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About This Quiz
There's nothing like saddling up your horse and riding into the sunset. But for rodeo contestants, they want a little more. To them, a good time is by riding bronc and chasing calves. They see it is more than a sport, the rodeo way is a lifestyle. It's not just about the events, either. It's about the people they meet, the animals they love and all about having a good time. The prizes and cheers from the crowd are just an extra bonus!
There's an event for everyone down at the rodeo. From saddle bronc riding to team roping, you can find yourself competing alone, or with a few buddies by your side. Contestants spend a long time preparing themselves and their animals to beat out the competition. They dedicate their lives to bettering themselves and learning from their mistakes so that they and their animals can take home the prize. If they don't make it one year, you can bet that they'll be back the next to earn that title!
So, think you've got the knowledge to understand the lingo from a rodeo? Let's see if you could ride and talk like the best of them by taking this quiz!
There are no dogs involved in this, but do you know what "bull dogging" means when it comes to the rodeo?
Steer wrestling
While this was once used as a more official term, it's now been demoted to a slang term. Steer wrestling is a difficult event that requires the cowboy/cowgirl to catch a steer and wrestle it to the ground. Though it sounds violent, no steers are hurt in the event.
To spur a horse
Pushing your horse to go faster
To be a sore loser
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If you do a "re-ride" in a rodeo, what are you doing?
Riding with a partner
Coming back to the same rodeo next year
Using the same horse twice with two different riders
Retrying after a mishap
Mishaps can happen in multiple ways during a rodeo. For example, a re-ride can be given to a rider after their animal falls. This allows them a second try at the event so that they can fairly try to finish the run.
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Oh-no! You've tipped a barrel. What have you done?
Talked smack to other competitors
Bet on the wrong horse
Made a bad decision
Knocked a barrel over
Tipping a barrel is not considered to be good when participating in a barrel racing event. The goal is to pass by the barrel without touching it, or at the very least, without knocking it over. One good thing is that you can hold it up as you pass on your horse if you do happen to knock it.
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While most people do this with phones, to a rodeo cowboy or cowgirl, it's much different. To be "hung up" means which of the following?
A rider who is late to the rodeo
A rider who is in first place, but is about to be passed by another
A rider who has fallen, but is caught in the straps
To be hung up is not a great situation for a rider to be in. If the rider is caught in the ropes or straps and cannot get out, others run in to help as it could lead to serious injury for the rider. It's best to try not to get hung up, but sometimes the situation can't be avoided.
A rider who was injured during the run
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Nodding can usually be confusing. Many might wonder what you're nodding for! In a rodeo, it means only one thing, but what is it?
To show gratitude upon winning an event
To say "thank you"
To communicate that you're ready
As with any event or job, communication is key. In a rodeo, you don't want to start until you know you're prepared. A nod will let the correct people know that you're ready to go. Just make sure you don't nod without realizing it, because that could end pretty badly!
To cheat through signaling
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You don't want to come face to face with a "head hunter." Do you know what it is?
A bull that likes to hit people
Bulls can have a temper and are no strangers to putting up a challenge. Head hunters are the type of bulls that truly seek out a challenge. If you move, they'll chase right after you in hopes of hitting you.
A cowboy hat
Someone who transports the animals
A fearless cowboy or cowgirl
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Rodeos are known for their many events, but which event is known as "chasing the cans?"
Barrel racing
While you're not actually chasing them, there are "cans" involved in the event. When barrel racing, the cowboy/cowgirl guides their horse around the barrels in the correct pattern, trying to achieve the fastest time.
Calf roping
Steer wrestling
Team roping
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While this task may be scary for the average person, these individuals are pretty courageous. What is the job of the "Pick-up Men?"
To make sure that the bull is out of the arena after a run
Pick-up Men are the people who keep the rodeo moving smoothly after each run. While clearing the bulls out is just one of their many jobs, they also take on the task of helping the riders to get themselves prepared to exit the ring.
To run errands for the competing cowboys/cowgirls
To distribute scores
To prepare the stallions
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There are many things that could be described as a "box" at a rodeo, but do you know what the term is actually used for?
A horse trailer that transports the horses to the venue
A prize
A horse's foot
Where a horse and rider stay prior to starting an event
The horse and rider are together inside a box before starting an event. It keeps the horse in one place while the ring is prepared or while another horse and rider are finishing their run of the event.
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This can turn into one dangerous situation. What does it mean to be "freight trained?"
When a bull runs over someone
Being freight trained in an event is something you don't want to happen. It can result in some pretty bad injuries in some extreme cases. Of course, this is a danger you have to be prepared for when entering the world of rodeo.
