National Finals Rodeo: Quick hands are a must

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 11:51 a.m.

In 2003, the PC Police forced the name change of calf roping to tie-down roping. But it's still the same game.

Being quick and accurate with a rope are the important characteristics of tie-down roping, a timed event in which the cowboy leaves a three-sided fenced area -- next to a chute holding a calf -- atop a horse.

The calf gets the head start, and the cowboy is assessed a 10-second penalty if he darts after the calf before the calf reaches its designated head-start length.

As soon as the cowboy throws his loop and catches the calf, his horse is trained to halt. The cowboy dismounts, jets to the calf and throws (flanks) it to the ground.

If the calf is not standing when the cowboy approaches it, he must allow it to do so before proceeding. After being flanked, the calf must have any three of its legs tied together by a pigging string -- a short, looped rope he clenches in his teeth after he dismounts his horse.

During all that, the horse is gently retreating, taking up any slack in the rope that was used to initially catch the calf but not dragging the animal. When the roper completes tying the calf, he tosses both hands into the air to stop the clock.

The cowboy then remounts his horse, rides forward to create slack and waits six seconds. If the calf kicks free, the competitor receives no time.

Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas

C.R. Bradley, Sperry, Okla.

Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas

Blair Burk, Durant, Okla.

Ricky Canton, Navasota, Texas

Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas

Brad Goodrich, Hermiston, Ore.

Mike Johnson, Henryette, Okla.

Scott Kormos, Hereford, Texas

Cody Ohl, Stephenville, Texas

Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla.

Stran Smith, Childress, Texas

Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas

Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas