A rodeo event where little kids ride sheep and hold on tight as the animal runs into the arena.
With this article, we’ll talk about the different rodeo events that young riders can take part in as they move up the ranks.
The challenges and thrills that these young riders will face will range from riding calf to riding bull.
Mutton busting is a popular event at rodeos and fairs where young children ride and cling onto the backs of speeding sheep for as long as they can. It’s an exciting introduction to rodeo for kids, but what comes next after they outgrow mutton busting? As young riders grow older and develop new skills, a series of thrilling youth rodeo events await them.
Overview of Common Post-Mutton Busting Events
Here’s an overview of the typical events that young rodeo competitors progress through after mutton busting:
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Calf Riding – Riding bucking calves for 6 seconds while holding on with one hand.
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Steer Riding – Riding bucking steers, building on calf riding skills.
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Breakaway Roping – Catching a calf by throwing a loop of rope around its neck
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Goat Tying – Safely tackling goats to the ground,
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Barrel Racing – Riding horses at high speeds around barrels in a pattern
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Pole Bending – Riding horses through a zig-zag pattern around poles.
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Bull Riding – The ultimate challenge of riding bucking bulls.
Each event tests key skills like control, balance, speed, and courage. Let’s look at each one in more detail.
Calf Riding
The first step up from mutton busting is typically calf riding. Here, children attempt to ride bucking calves for 6 seconds while holding on with one hand. They must have the strength and balance to stay on the powerful, kicking calf without falling off.
Safety equipment like helmets, mouthguards and protective vests are required. Calf riding develops key skills and braces riders for larger animals ahead like steers and bulls. It’s an exciting chance for kids to test their true grit and ride their first bucking beast.
Regional youth rodeo associations organize calf riding events divided into age brackets. Competitors are scored based on their ability to stay centered on the calf while it bucks and kicks. As riders master calf riding, they move towards tougher challenges.
Steer Riding
Steer riding is the next step up and tests riders on bucking steers weighing 500-1000 pounds. The larger animals have horns and a more forceful buck, requiring greater technique and handling from the rider. Legs are straddled around the steer’s shoulders and rides last 8 seconds using one hand.
Associations like the National Junior Bullriders group organize steer riding competitions with rigid safety requirements. The event prepares young cowboys for the ultimate challenge – bull riding. Along the way, they gain courage and develop key skills like staying balanced atop a bucking beast.
Breakaway Roping
For aspiring cowgirls, breakaway roping is a popular event after mutton busting. Here, riders chase calves from horseback and attempt to throw a loop of rope around their necks. When the rope catches, a string attached to it breaks away from the saddle horn, stopping the clock and signaling a completed run.
Success requires perfect timing and technique when tossing the rope. Riders race against the clock, bursting from the gates in pursuit of the calf. Horse handling skills are also critical to keep the animal steady amidst the fast action. Breakaway roping tests both precision and speed.
Goat Tying
Goat tying also develops key rodeo skills, blending speed with animal handling. Cowgirls ride out on horseback towards a tethered goat. They dismount, race to the goat, grab it and safely wrestle or tie it to the ground as fast as possible against the clock.
Competitors must combine fast sprints with adept goat handling to avoid harming the animals. Goat tying is next-level training for calf roping and develops physical strength, stamina and livestock agility. It’s one of numerous events that aspiring cowgirls can test themselves in after outgrowing mutton busting.
Barrel Racing
When it comes to speed and precision on horseback, barrel racing is the ultimate test. Riders race their horses through a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels in an arena. Knocking over a barrel incurs major time penalties, so control is vital.
Barrel racing blends horse handling at high speeds with strategy in plotting the fastest path. Junior barrel racing events help young riders master techniques like arching passes around barrels and spurring horses out of turns. They gain experience and confidence before advancing to higher levels of competition.
Pole Bending
Pole bending is another fast-paced event combining speed with technical turns. Riders navigate their horses through a line of six poles in a zig-zag pattern. Like barrel racing, they must handle their horses precisely to avoid time penalties from knocking down poles.
The event develops key abilities like steering, balance, and timing that riders can apply to other rodeo events. Regional associations organize pole bending races divided into age groups for aspiring young competitors. It’s a fast and fun event for riders ready for a new challenge after mutton busting.
Bull Riding
Finally, bull riding is the ultimate test of courage, balance, and resilience. Here, teenage riders attempt to stay atop a bucking bull for 8 grueling seconds without being thrown off. Weighing up to 2,000 pounds, bulls twist, kick, and explode with incredible force, testing the limits of each rider.
