Rodeo Breakaway Roping Terminology and Facts

Breakaway roping is a rodeo event that is competed in by young boys, older men and women of all ages. It is an event that is common to many associations, from junior levels to amateur or semi-pro. Breakaway is an event that takes place very quickly, and competitors must have a very high level of skill. The easiest way to understand the terminology related to breakaway roping and the event in its entirety is to look at the event in a step-by-step manner.

Breakaway roping begins when the participant backs their horse into the box on the left side of the roping chute. Young children and older men rope steers with horns, while women rope calves. The animal, which they are going to rope, will already be loaded in the roping chute. A barrier, which is a rope that is placed in front of the roper, which is connected to a rope that is placed around the animal's neck, is then pulled in front of the roping box. The barrier is used to guarantee that the animal gets a far start and a participant cannot rope the animal before the rubber band that holds the neck rope around the animal's neck breaks. If the roper breaks the barrier before the neck rope releases it they will receive a ten second penalty that is added to their time. A roper's time starts when the barrier falls and ends when their rope breaks of their saddle horn. The competitor's rope is tied to their saddle horn using a piece of nylon string. The goal of the breakaway roping is to rope the calf or steer as quickly as possible. Competitive times in the breakaway roping are in most associations any time less than four seconds. At some rodeos the only times that will place will be three seconds or less. There have been people to rope in times in the low one-second range and under.

Breakaway roping does not hurt the calves or steers. Occasionally, an animal will get injured due to a complication or because they are completing physical activity and that may cause minor injuries. Additionally, horses are very rarely hurt when competing in the breakaway roping, but they can also be injured during the physical activity. These injuries are usually minor, such as pulled muscles. Breakaway roping is a very exciting, fast-paced, and difficult event in which to compete.