2007 Organization Membership Fee: $20.00
Click HERE to download Membership Form (PDF file)

Current Negative Coggins (within 12mo)  required and checked at gate. No coggins, no admittance, no exceptions.  Click HERE to see rules provided by Virginia Department of Agriculture.

Event Rules:

• Prizes awarded for 2007 series to top two members in each division.  High point winner will receive an engraved Trophy Buckle; Reserve Champion will receive an engraved Bronc Halter

• Books for all events except team roping will close twenty minutes prior to scheduled event time. Participants that have not checked in with the secretary (and paid fees) by this time will not be allowed to compete.

• Participants will be required to sign waiver (parent/guardian will need to sign for those under 18yrs).

• Current Negative coggins (within 12 months) will be required and paperwork checked (against horse) at entrance gate. You will not be permitted on grounds without proof of coggins. No exceptions!!

• Please note--these events are neither the time nor place to 'school' on your horse and such behavior will not be tolerated. Unjustified and intentional harsh treatment of cattle will also not be tolerated. Any participant that chooses not to comply with this rule will receive a disqualification for their run and/or asked to leave.

• In the event of a tie, the tying competitors will be asked to rerun.
• In the event of a tie for overall standings, a rope off or runoff will be required following the final event.

• Organization reserves the right to reschedule the event should weather or circumstances dictate.  Organization reserves the right to reschedule event date at its discretion.  Every effort will be made to notify members based on contact information given.  Please remember it is your responsibility, however, to check for delays, reschedulings or cancellations the day of the event prior to arrival.

Membership

• Year-End Award (Engraved Trophy Buckles) presented to high point winner in each event. Award will be given to high point winning header and heeler in the team roping division.
• Points given for first place through fifth place member placing (1st = 5pts, 2nd = 4pts, 3rd = 3 pts, 4th = 2 pts, 5th = 1 pt)
• Participants are not required to be a member to compete in events. A $10.00 permit fee will be charged per event day for non-members. Permit fees cannot be used against membership fee at a later date.
• You must, however, be a member to compete at Finals and be eligible for year end awards.
• Members must attend three of four timed event days to qualify for finals and be eligible for year end awards.
• Dress Code-- All participants (members and non-members) will be presentable in western attire when competing in events. Appropriate long sleeve shirts (sleeves rolled down and tails tucked in), jeans (no holes, rips, tears), western boots, and western hats must be worn in the arena. Failure to do so will result in disqualification or non-entry in that event!

1. Time is to start when animal crosses score line and to stop when field flagman signals that time is complete.
2. There will be a sixty (60) second time limit for team ropers to complete their run after official time begins. Both ropers will complete catch during this time.
3. All team roping will be dally unless otherwise specified. Any heeler fifty (50) years of age or older or lady may have the privilege of 'tying on' or dally team roping.
4. Time is to be taken when steer is roped by both ends in a direct line and horse is on all fours; horses facing steer in "L" or better, with ropes tight, dallied or tied. Clarification: Direct line refers to head rope being directly from saddle horn to head of steer, and heel rope directly from saddle horn to heels of steer.
5. There are only three (3) legal head catches: around the horns, around the neck and a half-head. All other catches are illegal.
6. There will be a five (5) second penalty for roping one heel. Any heel catch behind both shoulders is legal if rope comes on around heels. Dew claw catches are legal if catch holds for flagman’s inspection.
7. Contestant must hold dallies until flagman passes catches. Dally will be one complete wrap around the horn. If a flagman mistakenly flags a team without a dally, that time will be disregarded and steer will be rerun.
8. Disqualifications:
   • Animal must be on feet when roped by either end.

   • Using more than two (2) loops per team.

