Ranch Rodeo
Presented by COWGIRL Magazine


OPENS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024
AT 8:00 AM MST, UNTIL FULL
Details: Teams of 4, Max of 2 teams per Contestant
Entry Fee: $1,000 per Team
*Limited to 35 Teams
Dates: February 26-28
*Full Schedule Posted Soon, Exact Dates Subject to Change
Prelim Events: Ranch Horse, Branding, Team Roping, Sort & Doctor
Finals Events: Team Roping, Sort & Doctor, 4-Head Ranch Steer Stopping
General Information: Top 10 teams from preliminaries will come back to the Finals. Finals is clean slate. If on multiple teams at least two team members must be different. Events subject to change. Any changes will be posted & reviewed at the judges meeting prior to event.

*EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ANY CHANGES WILL BE POSTED & REVIEWED AT JUDGES MEETING PRIOR TO EVENT. *A COMPLETE SET OF RULES WILL BE EMAILED TO THE TEAM CAPTAIN CLOSER TO THE EVENT.
Ranch Horse (Prelims Only)
One rider will enter the arena and call for a cow. Cow will be boxed until rider feels she has control of the cow. Rider must go down the fence and make one fence turn (at least) past the center marker. After fence turns rider will take down their rope, neck the cow with a legal head catch and stop the cow. Run is complete when the rope is tight and the cow faces
- Two Loop Limit
- Rider is limited to one new cow
- IF YOU USE TWO HANDS ON A SHANKED BIT THERE WILL BE .5 POINT PENATLY ADDED TO EACH MANEUVER
- All bits/bosals are legal
- No cavessons, tie downs or training aids
- Must be a legal head catch, no front legs
Branding (Prelims Only)
Four calves will be let into arena behind a line. Two team members will be on their horses, two work as ground crew. Calf must be necked and brought out of the herd before it can be heeled. Herd must be held. Ropers and ground grew will switch after first two calves are branded.
- 6 Minute time limit
- 10 seconds per animal across line without a neck rope.
- Ground crew are allowed to help hold the herd
- Time starts when flag is dropped
- Ropes must be set correctly on front and hind feet before calf can be branded
- Branding iron can leave bucket at any time
- 30 seconds for brand hitting ground
- 60 seconds for misbranding (wrong side, upside down, etc)
- Only illegal loop is a belly loop. Belly loops must be stripped before steer can be roped again Time will stop when iron is in the bucket
Team Roping (Prelims & Finals)
Members will split into two teams and head and heel the 2 steers turned in to arena. Flag will drop when ropes are tight and horses are faced. You cannot switch partners mid run. All team members must rope.
- 3 loops per team or two-minute time limit
- Time starts when flag drops
- Legal head catches only. No front legs
- One leg +5
- NO TIME if one or both teams fail to catch
Sort & Doctor (Prelims & Finals)
Numbered cattle will be settled behind panels at opposite end of arena as where flagger and ropers start. When flag drops, contestants can go to the herd. Designated numbered cow will be sorted. Once across the line (through the gate) steer will be headed, heeled and ropes set and chalked.
- 5-minute time limit
- No loop limit
- Time starts when flag drops
- Extra cattle must be taken back into the herd and designated re-sorted before being roped
- Front legs are legal
4-Head Ranch Steer Stopping (Finals Only)
Each team member of every team will steer stop one steer. The fastest combined times on 4 head wins the event. *This new event will be reviewed extensively during the judges meeting.
- 1 Loop
- Time starts when steer crosses the line (electric eye will be used for timer)
- Time stops when steer is faced
- Flagger will start roper after steer crosses line
- Legal head catches only
- Fastest team on 4 head wins

2025 Ranch Rodeo Entry
2025 Ranch Rodeo Waitlist
*Waitlist is limited to 20 teams.