A cowboy or cowgirl who has never won an event
To be disqualified
To transport a trailer of animals
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This is probably one of the main things that comes to your mind when you think of a rodeo. Do you know what "build a loop" is?
A maneuver in the ring
A way to hype up the crowd
Throw the lasso
One thing you might have always dreamed of learning how to do is throwing a lasso. In a rodeo, this is referred to as throwing the loop. It's an important skill to have if you're trying to get into the events!
A way of saddling a horse
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Outside the rodeo, this takes on a totally different meaning. What is a "hazer"?
Someone who keeps the steer in the right direction
This person usually accompanies the contestant into the ring and does the work of controlling the steer. With the hazer's help, the steer sticks between the hazer and the contestant when done properly.
An animal that doesn't do what it's meant to in the event
The person who announces for the rodeo
A new contestant
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Though it may sound like it, this term usually has nothing to do with pigs. What is the real use for a "piggin' string?"
To hold a horse from walking away while saddling it
To release the doors to allow horse and rider out
To tie the legs of a calf together
Cowboy and cowgirls use piggin' string to tie a calf's legs together during certain events. Sometimes it's even used in other areas that aren't related to rodeo. One use is in a horse's saddle or reins.
To use as a lasso
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An "arm jerker" sounds pretty violent, and it can be. But do you know what it means?
A performance where the crowd goes wild
A nickname for a fearless cowboy
A joke in the rodeo world
An animal that hurts your arm while riding
Some animals can buck pretty hard and can result in the rider being injured. If an animal is like this, it'll often be referred to as an arm jerker, which tells whoever you're talking to just what the animal is like and the strength that it has.
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A "runaway" is an animal that you might prefer to ride in the rodeo. Which of the following is it?
An animal that runs rather than bucking
When you think of a rodeo, animals bucking around the arena is often something that comes to mind. A runaway is usually not what you think of. While the animals do buck most of the time, a runaway would much rather just run.
A cowboy/cowgirl who gets scared before going out to the ring
An animal that is retired from the ring
A cowboy/cowgirl who wins all of the events that they're in
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While "bailing out" is something you might associate with jail, it means something when it comes to rodeo too. What is it?
To leave the event
To win a large sum of money
To get off an animal
When you mount an animal in the rodeo, you can't forget to dismount. Either you're thrown off, or you get off of the animal yourself. The term is only used when you've willingly attempted to get off of the animal.
To get dressed for an event
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Often, you'll encounter a "rookie" in the rodeo. What are they?
A young horse
A new announcer
A person who has only won three events in their career
A cowboy or cowgirl who has been a PRCA member for less than a year
If you're new to the membership and new to the rodeo ring, then you're probably known as the rookie to most of the people around you. That's not a bad thing! It just means that you're really starting to learn the ropes—quite literally.
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"Try" could mean many things but it only means one when it comes to rodeo. What is it?
A rodeo held in Dallas, Texas
An event
A breed of horse
A person or animal with determination
Even if a cowboy or cowgirl doesn't win, at least they tried. That's why they're called "try." They might have given an event their all, did all that they could to win it, but just couldn't take the prize. A try is someone to be respected!
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You've heard the term in gambling, but in rodeo, "high roller" means something completely different. What is it?
Anyone who is attending their first rodeo
A person who has no chance at winning
Someone who bets on certain cowboys/cowgirls
A horse that jumps high and bucks
This is one ride that is probably scary for even the most fearless of cowboys/cowgirls. While bucking would be enough to scare most people, this type of horse will jump pretty high as well, so prepare for a wild ride.
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A "community loop" is another word used for a lasso. What type of lasso is it?
A strong lasso
A backwards lasso
A small lasso
A very large lasso
A community loop is just a funny way of saying that it's large. So big, that the whole community of animals at the rodeo could fit inside! Well, maybe not that big, but it sure can fit a lot into it.
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"Covering" means many different things in different areas. But in rodeo, what is it used for?
To judge an event
When a friend takes a cowboy/cowgirl's place in an event
To look out for someone who is competing
Staying mounted for at least 8 seconds
In many rodeo events, the goal is to stay mounted on the animal for as long as you can. Covering means that you've stayed on for at least 8 seconds, which is the minimum qualifying time that a rider can achieve.
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This probably gets its name from the fact that it can feel like you're being tossed around. The "hurricane deck" is which part of a horse?
A horse's back
Though you might feel like you're supposed to get off the hurricane deck, in a rodeo it's probably wiser to stay on it. It's really only referred to as this when the horse is bucking, which can kick up quite the storm for you.
