BOYS’ EVENTS TIE DOWN ROPING

BOYS’ EVENTS

TIE DOWN ROPING

I. Time Limit:

There will be a thirty (30) second time limit with optional one (1)

minute time limit at state/province rodeos. There will be a mandatory

thirty (30) second time limit at the National High School Finals

Rodeo.

The judge will determine legitimate time allowed before contestant

calls for animal.

II. General Rules

1. Contestant may change horses in Tie Down Roping.

2. Roping Box — shall be part of the arena during roping events.

3. Refer to page 120 for Score Line Diagram.

4. Once score line has been set in timed events it will not be changed

in that go, nor can length of box be changed.

5. Lap and Tap — No barrier to be used. If barrier judge is used to flag

the start, he shall flag the animal when animal’s nose crosses the

starting line.

6. The line judge must have a tape measure in his possession in case

the short end of the barrier is carried. The pigtail of the barrier should

not exceed 10 inches in length. A longer pigtail on a barrier will often

be carried when the barrier should have been broken. If the pigtail is

carried more than 10 feet from the pin, the barrier may be waived,

providing the contestant did not obviously beat the barrier. However,

if the contestant has obviously broken the barrier you may still

impose a beating- the-barrier penalty.

7. Should the barrier break at any point other than designated breaking

point, the decision is up to the barrier judge. If contestant obvi64

ously beats the barrier, but the staples are pulled or barrier rope is

broken and string unbroken, barrier judge may assess a ten second

fine. Otherwise, this will not be considered a broken barrier.

8. If automatic barrier does not work but time is recorded, contestant

will get time, but there will be no penalty for broken barrier.

9. If automatic barrier fails to work and official time has not started,

contestant will get stock back if stock is qualified on in the field, entitling

contestant to a rerun without penalties.

10. If automatic barrier fails to work, and stock is brought back, contestant

must take same animal over during or immediately after the

same performance.

11. If barrier equipment hangs on animal and contestant tries the

animal, he accepts animal. If contestant pulls up, he will receive the

same animal back.

12. Calf belongs to contestant when he calls for it, regardless of what

happens, with the following exceptions:

a. In any timed event, if an animal escapes from the arena, the

field judge will drop flag and all watches will be stopped. Contestant

will receive original animal back with a lap-and- tap start. Time

already accumulated will be added to time used to complete the qualifying

run. If time is not recorded, the contestant will receive a 10- second

penalty for any jump or any loop used.

b. In cases of mechanical failure.

c. If in the opinion of the line judge contestant is fouled by barrier,

contestant shall get his calf back, providing contestant declares

himself by pulling up.

13. A contestant must be on his horse and his horse must break the

plane of the barrier with his draw breaking the plane of the score line

before he is allowed to compete.

14. Time to be taken between two flags.

15. It shall be the arena director’s responsibility to see that contestants

compete on the stock drawn for them. In the event of a mistake, stock

drawn for must be run during that performance and only that time or

score taken.

16. This event shall not be conducted with an open catch pen gate at

any rodeo.

III. Event Rules:

1. This event is open to boys only.

2. A neck rope must be used. Contestants must adjust rope and reins

in a manner that will prevent the horse from dragging the calf.

3. Calves may be pushed out by contestant’s assistant providing they

are ready.

4. Two loops will be permitted.

5. If roper intends to use two loops, he must carry two ropes.

6. If second loop falls from saddle or contestants hand before used, it

cannot be rebuilt.

7. At the National High School Finals Rodeo only, a contestant can

carry only one loop in the first two go- rounds.

8. Contestant cannot receive any assistance after crossing starting

line.

9. Contestant must rope calf, dismount, go down the rope and throw

the calf by hand. Must cross and tie at least three legs.

10. Any catch is legal, catch as catch can rule.

11. If calf is down when roper reaches it, calf must be stood on at least

three feet. (Calf must be elevated high enough that it has the opportunity

to regain its feet) and calf must be re- thrown.

12. If roper’s hand is on calf when calf falls, calf is considered thrown

by hand.

13. Rope must hold calf until roper gets hand on calf.

14. To qualify as a legal tie, there shall be at least one complete wrap

around at least three legs, and a half hitch or hooey (A hooey is a half

hitch with a loop, the tail of the string may be partly or all the way

pulled through).

15. The tie must hold six (6) seconds, and three legs must remain

crossed until passed on by the judge.

16. Six second time will start when roper has remounted and his horse

has taken one step forward.

17. If roper’s rope comes off calf as roper starts to work with tie, the six

(6) second time will start when roper clears the calf.

18. Rope will not be removed and rope must remain slack until field

judge has passed on tie.

19. In case the field judge flags out a roper that still legally has one or

more loops coming, the judge may give the same calf back, lap and

tap, plus time already lapsed and any barrier penalties. If time was

not recorded, the contestant will receive a 10- second penalty for any

loop used. Contestant to only get to use remaining loop.

IV. Scoring and Penalties:

1. In order for time to be considered official, barrier flag must operate.

2. Timed event judge will not flag contestant out until time is recorded.

3. Judge is to flag time, then flag contestant out if run is not legal.

4. There will be a ten- second penalty assessed for breaking the barrier.

5. Roping calf without releasing loop from hand will disqualify catch.

6. Contestant will be disqualified for any abusive treatment of calf or

his horse.

7. Any intentional dragging of calf regardless of distance will result in

a no time. Intentional dragging shall be defined as caused by contest66

ant. Excessive dragging of calf will receive a no time. Excessive dragging

shall be defined as moving the calf six or more feet after the contestant

has called for time. However, if in the opinion of the judge, the

dragging was caused by something outside of the control of the contestant,

the judge may give the contestant his time. Dragging the calf

while the contestant is tying the calf will not be considered excessive

dragging.

8. Roper will be flagged no time for touching calf, or string or by

touching rope to train his horse after giving finish signal, or by dragging

calf after he remounts horse.

9. If any part of the pusher breaks the plain of the chute gate before the

calf releases the barrier, the contestant receives a no time.

10. No rattling of chute. A timed event contestant may not have someone

rattle the chute for him. This applies in both the performance and

the slack. The contestant and/or person rattling the chute shall be disqualified.

11. Time should be taken with the average of two (2) times at all

Rodeos.

V. Reruns:

1. In any timed event if animal escapes from the arena, flag will be

dropped and watches stopped. Contestant will get animal back with

lap and tap start, and time already spent will be added to time used

in qualifying plus barrier penalties, if any.

2. If rope is on animal, contestant will get animal lap and tap with

rope on it in chute.

3. No rerun will be given due to faulty or broken equipment furnished

by contestant.

4. If the judge sees he has made an error in flagging, he must declare

a rerun before the contestant leaves the arena.

5. A calf must be rerun before it is used by another contestant.

6. When both the digital clocks malfunction and no time was recorded

from digital watches, if stock was qualified on in the field, contestant

will be given a rerun at a time designated by the Judges and the

Arena Director, plus any barrier penalties. If barrier penalties, then

lap and tap start.

7. If there must be a rerun of calves to complete a go- round, all calves

must be tied down before any stock is drawn.

8. In Tie Down Roping, if an animal fails to break the neck rope and

time is officially started by the contestant, that animal belongs to the

contestant. However, if time is started by the animal and the calf

roper remains behind the plain of the barrier for approximately 10

seconds that animal should be considered a sulking animal and

replaced using the misdraw procedure.