   • Cross-firing (Failure to head and change direction of steer ninety (90) degrees before heeling.)
   • Illegal head catches.
   • Lost or broken rope.
   • Front feet in heel catch.
   • Unnecessary rough treatment of steers.
   • Rope must be released from roper’s hand prior to making contact with animal.
9. If header misses, the heeler will be fined ten dollars ($10.00) if he attempts to rope steers heels.
10. Team ropers must pen/trail steer to out gate and not stop steer or take off rope in arena, unless instructed by field judge.

Barrel Racing (Definition/Rules)

1. Barrel will be ran in a cloverleaf pattern. There will be a sixty (60) second time limit for barrel racer to complete her run after official time begins.
2. A contestant will not be disqualified or penalized for touching a barrel. If contestant knocks barrel over, there will be a five (5) second penalty for each barrel knocked over.
3. If all barrels are standing when a contestant crosses the score line after completing a qualified run, it is considered a qualified run, even if a barrel falls after she is flagged.
4. Contestant will be disqualified, if after crossing score line and being flagged by the flagman, she re-crosses score line before completion of a true cloverleaf pattern.
5. Reruns in the barrel race will be taken at the judge's discretion, either at the end of the barrel race, or immediately following the performance. Rerun to be given contestant at judges’ discretion should contestant be fouled. Any penalties incurred during original run will be added to rerun except when rerun is given due to timer failure to operate or barrels being placed in incorrect position. If an entire performance is rerun because of barrels not being in original places, then all contestants will run over and any penalties are disregarded.
6. No one on horseback, besides contestant, will be allowed in the arena during the barrel racing.

Pole Bending (Definition/Rules)

1. Each contestant will begin from a running start, and time shall begin and end as the horse’s nose crosses the line. A clearly visible starting line must be provided. An electric timer or at least two watches shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric timer or the average time of the watches used by official timers to be the official time.
2. The pole bending pattern is to be run around six poles. Each pole is to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) apart, and the first pole is to be 21 feet (6.4 meters) from the starting line.
3. A horse may start either to the right or to the left of the first pole and then run the remainder of the pattern accordingly.
4. Knocking over a pole shall carry a five-second penalty. Failure to follow the course shall cause disqualification. A contestant may touch a pole with his or her hand in pole bending.
5. In the event of a tie, the horse declared the winner in the runoff must rerun the pattern within two seconds of its original time or the runoff must be held again. Penalty time will not apply to the two-second rule, but will apply to the final runoff time.
6. The judge, at his/her discretion, may disqualify a contestant for excessive use of a bat, crop, whip or rope in front of the cinch.

Goat Tying (Definition/Rules)

1. The goat is tied to a stake with a rope ten feet in length.
2. Starting line will be 100 feet from the stake.
3. Contestant must be mounted and ride from the starting line to the goat, dismount, throw the goat by hand and tie any three legs together with a leather thong or pigging string.
4. If goat is down when roper reaches it, the goat must be elevated by roper so that at least three legs extend directly underneath before being thrown.
5. If contestants horse steps on rope or runs over goat while mounted, a five (5) second penalty will be assessed.
6. Time is called when hands leave the goat to be rasied. Judge waits six seconds to determine that the goat is securely tied. If goat becomes untied during this period, contestant received a no-time.

Breakaway Calf Roping (Definition/Rules)

1. Each rope is tied to saddle horn with string. Rider, starting when the barrier drops, rides after the calf, throwing loop over its head. As rider pulls up her horse, the running calf breaks the string and the rope falls free from the saddle horn.
2. A flag must be attached to the rope at the saddle horn so judge can tell when rope breaks free. Time is called when judge drops his flag.
3. Ropes must be released from contestant's hand to be a legal catch. Horse must clear box before loop is thrown or a five (5) second penalty will be assessed.

Exhibition runs will be allowed for Barrel Racing and Pole Bending. Exhibition runs will be at $5/run and will follow the completion of all contestants for that event. Exhibition runs are 'standalone' and points are not awarded thereto. Participant must be a member of the organization to perform an exhibition run. Participants are limited to one exhibition run per event (i.e. one run in Barrels, one run in Poles on that day).