100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY COUNT DOWN

As with saddle bronc riding and team roping, tie-down roping traces its roots back to the working ranches of the Old West. Cowboys had to quickly rope and immobilize sick or injured calves for treatment. Ranch hands turned their work into informal contests, priding themselves on their speed. As the event evolved, being a good horseman and fast sprinter became as crucial as roping accuracy.

Today, the cowboy starts from a box adjacent to the chute holding the calf, which receives a head start. A breakaway rope barrier is looped around the calf's neck and released when it reaches its advantage point. A 10-second penalty is assessed if the roper breaks the barrier too soon. The horse stops as soon as the cowboy catches the calf, allowing him to dismount, sprint to the calf, and perform a maneuver called flanking. The roper then ties three legs with a pigging string. The horse must pull back to eliminate slack without dragging the calf. The roper signals completion by throwing his hands in the air, then remounts and waits six seconds to see if the calf remains tied. If the calf kicks free, the roper receives no time.