SNOWMASS RODEO

Contestant Rules &

Registration Information

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Snowmass Rodeo

Policy and Rules

2008

ADDED MONEY AND TROPHY BUCKLES:

SNOWMASS RODEO HAS $2500 ADDED MONEY FOR EVERY RODEO PROVIDED BY THE

RODEO PRODUCER, SNOWMASS WESTERN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION (SWHA). AT THE

CONCLUSION OF THE LAST RODEO OF THE SEASON, A SERIES AVERAGE CHAMPION

BUCKLE WILL BE AWARDED TO THE OVERALL HIGH POINT COMPETITOR IN EACH

EVENT (except Calf Scramble and Mutton Bustin') AND ONE CHAMPION BUCKLE TO THE

ALL AROUND AVERAGE POINTS WINNER.

Contestant Sign-up - 970-923-9270 (see additional information below). Checks

for entry fees are to be made out to SWHA.

GENERAL POLICY      

1. PRCA event rules shall govern this rodeo, unless specifically addressed as a

Snowmass Rodeo Rule and listed under these Rules and Policy.  

2. Alcohol and drugs are strictly prohibited on the rodeo grounds, including the parking

lots and “contestant only” areas by our license. Alcohol will be provided by the licensed

concessions on the grounds only. NO COOLERS containing alcohol!

3. Argumentative behavior, fighting, or foul language will not be tolerated.  No act or

action that can be perceived as animal abuse will be tolerated.  Harassing stock

contractors, rodeo personnel, judges, timers, secretaries, spectators, or any contestant

will not be tolerated. If this rule is violated, the contestant, volunteer, or guest will be

escorted off the grounds by security personnel without refund of any fees or admission.  

4. Contestants, excluding Mutton Bustin and Calf Scramble, may bring up to three

immediate family and/or friends into contestant area at no charge. Professional western

attire, (brimmed hats or helmets, buttoned or snapped long sleeved shirts, and heeled

boots) must be worn by all contestants.  Their guests, for the free admission, must wear

proper WESTERN attire.  All contestants and their guests must be in western attire by

the start of slack.

5. All contestants shall be ready to perform when called.  Contestant will be disqualified

after the 3rd call.  Entry fees will not be returned in the event of any disqualification. 

6. Announcements from the crow’s nest shall take precedent over any other policy or

rule contained herein.

7. Entries are taken by phone (923-9270) on Tuesday between 6:00 and 7:30 PM for the

Wednesday Night Rodeo.  Additionally, pre-entries can be made for subsequent rodeos

by signup sheet available from the Rodeo Secretary at the end of each rodeo. The

rodeo secretary will be responsible for establishing the order of performance. All entry

fees must be paid in full prior to the start of the rodeo or the contestant(s) will be

withdrawn from competition. It is the responsibility of each contestant to notify the

rodeo secretary if unable to compete in any performance that he/she has pre-entered.

Notice must be given prior to 5 PM the day of the performance. Failure to do so will

result in the contestant losing the pre-sign-up privilege. It is the responsibility of each

contestant to know when they are scheduled to perform.

8. All contestants must complete a “waiver of liability” and information form and provide

mailing address and social security number prior to participation in any event. Prize

money will not be awarded until contestant has provided all information. Contestants

under the age of 18 must bring a parent to sign for permission and waiver of liability or

notarized parental permission waiver in the event their legal guardian is unavailable at

the time of entry.

9. All contestants are invited and strongly encouraged to ride in the Grand Entry. Rough

stock riders may request a horse on an  “as available” basis. Contestants competing in

the performance are specifically requested to ride in the Grand Entry.

10. At the conclusion of each performance event, the winner(s) will ride a victory lap,

excluding Mutton Bustin and Calf Scramble contestants. The producer shall provide a

suitable horse if the competitor cannot provide one.

11. Any ruling that is made by the arena judge may be questioned only by the affected

contestant notifying that judge at the conclusion of that event and prior to the start of

the next event.

12. All suggestions, concerns, safety issues, and COMPLAINTS must be submitted in

writing, typed or printed, signed and given to the Rodeo Secretary.  All correspondence

submitted will be reviewed by the Rodeo Committee and a reply provided in a timely

manner. Please be as specific as possible and include contact information.

