LGRA will be hosting Liberty Stampede, 2008 in the spring of 2008. Please check back for additional information.
For more information on other rodeos across the United States and Canada, see the IGRA Rodeo Calendar.
If you want to learn how to be a competitor, please contact us.
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Rough Stock Events | Roping Events | Speed Events | Camp Events
Rough Stock Events
Bareback Bronc Riding
A specially designed collection of leather and cinches used for this event is called a "bareback rigging". Compared to the bull rope, this one is really tied on to the animal and has a built-in hand hold. Another difference is that the rider must start the ride with both of his or her feet extended forward over the horse's shoulders on the first leap out of the chute. If the rider misses this, called "marking out", he or she will receive a penalty.
If the rider is lucky enough to make the required 6 seconds, he or she may be plucked to safety as the two "pick-up men" move in and attempt to rescue the rider from his or her bucking mount. Contestants may elect to ride two-handed from start to finish, but will receive a lower score.
Steer Riding
This is a good beginner's event, but not as easy as it looks. The rider has a "bull rope" wound around his or her hand; no knots allowed. This hand hold and the rider's legs are locked like scissors on the steer and are all the rider has to count on to stay on top. A rider who is able to spur, or move their legs back and fourth on the steer's sides, will receive a higher score.
Bull Riding
The ultimate event of the rodeo, Bull Riding, is an advanced version of Steer Riding, but with a one-half ton more beef to contend with and the added danger that many bulls turn back on the rider and attempt to get even for having their routine disrupted. Guaranteed, once you are on the bull and the gate opens, few riders ever leave this event without being slammed to the ground and scurrying for cover, as the Bull Fighter moves in to save the cowboy or cowgirl.
Chute Dogging
This event is designed to give even the novice a chance to compete in rough stock events. The steer and the contestant both start in the bucking chute and face a 60-second time limit. When the chute gate opens, the contestant must bring the steer out to a 10-foot line in front of the chute, and then attempt to wrestle, or "dog" the steer to the ground. The contestant will turn the steer's head up and toward its shoulder, hoping the steer will fall over on its side with all four feet pointing in the same direction as the head is turned.
If the steer is contrary and falls the other way, it is termed a "dog fall" and the contestant can either attempt to turn the head the same direction or let the steer up and start over. Many a steer out-wrestles the dogger and slips away, or is so muscular that you could turn his head completely around once and he still would not fall over.
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Roping Events
Calf Roping On Foot
This is the second step in a roper's career. Most beginning ropers practice on fence posts or other stationary objects and then move into the arena with a live animal. The contestant stands in the roping box and when the calf is released, attempts to throw the loop over the calf's head. Once the loop passes over the calf's head, the contestant must pull up the slack and release the rope.
Mounted Break-Away Roping
The roper is mounted on horseback with one end of his or her rope tied to the saddle horn by a piece of string. When the calf is released from the chute, the roper will be in hot pursuit with lasso swirling above his or her head. When the loop is thrown, it must pass completely over the calf's head. As the calf pulls away from the rider and horse, the rope grows taut and the string will break away from the saddle horn.
Team Roping
Hours of hard work go into the training of this event. This event is loaded with hazards, such as collisions, entanglements, and worst of all, possible loss of fingers. The team consists of two ropers and two well-trained horses. One roper is called the "header" and his or her responsibility is to catch the steer by the horns while the teammate, called the "heeler", has the responsibility of catching the steer's back legs or heels.
When the header makes the catch, he or she must wind the rope around the saddle horn, called "dallying off". The header then turns the steer away from him/herself causing the steer's heels to fly in the air for the heeler's loop to catch. When both ropers have been successful in their tasks, they must turn their horses to face the steer and pull their ropes taut. The team is allowed a total of 3 loops.
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Speed Events
Barrel Racing
Contestants compete for the fastest time in running a triangular, cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. The horses and rider are allowed a running start and time begins and ends upon crossing a starting line. A 5-second penalty is added to the score for knocking over a barrel. The pattern can be started either from the left or right, and contestants that go off the prescribed course are disqualified.
Pole Bending
In this event, horse and rider compete for fastest time working a weaving pattern through six equally space poles. The poles must be at least 6 feet in height and spaced 21 feet apart. A running start is allowed and a 5-second penalty will be assessed for knocking a pole down. Disqualification will take place if the team goes off course or breaks the pattern. This race is interesting to watch.
 Flag Race
A triangular pattern similar to that of the barrel race is used, with the substitution of a pole in place of barrel number three. The two other barrels have a bucket that is 3/4 full of rabbit pellets placed on top of it, and a flag in one of these buckets.
The rider may choose to run to the right or left and as they pass the first barrel, they pickup the flag, race around the pole, back to the second barrel, and attempt to place the flag in the second bucket. If the rider knocks over the first bucket or the pole, a 5-second penalty will be assessed. If the rider does not pick up the flag or misses the second bucket, no time will be given. If the second bucket or barrel is knocked over, the rider is disqualified. Sounds easy, but try this at 30 plus miles per hour on the back of a horse.
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Camp Events
Goat Dressing
This two-person event was created especially for the gay rodeo. The team stands 50 feet from the point where the goat is tethered. One of the team members has a pair of jockey-style underwear worn over their forearms. When the whistle sounds, the team runs to the goat. The team member without the underwear picks up the goat's rear hooves, grabs the underwear from around the other member's arms, and pulls it up the legs of the goat.
Both team members must then race back to the start/finish line. The underwear must stay over the goat's tail bone until both members of the team run back past the timer.
Steer Decorating
This event requires a two-person team. One member stands ten feet from the chute gate holding the end of a 25 foot rope, which is looped around the steer's horns. The other team member stands 40 feet from the chute and has a 24 inch long ribbon. When the chute gate opens, the team must bring the steer out and across the ten foot line. One team member tries to tie the ribbon on the steer's tail while the other team member tries to remove the rope from the steer's horns.
When the ribbon is on the tail and the loop is off the horns, the ribbon-tier must tag the timer.
Wild Drag Race
This event is an audience favorite all across the IGRA rodeo circuit. Even though the competition is serious and the payoff sizable, a large number of competitors also believes this to be a very entertaining event for the audience. The drag costumes come from "Goodwill" stores, from second-hand stores, and many from raiding mom's closet. A team is made up of one male, one female, one "drag" (either male or female), and one wild steer.
The steer, with a 25-foot lead rope, is in a bucking chute at the beginning of the event. The cowgirl holds the rope while the cowboy and person in drag stand 40 and 70 feet from the chute. When the chute gate opens, the team tries to direct (or goad) the steer toward the finish line, which is 70 feet from the chute. They must get the steer across the finish line, mount the "drag", and then ride back across the finish line. The "drag" must be mounted on the steer before the steer starts back across the line and must stay on until all four feet of the steer have crossed back across the finish line. Each leg must be on opposite sides of the steer's backbone. The "drag" may get bucked off several times before the event is ever completed.
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