Prancercise! Trivia Quiz

Answer: It refers to the animals used in the sport of rodeo.

"Rough stock" refers to the livestock used in the sport of rodeo. In the past there have been allegations that this is a sport of animal cruelty. The sport is closely monitored and high quality bulls and horses can sell for many thousands of dollars. While it is true that many animals used in rodeo may someday end up slaughtered for their meat, this can and does happen to most livestock whether they are involved in sports, or not.

There is no doubt that all rules should be followed and appropriate penalties should be enforced against those who attempt to get around these safety measures.

Answer: Gelding

Geldings, or castrated male horses are generally used for bucking broncos. Part of the reason for this is that these horses spend a lot of time in close quarters with each other and on the road. Castrated males tend to get along better and the need to prove dominance is not usually an issue. Mares are occasionally used, but overall male horses tend to turn in higher scores.

In both bareback and saddle bronc riding competitions, the rider's performance provides half the score and the horse's performance provides the other half of the score.

Answer: Steer wrestling

Steer wrestling, also called bulldogging, requires speed, fearlessness, and a lot of strength. This event is often referred to as a 'big man's event' and most bulldoggers are very large men. Their large size is a disadvantage in many of the other rodeo events such as bull riding.

In this event a steer is released from a chute and the cowboy chases after it on his horse. He then leans off of his horse, grabbing the steer by its head. While keeping hold of the steer, he jumps off his horse and attempts to throw the steer onto its side.

This is a timed event, with the quickest time winning the event. Bulldogging originated as a method to catch and hold a steer down so that it could be branded.

Answer: Barrel racing

Barrel racing is a race against the clock. Charging cowgirls ride their prize horses around barrels in a clover-leaf pattern without knocking over the barrels. If a barrel is knocked over it adds a five second penalty. Any deviation from the cloverleaf pattern results in a disqualification. Barrel racing is one of the fastest of the rodeo events.

In junior competitions both boys and girls can compete. But once professional levels are reached, barrel racing becomes a female competition.

Answer: False

In saddle bronc riding as well as in bareback riding, only one hand may be used. If the rider touches the animal with his other hand, even momentarily, the ride is disqualified. In both events, the rider attempts to stay aboard a wildly bucking horse for eight seconds.

This is a dangerous event that got its start with early horse breaking. Breaking a feral horse into a domesticated horse useful for work purposes took a lot of skill, strength, and balance. Sometimes getting off the horse safely can be as hard as the ride itself. Being stomped by a horse can cause severe injury and even death.

Answer: On his hips and legs

Usually made of leather, chaps are a protective garment worn over a cowboy's jeans. They buckle around the waist and extend down the legs of the cowboy. They are not joined at the crotch and were intended to be worn for protection when riding through rough, brushy landscapes.

They also help the cowboy stay in the saddle as the leather of the chaps adheres to the leather of the saddle. Today they are sometimes worn as part of the rodeo cowboy's outfit, but are usually worn for show as opposed to protection, as they do not help with most rodeo events.

Answer: Alberta

A trip to see The Calgary Stampede is a rodeo lover's dream. Thousands of people flock to southern Alberta every year in July to get to see this exhibition of cowboy culture. Besides the regular rodeo events, there are blacksmith competitions, parades, rides, cook-offs, and chuck wagon races.

There are cattle dog shows and children's competitions, all of which are accompanied by the tunes of many of country music's greatest stars. The Stampede has origins that go back to 1886, but the first actually Calgary Stampede was held in 1912.

Answer: Protection of rodeo cowboy

Besides engaging in humorous activities, the primary job of the rodeo clown is to protect the cowboy. When the rider comes flying off a bucking bronco, or kicking bull, the clown attempts to get the attention of the animal. He wears brightly colored clothing that is designed to tear away if it is speared by horns or hooves.

It is an extremely dangerous job that requires a man who is willing to put himself directly in the path of a large animal in order to protect the cowboy.

Answer: False

The word 'rodeo' is of Spanish origin and means to surround or round up. It was originally a word that described a type of work while today it is usually used to describe an exhibition of the skills used by real cowboys. Rodeos are very popular in both North and South America and Australia, with different events in various countries.

Despite its popularity in some locations, it is banned or severely restricted in other areas.

Answer: 8 Seconds

The movie "8 Seconds" features actor Luke Perry as real-life bull rider Lane Frost who was killed at the age of 25 during a bull riding competition in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1989. The title of the movie is a reference to the length of time that the rider must stay on the bull to make a qualifying ride. If you are interested in learning about the workings of the rodeo circuit, this might be the movie for you.