13. Owners of livestock must be able to show proof of current health and vaccination

status to be permitted on the rodeo grounds.  Each stock contractor and each contestant

must sign a statement agreeing to provide this information at the request of the arena

director. Additionally, all contractor and contestants' animals must meet the Snowmass

Village health requirements.

14. A list, ranking all competitors by points, will be posted in the entry office each week.

Contestants will be awarded one point for participating in each rodeo, in addition to

points assigned for placing in that particular event, through five (5) places. It is the

responsibility of each competitor to bring any discrepancy to the attention of the Rodeo

Secretary within one week of the posting, after which time all results are final.

15. Food and beverage discount coupons for contestants will be available at the exit

gate of the arena, given only to those contestants participating in the Grand Entry.

Rough Stock riders are exempt from this requirement.

16.  Judges are not allowed to compete in any event.

17. The Rodeo performance will start at 7PM sharp!  Slack performance will start no

later than 6PM.

18. No contestants are allowed to talk to the timer, i.e., changing line-up and/or asking

for their time. They should consult the judge and the judge will determine the outcome

and make the call to the crow’s nest.

TEAM ROPING

1. PRCA rules shall govern, unless specifically listed here as a Snowmass Rodeo Rule.

2. Two separate ropings will be held at each rodeo. The first is a #11 roping.  The

second roping will be a #8.  The first five teams to sign up for each roping will rope in

the performance and that will be called Mixed Team Roping. No contestant may

compete more than once in the performance for that event.

3. Stock will not be drawn. Chute order will be used for all rodeos.

4. Only the team competing and the next three teams to rope will be allowed in the

arena.

Teams are requested to remain along the back fence so as not to interfere with the

competing team or block the crowd’s view of the boxes.

5. Time will be called when the heel rope is tight. CPRA tie-on rules shall apply. The

header is not required to face, but must maintain control of the steer.

6. Any steer that is jerked down or falls down shall be immediately released and the

flagger shall immediately declare a no time. The arena judge may award another steer

if circumstances indicate the team had an unfair disadvantage. Any team attempting to

get the steer up and qualify a time shall be disqualified.

7. Slack roping will start at 6:00 PM and may start earlier if the number of teams

entered requires an earlier start time.

8. Entry fees will be $60 per team payable in whole or in part by either team member.

Entries will close 30 minutes prior to the start of the slack or team members will

be DQ’d. The Rodeo Secretary shall determine the order of competition.

9. A minimum of $350 will be added to the #11 roping and a minimum of $250 will be

added to the #8 roping. All jackpot funds shall be divided proportionate to the number

of entries in each division. The stock charge shall be no more than 1/3 of the entry fee,

with the stock contractor receiving $15.00 per run. Three monies will be paid for up to

35 teams. Four monies paid for 36 to 45 teams, and five monies paid on all entries over

45 teams.  PRCA payoff percentages will be used.

10. An electric eye will be used as the Heading barrier and a Heeling barrier will also be

used.  A back up timer will be used.  In the event of electric eye failure a backup string

barrier will be used for the duration of the event all previously recorded times will stand. 

A ten second penalty will be applied for a broken barrier and a five second penalty will

apply for only one leg.  Any illegal head catch will be immediately disqualified.

11. Both header and heeler are required to assist in getting their stock out of the arena.

The team must then immediately leave the arena by the designated exit.

BARREL RACING

1. WPRA rules shall govern this event unless specifically addressed as a Snowmass

Rodeo Rule.               

2. Entry fee is $35.

3. Each contestant may enter only once and no horse may run more than once per

rodeo.  The first ten (10) contestants pre-entered and paid will ride in the performance. 

All other entries will ride in slack.  Slack will start immediately after the team roping

slack. All contestants will be drawn for their order of run.

4. Added money of $250.00 per rodeo and 85% of entry fees will be jackpotted.  Three

places paid with 10 entries or less (50/30/20).  Four places will be paid for contests with

11-20 entries (40/30/2010).  Five places will be paid for all contests with more than 21

entries.

