CALGARY STAMPEDE 4-H RODEO RULES GENERAL RULES
Contestants must be a member in good standing of a 4-H Club in the Province of Alberta as of January 1 of the current year - 2009.
The age categories for contestants are determined by their age as of January 1 of the current year - 2009. A junior is 9 to 11 years of age, an intermediate is 12 to 14, and a senior is 15 to 20.
Proper western attire (long sleeved western shirt, cowboy hat or helmet, and western riding boots) must be worn at all times while participating in the rodeo.
Ball caps and "runner" style boots without heels are not acceptable. Proper western tack including saddle and either a headstall with bit or a rawhide bosal must be used at all times.
All contestants are issued numbers and these numbers must be displayed attached to the saddle pad on each side of the horse, or on the contestant's back in the cow riding.
Contestants will be disqualified for entering the arena improperly attired, without their numbers, or on a horse without proper tack.
If a hat falls off in the arena, it will be available for the contestant to pick up at a designated spot outside of the arena.
The contestant shall not retrieve the hat from the arena. In some events, a time penalty will be assessed for a contestant losing their hat while competing.
Any act of discourtesy or disobedience to a judge or official by a contestant or their family or any action by a contestant that is improper, dishonest or unsportsmanlike, including abuse of an animal, will result in expulsion from the rodeo and forfeiture of fees and prizes.
The judges in their sole discretion may disqualify any horse from an event if it is deemed to be unruly and likely to be unsafe.
A contestant whose horse is disqualified will not have entry fees refunded.
The decisions of judges, timers and flagmen are final.
Concerns about contestant or horse eligibility or requests for clarification of the Rodeo Rules may be expressed to the Committee Chair; who will make a final and binding ruling.
Only contestants competing in an event, judges and other rodeo officials are allowed to be in the arena. In the Cow Riding, each contestant is allowed only one helper on the arena side of the chute.
If the contestant is under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must be at the chute to help the contestant.
The Calgary Stampede 4-H Rodeo Committee reserves the right to interpret or amend the rules as necessary to ensure fairness in the competition.
If a contestant, their parent, or their guardian withdraws a contestant from an event, the withdrawal is final and will not be reversed.
BARREL RACING
1. Either the left or right barrel may be taken first. If the left barrel is taken first, the cloverleaf pattern will be a left turn followed by two right turns. If the right barrel is taken first, the cloverleaf pattern will be a right turn followed by two left turns. The cloverleaf pattern will be broken if turns other than those three are made, or if the contestant re-crosses the start line before completing the run.
2. The nose of the horse crossing the start line will be timed to start and finish the race. The contestant must not cross the start line until the judge has raised the flag indicating that the run may begin. Contestants must start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag.
3. Contestants will not be allowed to have a running start from the alleyway.
4. Contestants will be assessed a five second penalty for each barrel that they knock over. Contestants may touch the barrel with their hand to prevent it from being knocked over.
5. Contestants will be assessed a one second penalty for losing their hat in the arena during their run.
6. Contestants will be disqualified for:
a) Using a horse that has already been used in this event by a contestant in the same age category,
b) Breaking the cloverleaf pattern,
c) Excessive use of whip or using whip ahead of front cinch,
d) Fall of horse or rider,
e) Starting from the alleyway, or starting before the judge has raised the flag,
f) Failing to start the run within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag,
g) Competing out of order or not being ready to go in order when called.
POLE BENDING
1. There will be two sets of poles. Each set of poles will consist of poles 21 feet apart with the start/finish line 21 feet from the pole closest to the gate into the arena. There will be a dividing line between the sets of poles.
2. The contestants must not start until the judge has raised the flag indicating that the timers are ready. Contestants must start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag. Time will start and stop when the horse's nose crosses the line.