Bull riding is the peak challenge in rodeo, requiring years of progressive training and conquered fears. While highly dangerous, dedicated junior rodeo programs prepare older youth under strict supervision. For young rodeo stars with their sights set on bull riding glory, it is the final trial along their journey after mutton busting.
Finding the Right Progression for Each Young Rider
The ideal post-mutton busting path depends on each child’s age, skills and development. While calf riding is a standard next step, some may be ready to progress faster to steer riding or roping. Discussing goals with coaches helps determine the right pace.
The key is gradually building skills by advancing from one challenge to the next. With the right preparation, aspiring young cowboys and cowgirls can progress safely through the ranks towards their ultimate rodeo dreams after those first thrilling sheep rides.
Junior Barrel Racing: Speed And Precision
For young cowgirls looking for a different type of challenge, junior barrel racing may be the perfect fit. Riders must be quick and accurate as they guide their horses around three barrels set up in a cloverleaf shape in the arena.
To compete at the professional level, barrel racers must pay attention to detail while maneuvering at high speeds. Running past a barrel or knocking one over results in disqualification or time penalties. But young riders can learn the skills and control they need to be good at barrel racing with hard work and practice.
Junior barrel racing has divisions for kids of all ages and skill levels, with both contact and non-contact races. Kids who have access to horses can compete in different events in the contact division, such as flag pattern, pole bending, and untying goat tails. For those without access to horses, non-contact events are available with all equipment provided.
Kids in both divisions learn and improve skills they can use when they get older and compete at higher levels. Ribbons are awarded through sixth place, and participant prizes are given to those who place seventh or lower. There are also Reserve Champion awards and an All Around Cowboy and All Around Cowgirl award for each division.
When young rodeo fans want to keep going after mutton busting, junior barrel racing is just one of many fun events they can do. Young riders can get the skills and confidence they need to compete at higher levels and follow in the footsteps of their rodeo heroes if they work hard and are dedicated.
Breakaway Roping: A Test Of Timing And Technique
Breakaway roping is a timed event that requires precision and technique. Cowgirls chase after a calf with a flag on the end of their rope and a nylon string from the rope to the saddle horn. Once the calf leaves the roping chute, the cowgirl throws her loop around its neck. When the rope gets tight around the calf, the string comes loose from the saddle horn, and the flag goes up. This tells the timer to stop the clock.
The goal is to have the fastest time, but it’s not just about speed. Breakaway roping requires a great deal of skill and technique. While still being in charge of her horse, the cowgirl must be able to throw her loop quickly and accurately. The horse needs to be taught to stop quickly and stay still while the cowgirl gets off and runs to the calf.
Timing is also crucial in breakaway roping. If the cowgirl breaks the barrier too soon, she will receive a 10-second penalty. In other words, she has to time her release just right to give herself the best chance at a quick time.
Breakaway roping is a thrilling event to watch, as cowgirls race against the clock to catch their calf. It’s a true test of timing and technique, and requires years of practice to master.
Mutton Bustin’ highlights | San Antonio Rodeo | Feb. 25, 2022
FAQ
What is the age cut off for mutton busting?
What is the average age for mutton busting?
What is it called when kids ride sheep?
Is mutton busting cruel?
What is Mutton Bustin’?
Mutton Bustin’ is an exciting event for the boys and girls who want to experience the excitement of riding in the rodeo arena. In the rodeo arena the kids will be on the sheep inside a chute. The time of the ride begins when the chute opens—the ride will be timed for 6 seconds.
Is Mutton Bustin a kid-friendly event?
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is back, bringing with it the return of a fan-favorite, kid-friendly event. Mutton bustin’ allows young children to experience the thrills of rodeo events, but with a lesser degree of danger than in competitions such as bull riding and saddle bronc riding.
How does mutton busting work?
Waiting for their turn to prove their mutton busting chops, the children stand in a line in the arena. They stand wide-eyed, glancing up to their parents in the stands, looking nervous and excited. One by one two cowboys lift the children up and onto the back of a sheep. The riders are judged for how long they hold on and for style.
Can you ride Mutton Bustin’ at the Houston Rodeo?
For mutton bustin’ at the Houston Rodeo, the riders must be either five or six years old and weigh 55 pounds or less. Registration is closed for the mutton bustin’ events that occur inside NRG Stadium, with participants typically needing to sign up several months in advance.