Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Disqualification: riding events
- Bareback (R9.4.7): riding with rowels too sharp or locked; being bucked off; touching animal, equipment or person with the free hand; rigging coming off the horse; violating the spur-out rule; finger tucks, wraps or finger tape; failing to be above the animal with glove on when advised they are next to go.
- Saddle bronc (R9.5.5): changing hands on the rein; losing or dropping the rein before the pre-designated time; wrapping the rein around the hand; losing a stirrup; being bucked off; touching with the free hand; locked or undulled rowels; violating the spur-out rule.
- Bull riding (R9.6.6): being bucked off; touching the animal, equipment, ground or person with the free hand; sharp spurs or placing spurs or chaps under the rope when it is being tightened; not having a bell on the rope; not being above the animal when advised next to go; intentionally leaving the chute with spurs hooked in the rope loop(s).
Fines and penalties: riding events
- Holding the chute gate: $50 for the first offense, doubling progressively (R9.1.7).
- Throwing chaps at an animal: possible $100 fine (R9.1.9).
- Bareback rider unable to free their hand: $100 (R9.4.9).
- Spur rowels with fewer than five points: a warning for the first reported offense, then an immediate 15-day ineligibility for each offense thereafter (R9.4.8).
- Excessive rosin or other foreign substance on chaps and saddle: $250 first offense, $500 second, $1,000 third, and a 30-day suspension plus a $1,000 fine for the fourth and subsequent offenses in a rodeo year (R9.5.6).
- Saddle specification violations: $250, $500, $1,000, then a 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine for fourth and subsequent offenses in a rodeo year (R9.5.1).
Penalties: timed events
- 10 seconds for breaking or beating the barrier (R10.3.3).
- Dragging an animal: $25 for unintentionally dragging five feet but less than 10 feet, $100 for 10 feet or more, and $250 per offense plus possible disqualification for intentional dragging (R10.6.4).
- Roping a calf after the 25-second whistle in tie-down roping is a Class III offense for mistreatment of animals (R10.6.3).
- A contestant who intentionally trips a steer with an illegal catch in steer roping is flagged out and fined $250 (R10.9.3.2). Jerking a steer down without a trip is $100, or $250 if the steer is injured (R10.9.3.4).
- Rattling the chute: $25 fine to the contestant and/or person rattling it (R10.3.15.2).
- Hazer assistance to a steer wrestler beyond the rules disqualifies the contestant (R10.7.5).