3. The contestant will start on the right side of the poles, race to the furthest pole and make a left hand turn around it. The contestant will weave through the poles, making alternating right and left turns, turn around the end pole and weave back to the furthest pole making alternating turns and then turn around the furthest pole and race to the finish line. The pattern will be broken if alternating turns are not made, the centre dividing line is crossed during the run, or the start/finish line is crossed before the run is completed. If a horse's shoulder goes past a pole on the wrong side, an alternating turn will not have been made and the pattern will have been broken.
4. Contestants will be assessed a five second penalty for each pole that they knock over. Contestants may touch a pole with their hand to prevent it from being knocked over.
5. Contestants will be assessed a one second penalty for losing their hat in the arena during their run.
6. Contestants will be disqualified for:
a) Using a horse that has already been used in this event by a contestant in the same age category,
b) Breaking the pattern,
c) Excessive use of whip or using whip ahead of front cinch,
d) Fall of horse or rider,
e) Starting before the judge has raised the flag,
f) Failing to start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag,
g) Competing out of order or not being ready to go in order when called.
THREAD THE NEEDLE
1. The course will consist of five poles. The first two poles will be set up four feet apart and 100 feet from the start/finish line. The next two poles will be set up four feet apart and 10 feet away from the first two poles, forming a rectangle 4 feet wide and 10 feet long. The fifth pole will be centered so that it is 2 feet in from each side of the rectangle and 5 feet away beyond the end of the rectangle. There will be a dividing centre line between each keyhole.
2. The contestants must not start until the judge has raised the flag indicating that the timers are ready. Contestants must start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag. Time will start and stop when the horse's nose crosses the line.
3. The contestant will run from the start line, go straight through the rectangle, entering and exiting through the four foot wide sides, turn either way around the fifth pole, and then go back straight through the rectangle, entering and exiting through the four foot wide sides, and run back across the finish line. The pattern will have been broken if the contestant enters or exits the rectangle other than by the 4 foot wide sides or if the horse's shoulder goes past a pole on the outside of the rectangle.
4. Contestants will be assessed a 3 second penalty per pole for knocking down any of the poles forming the rectangle. Contestants may touch any of the five poles with their hand to prevent it from being knocked over.
5. Contestants will be assessed a one second penalty for losing their hat in the arena during their run.
6. Contestants will be disqualified for:
a) Using a horse that has already been used in this event by a contestant in the same age category,
b) Breaking the pattern,
c) Knocking over the fifth (top) pole,
d) Crossing the centre line during the run,
e) Excessive use of whip or using whip ahead of front cinch,
f) Fall of horse or rider,
g) Starting before the judge has raised the flag,
h) Failing to start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag,
i) Competing out of order or not being ready to go in order when called.
BREAKAWAY ROPING
1. The contestant must have their horse backed into the back of the right hand box before calling for the calf. Contestants who delay backing into the box will be given a 30 second notice by the barrier judge and if they are not set at the end of 30 seconds, they will be disqualified.
2. No barrier will be used. The judge will flag the start of time when the calf's hip clears the chute. The contestant shall not throw the rope until the horse has cleared the box. Roping early will result in disqualification.
3. There will be a 30 second time limit for the calf to be roped and the rope to breakaway. The judge will blow a whistle at the end of 30 seconds or when no time will be recorded. The contestant must stop when the whistle is blown.
4. Contestants must go in order. Competing out of order or not being ready to go in order when called will result in disqualification. Requests for change in order must be made to the Arena Director prior to the start of the event.
5. Each contestant shall carry only one rope and use only one loop. Ropes must be a minimum of 25 feet long and have a red surveyor's ribbon tied to the end of the rope. The Committee shall supply string and ensure that the ropes are tied to the saddle horn with the supplied string at a minimum length of 25 feet. The rope must be attached in a satisfactory manner so that it breaks away when the calf is caught.
6. Any catch is a legal catch if the rope goes over the calf’s head after being released from the roper’s hand. The string must break away before the horse crosses the caution line. The calf must not be trapped or cornered when roped and no time will be recorded if the calf crosses the caution line and then turns back across the caution line towards the timed event chutes before being roped. The calf must not be chased after it has crossed the caution line.
