Do you know the difference between a hooey, a header, and a heeler? If you don't we got you covered. If you do, we doff our proverbial cowboy hats to you. Either way, walk into the your next western event talking like a pro that even an old-timer could converse with.
Barrel Man: An entertainer who distracts the bull with a barrel after a ride and works with the bullfighters; FKA rodeo clown.
Breaking the Barrier: In roping and steer wrestling, this is the failure to give a calf or steer enough of a head start — a 10-second penalty.
Bronc: An untamed horse with a habit of bucking.
Bulldogger: Steer wrestler, AKA the cowboy that manhandles the steer to the ground.
Bullfighter: A person who diverts the bull’s attention after a ride so the cowboy can get to safety; FKA rodeo clown.
Chasing the Cans: Barrel racing.
Chute: The pen that holds back the animal before the rodeo event.
Cloverleaf: In barrel racing, this is the name of the pattern that the athletes ride.
Covering: Riding a bull or bronc for at least eight seconds.
Cowboy Poker: A bull with big, vicious-looking horns.
Double Grab: When a bull or bronc rider touches anything with his free hand, an instant disqualification.
Go-round: A rider’s turn at a rodeo event; a round of competition.
Header & Heeler: The two partners in team roping. The header throws first to rope the steer’s horns or head, and the heeler ropes second and aims for the animal’s hind legs.
Hooey: The knot used to secure the tie in calf roping.
Hung Up: When a cowboy’s hand gets caught on a rope or handle and he cannot fully dismount his animal — a dangerous situation.
Low Time: The winner of a timed event.
Pickup Men: Two cowboys that help catch or direct the stock after a ride and guide them to the exit.
Piggin’ String: The rope used to tie the calf’s legs together in tie-down roping.
No Score: What happens when a rider misses the steer or calf in timed events or falls off the bull or bronc before eight seconds in roughstock events.
Re-ride: In roughstock events, riders that receive a low score due to the poor performance of the bull or bronc are given the chance for a re-ride to try again.
Rank: A term of praise for an ornery bull or bronc that’s particularly difficult to ride.
Rope: Don’t call it a lasso, lariat, or riata — it’s a rope.
Roughstock Events: Bull riding and bronc riding.
Stock Show Weather: The bout of ice, sleet, and/or snow that always seems to arrive during the Fort Worth Stock Show.
Try: Synonym of perseverance, grit, stamina, determination, i.e. That cowgirl’s got a lot of try.
Timed Events: Events that are scored on the quickest speed, including team roping, tie-down roping (also called calf roping), barrel racing, and steer wrestling.
