Steer Wrestling

Historically, steer wrestling was not a part of ranch life or cowboy work. The event originated in the 1930s, and was attributed to an individual named Bill Pickett, a Wild West Show performer said to have caught a runaway steer by wrestling it to the ground. It was later claimed that Pickett introduced it in the 101 Ranch Wild West Show in 1905. After having grasped the horns of a fleeing long horn steer, Pickett would twist its head skyward and bite its upper lip in order to subdue it, after the fashion of the cowdog breed known as bulldogs, whence the event takes its name.

The event features a steer and two mounted cowboys, along with a number of supporting characters. On one side of the chute is the hazer, whose job is to ride parallel with the steer once it begins running and ensure it runs in a straight line, on the other side of the chute the steer wrestler or bulldogger waits behind a taut rope fastened with an easily broken string which is fastened to the rope on the steer.

When the steer wrestler is ready he calls for the steer and the chute man trips a lever opening the doors. The suddenly freed steer breaks out running, shadowed by the hazer. When the steer reaches the end of his rope, it pops off and simultaneously releases the barrier for the steer wrestler. The steer wrestler attempts to catch up to the running steer, lean over the side of the horse which is running flat out and grab the horns of the running steer. The steer wrestler then is pulled off his horse by the slowing steer and plants his heels into the dirt further slowing the steer and himself. He then takes one hand off the horns, reachs down and grabs the nose of the steer pulling the steer off balance and ultimately throwing the steer to the ground. Once all four legs are off the ground, an official waves a flag marking the official end and a time is taken. The steer is released and trots off.