Steer riding is a

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaqu ...

youth event that is an introductory form of

bull riding Bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to bucking, buck off the rider. American bull riding has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports." ...

for younger riders, usually between the ages of seven and fourteen. Instead of

bucking bull A bucking bull is a bull used in rodeo bull riding competition. They are usually a Brahman crossed with another breed, weighing 1,500 pounds or more, selected for their tendency to "leap, plunge and spin" when a human is on its back. In the m ...

s, the children ride steers that buck. Steers are used because they are known to have a less volatile temperament than

bull A bull is an intact (i.e., not Castration, castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol cattle in r ...

s (steers are castrated while bulls are intact) and many breeds weigh less than bulls, which makes them a perfect stepping stone to junior bulls. The steers usually weigh between . Steer riding usually follows

mutton busting Mutton busting is an event held at rodeos similar to bull riding or bronc riding, in which children ride or race sheep. Description In the event, a sheep is held still, either in a small chute or by an adult handler while a child is placed on to ...

and calf riding as the participant ages and grows. Many young and aspiring bull riders who train in steer riding compete in the National Junior Bullriders Association. The National Junior Bullriders Association holds these annual contests: * 6 & Under

Mutton Busting Mutton busting is an event held at rodeos similar to bull riding or bronc riding, in which children ride or race sheep. Description In the event, a sheep is held still, either in a small chute or by an adult handler while a child is placed on to ...

* 8 & Under Calf Riding * 11 & Under Steer Riding * 13 & Under Peewee Bullriding * 15 & Under Jr. Bullriding * 19 & Under Sr. Bullriding Riders use equipment and riding techniques that are similar to adult bull riding. The steers are equipped with the following: a flank strap – the flank strap is placed around a steer's flank, just in front of the hind legs, to encourage bucking. And then they also use a "steer rope" – a rope that goes around the steer for the rider to hang onto with a

bell A bell /ˈbɛl/ () is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be m ...

underneath. The riders wear batwing

chaps Chaparreras or chaps () are a type of sturdy over-pants (overalls) or leggings of Mexican origin, made of leather, without a seat, made up of two separate legs that are fastened to the waist with straps or belt. They are worn over trousers and ...

, and

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...

s. For safety, they use protective vests and

helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protecti ...

s with a

face mask The face is the front of the head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may affect the ...

that resemble those worn by hockey goalies. Events are usually broken down by age brackets. Parental permission is required for their children to compete, and they must sign a

liability waiver Liability refers to the following: Law * Legal liability, in both civil and criminal law ** Public liability, part of the law of tort which focuses on civil wrongs ** Product liability, the area of law in which manufacturers, distributors, supp ...

. It is possible for competitors to be seriously injured in the event. Like bull riding, riders must stay on for eight seconds for a qualified ride. Half of the score is awarded for the cowboy's ability to ride, and the other half for the steer's ability to buck. One difference is that in some steer riding competitions, riders are allowed to hang on with both hands. They can choose to compete riding one-handed, like the adults, but if they do, they fall under the same rules as bull riding and can be disqualified for grabbing the steer with both hands. Riders can also be disqualified for touching the animal or themselves during the ride. Failure to stay on for the full 8 seconds or a disqualification results in a no score. Riding steers allows riders to develop needed skills before taking on bulls. As bulls are being bred to be more athletic and dangerous, it is more important than ever for adolescent, teenagers, and young adults to get all of the experience they need before taking on bulls. One man, a former PRCA World Champion Bull Rider, Cody Custer, discusses this issue at length on his web site. When youngsters take on "junior bulls" that only a decade or two ago were considered pro level bulls, they have an extremely low success rate and get discouraged or injured beyond what is reasonably acceptable. There are also some steers not used in rodeo who have been trained not to buck and instead are gentled to be ridden. Most people who have trained their cattle to be ridden have used them to perform similar tasks which horses perform, such as trail riding, jumping, and running. However, they do require different maintenance and handling than horses. Some breeds of cattle are more conducive than others.

References

{{Rodeo

External links

Youth Bull Riding - Cody Custer

Too Much Bull
Animals in sport Rodeo events

See also

References

External links