5. An electric eye will be used for each event. Backup hand time will be maintained.

Time will be started once the contestant crosses the start line for any reason.

6. Pee Wee’s (children aged 12 and under) may sign up to make an exhibition run

provided they have completed a parental release.  These runs are limited to a

maximum of two PeeWee contestants per performance. There is no charge for these

exhibition runs, which will be run immediately following the open competition.

7. Racers may circle one time only before running.

DALLY RIBBON ROPING

1.

A maximum of 10 entries per rodeo will be accepted.  The entry fee will be $35.00.

There will be $150 in added money. Stock charge is $10 per run and the balance will be

paid out to first, second and third place with a 50/30/20 split.

2. All ropers must dally. No tied off ropes will be allowed.  If the calf is intentionally

jerked down, the team is immediately disqualified and the rope shall be released

immediately. Any perception of animal abuse will not be tolerated. The arena judge will

have full discretion in this circumstance and may consider this action as cruel with full

application of the rules pertaining to animal abuse applied.

3.  The calf will be released immediately after the runner has removed the ribbon. The

roper will assist in removing the animal from the arena.

4.  No one may rope or run more than once per rodeo for this event and only one loop

is allowed. A team must consist of one male and one female contestant. Any child under

13 years of age may also enter with either of the above.

5.  The designated runner may wear running shoes of his/her choice however all other

western attire as stated under general policy shall be complied with.

6.  An electric eye barrier will be used. If the barrier is broken, a ten second penalty will

be imposed on that team. Time will start by the electric eye and stop when the runner

crosses the front of the roping box, as signaled by the Arena Flagger. The runner must

have part of the ribbon in hand when time is called. If the flag falls off the calf through

no fault of the runner, the runner must only touch the tail of the calf prior to crossing

the finish line.

ROUGH STOCK EVENTS

1. All contestants must pre-enter for these events. There will be no on-site entry without

prior approval of the stock contractor. Entry fees are $60 for all events. There will be

$10 service charge for stock. $500 will be added to each event.

2. Rough stock entries will be limited as follows: seven (7) bareback, seven (7) saddle

bronc, and twelve (12) bull riders.   First paid signups are guaranteed a position.

3. Draw takes place before the rodeo.

4. A re-ride will be drawn at the same time as the regular draw.

5. Each event will pay three places, with a 50/30/20 split of all jackpotted and “added”

funds held, less the $10 service charge for stock.

6. If there are no qualified rides in an event, all ground money will be paid back to

those contestants, less the service charge. SWHA will retain the added money.

MUTTON BUSTIN

1. “Mutton Bustin” is limited to seven (7) contestants. All competitors will be entered into

a draw, and the first 6 competitors to be drawn will compete in that performance. One

spot is available by silent action at the sign up desk.  If no one bids then that spot will

be drawn as well. Three alternates will also be drawn in the event that a competitor

turns out their stock.

2. Competitors must enter the draw prior to the start of the rodeo. Draw results will be

announced just after the Grand Entry Parade.  All contestants must have a parent/legal

guardian present at that time in order to sign the “Parental Consent” and “Minor Liability

Release” form(s). Entries are only taken on the day of the rodeo. (No pre-entry

available)

2. The contestants must be between the ages of 4 years and 7 years of age and must

weigh no more than 50 pounds. Safety headgear and vests will be provided and must

be worn by each contestant.

3. There is no entry fee for this event. There will be no added money for this event.

4. “Mutton Bustin” is a timed event, judging the first eight seconds of the ride. The

judge will score each ride on its merits. Prizes will be awarded to all contestants with the

top three receiving a medal.

CALF SCRAMBLE

1. The calf scramble is open to any child between the ages of 4 thru 10. Sign-up will

close just prior to the start of the rodeo.  There is no limit to the number of entries.  A

parent or guardian must sign a liability release prior to the start of the contest in order

for a contestant to be eligible for this event

2. The contest will be started by an Arena Official once all contestants have entered the

arena. The contestant will remove any part of the ribbon that has been attached to the

tail of the calves and return this to the Arena Official. Once all the ribbons have been

removed from the calves' tails the contest is over.  The first three contestants will be

awarded medals and each contestant will receive a prize for their participation.