7. Time will be flagged when the string breaks away. The contestant will receive no time if the rope is broken away from the horn by hand. If the rope dallies around the horn, the contestant may ride forward, undally the rope, and then stop the horse to make the rope break away.
8. Re-runs will be awarded if:
a) The calf escapes from the arena,
b) The calf is released before being called for and the contestant immediately pulls up and declares himself.
9. The re-run will be on the next calf in the chute.
COW RIDING
1. Only polled cattle, preferably heifers will be used.
2. Contestants are responsible to supply a flak jacket, helmet, mouth guard, rope and bell. The flak jacket, helmet and mouth guard MUST be worn or the chute gate will not be opened.
3. Only one helper will be allowed on the arena side of the chute and both the contestant and the helper must leave the arena immediately after the ride.
4. Stock will be chute run. Contestants will take stock in the chutes in the order that their names appear on the judges cards and program, i.e.; first name shown is in chute one, etc.
5. All stock must be flanked.
6. Contestants may use a rope with or without a handhold, but there shall not be any knots or hitches that prevent the rope from falling off when the rider releases his hand. There must be a bell on the rope.
7. Time will be flagged when the animals inside shoulder passes the plane of the chute.
8. Rider may use one or two hands on the rope. If the ride is started with one hand, the free hand rule applies. If the rider starts with two hands, the contestant may switch to one hand during the ride, but the free hand rule would then apply. Contestant's head contacting the animal during the ride does not violate the free hand rule.
9. A qualified ride is SIX seconds. If any part of the rope is in the riders hand at six seconds and the rider has not been otherwise disqualified, he will be marked. The judge's watch shall be the official time used to determine a qualified ride.
10. Contestants will be disqualified for:
a) Being bucked off before the whistle,
b) Touching animal, equipment, or person with free hand,
c) Using sharp spurs,
d) Placing spurs or chaps under the rope when the rope is being pulled.
GOAT TYING
1. There will be a goat at one end of the arena tied to a stake with a ten foot long rope. The stake shall be 100' from the start line.
2. Time will start when the horse's nose crosses the start line. The contestant must not start until the judge has raised the flag indicating that the timers are ready. Contestants must start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag.
3. The contestant will ride down the arena, dismount, and then throw and tie the goat. The goat must be standing before it is thrown down. A goat that is down must be picked up so that at least three of its feet are dangling straight down before it is thrown. Use of excessive force throwing down the goat will result in disqualification in the event and possible expulsion from the rodeo.
4. Three legs of the goat must be crossed and then tied with a leather thong, a pigging string or a rope. A legal tie is one or more wraps and then a half hitch, hooey or a knot. There will be a 30 second time limit for the goat to be tied. The timer will blow a whistle at the end of 30 seconds and the contestant must stop when the whistle is blown.
5. Time stops when the contestant's arms are outstretched at or above the shoulder level. After calling for time, the contestant must not touch the goat or tie string and must immediately move back 10 feet from the goat. Once the contestant is 10 feet away from the goat, the field judge will start the six second clock. The goat must remain tied for six seconds for a qualified run to be recorded.
6. If the contestant gets the rope that is holding the goat wrapped around their leg, they may ask the field judge for permission to remove it. After getting permission, removing the tangled rope and backing away 10 feet, the six second clock will start.
7. A 10 second penalty will be added if the rope or the goat is touched by the contestant's horse.
8. Contestants will not be allowed to untie the goat they competed on.
9. Contestants will be disqualified for:
a) Starting before the judge has raised the flag,
b) Failing to start within 10 seconds of the judge raising the flag,
c) Excessive force when handling the goat,
d) Competing out of order or not being ready to go in order when called,
e) Exceeding the 30 second time limit to complete a qualified run.
10. A re-run will be awarded if the goat breaks away from the rope holding it prior to the contestant touching the goat.
