the old days, when a rancher needed a horse, they had to track down a wild one, hop on, and hang on for dear life as the house became accustomed to riding. Mastering the ability to tame one of the fastest, wildest creatures on earth, with just one hand, meant a cowboy would always be able to get back to his home on the range. A bareback rider is judged on their spuring technique in combination with the bronc’s unique bucking pattern and is one of the most difficult performance events for a cowboy to master, but when they do, the payout is huge.

In order to brand or care for a temperamental steer, too difficult for one man to handle, the cow would be roped by two cowboys. This true team event is a display of years of hard work, determination, and the ability for two cowboys and their horses to cooperate. When you see a team rope a steer in less than 60 seconds, it’s a showcase of their determination, collaboration, and mastery of a necessary skill to be successful on a ranch.

Tie-down roping is a method to safely catch and restrain a calf for branding or doctoring. When a cowboy is left alone in a pasture without a fence or corral, all they need is their sturdy rope and trusty steed to get the job done. This event evolved as cowboys would race each other to see who’s horse and skills could capture the calf the quickest; the winner walks home with the pride and knowledge that they can get the job done better than the rest of ‘em.

You’ll be amazed at the blazing speed and precision displayed by cowgirls and their horses during the Barrel Racing event. It takes skill, guts, and athleticism to turn tightly around three barrels placed in the arena. You’ll be able to see some of the best female riders in the nation compete to finish the cloverleaf pattern for the fastest time and all the glory at the Snake River Stampede Rodeo.

Are you ready to experience eight seconds of pure adrenaline? Bull riding is one of the toughest events in professional rodeo, yet it’s purely a form of entertainment born from the daily challenges and egos of cowboys to one-up each other. This dangerous, exciting, and physically demanding sport is only one for the most courageous and mentally tough cowboys who dare to compete at the Snake River Stampede.

What is Breakaway Roping? Breakaway roping is an equine sport developed in the Western United States in which a person horseback ropes a calf around the neck, with the roper’s rope “breaking away” from the saddle once the calf is far enough away from the horse.

The rope is attached to the saddle horn with a heavy string allowing it to break when a legal catch is made. All other calf roping rules apply