A horse's feet
A horse's head
A horse's neck
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You're called "slick heeled" if you don't wear which of the following?
Cowboy Boots
A cowboy hat
Plaid
Spurs
Spurs are generally used to help with communicating with your horse so that they know what you're asking them. Someone who shows up to a rodeo without them is known as being "slick heeled," but it's not necessarily a bad thing.
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Which of the following could be considered a "gold card member?"
Someone who is well-respected in the rodeo world
PRCA member for more than 20 years
One way to become a Gold Card member is to be a member of the PRCA for more than 20 years. There are other requirements, however. If you're over 50, you only need to have been a member for 10 years.
A person who has won over 50 events
The person who runs the rodeo
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There are many jobs to be had when a rodeo is on, but what is the job of a "flankman?"
To adjust the flank strap
A flankman is important to a rodeo, even though it might sound like they don't do very much. They make sure that the flank strap which encourages the animal to buck (but doesn't force it to) is adjusted perfectly so that the animal will perform well.
To help the cowboy/cowgirl on the horse
To clean the box
To help the cowboy/cowgirl get off of a horse
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In simple terms, a "hooey" is which of the following?
A famous bull
A knot
A "hooey" is a slang term for a knot which is more specifically used when tying a calf's legs together. This is the type of knot you would see the most often in the event of calf roping in a rodeo.
A rodeo event
A maneuver
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While often you might be told that a term is not what it seems, you could definitely say that this one is! The term "boot the bull" means what?
To spur an animal
Used in bull riding, spurring an animal is not a requirement but it is a great way of earning points. While a bull rider can't touch the bull, their spurs are allowed to. Though it might seem like it hurts, bulls have thick skin so there is nothing to worry about!
To pierce the bull's nose
To practice on a bull that will be used in the rodeo
To retire a bull from the ring
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There are no ducks at a rodeo, but you might hear the term "ducks off." Do you know the meaning of it?
An animal that won't come out of the box
A cowboy/cowgirl who falls off of an animal
A bad score
An animal that is running straight, then makes an unexpected turn
The phrase, "Do you see the way that bronc ducks off each time?" is something that you might hear at the rodeo. It can be hard to predict the behavior or path of animals that do this during an event.
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A "rank" in the rodeo world is which of the following?
A position on the chart for an event
A winner
A qualifier
An animal that a cowboy/cowgirl has difficulty riding
Riding usually comes second-nature to a cowboy or cowgirl. But even the best riders can come across an animal that even they have a tough time handling. In the rodeo world, they just simply refer to them as "rank."
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Though it could be used in terms of the crowd, it's most commonly used in another way. If a cowboy/cowgirl "turns out" it means they've what?
Back out of the rodeo
There are many reasons for someone turning out of a rodeo. Most commonly, it's not in relation to an injury, as there are other terms for that. Reasons could be anything from just not being able to make it to any other factor that could affect a schedule.
Missed catching a calf
Made the crowd excited
Impressed the judges
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Though it might not seem important, knowing the sides of a horse is crucial. Which side of the horse is known as "off side?"
The left side of a horse
The right side of a horse
When mounting a horse, it's known that you're supposed to mount from the left side. Though it can be done, mounting from the off side is not recommended. Using off side in the description of horse can be done, also.
The back of a horse
The front of a horse
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A bronc rider is "pulling leather" when they touch what?
The bronc
The reins
The ground
The saddle
A rider does not want to pull leather until they've surpassed the 8 second minimum time of staying on the bronc to avoid disqualification. It would be hard to count for yourself while riding the bucking bronc!
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This term is all about motion. What is a "spurring lick?"
To stick your spurs hard into an animal
An animal who loves spurs
Rhythm of the cowboy on an animal's back
This is something that the judges look for in certain events. To be successful in your spurring lick, you must follow the rhythm, pattern and motion of the animal that you're riding. The cleaner your motion is, the better your score will be.
To be licked by an animal
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The term "hog" is used at the rodeo to describe which of the following?
Calf
Horse
Bull
Typically, this word is used for a certain type of bull rather than just as a term for all of them. A bull that is difficult or hard to deal with is one that would be called a "hog," as it's not one that a cowboy or cowgirl would like to deal with.
Pig
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Anyone around a bronc could tell you the meaning of "kack." Do you know which of the following it is?
A rider
A maneuver by the bronc
A horn
A saddle
There are two different types of bronc riding. The first is saddle bronc riding and the other is bareback. This term only applies to the saddle bronc riders, as they use the kack for the entirety of their run.
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