Added money - The money donated to the rodeo committee by the sponsors to attract the contestants to the rodeo for competition.

Arena director - The person whose responsibility it is to see that the rodeo goes smoothly according to the rules of the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association.

Boot the bull - A term used to mean a particular bull can be spurred. Bull riders are not required to spur their animals, but if they can, they earn extra points.

Bronc rein - A thick rope, 1½-2 inches in diameter that is attached to the halter of a saddle bronc horse. The rope can be no longer than 6½  feet, and is used to provide balance, and to give the cowboy something to hold.

Bulldogger - Steer wrestler.

Bull rope - A flat woven rope, no larger than 9/16 of an inch in diameter with a bell attached to it. The rope is wrapped around the bull's body, just behind the front legs, and then around the cowboy 's hand, to help secure the cowboy to the bull.

Dally (alt. daly, dallie) - The action of wrapping a lasso around a saddle horn, after a calf or steer has been roped. Ropers need to be careful when dallying, because getting a finger caught between the rope and saddle horn will pop it off easily.  

Dog fall - An illegal maneuver in steer wrestling causing all four feet and the head to face in different directions. To receive a time, the cowboy must turn the steer over or let it up and throw it again legally.

Fair catch - In team roping, the header must catch the steer around the horns, head, or neck.

Fishing - The expression used to describe a legal catch made by accident, or by flipping the rope, after the initial throw missed.

Flagman - The official who signals the end of the elapsed time in timed events.

Flank strap A wool-lined strap with a self-holding buckle that is passed around the flank of the bronc or bull.  As the stock leaves the chute, the strap is pulled tight causing the animal to buck in an effort to get rid of the strap.

Go-round - The part of the rodeo that is required to allow each contestant to compete on one head of stock. The number of go-rounds varies by the size of the rodeo and number of contestants.

Ground money - The money paid when the purse for an event is split equally and paid to all contestants in the event. This is done when all contestants entered in an event fail to qualify.

Hazer - A mounted cowboy who rides along the right hand side of the steer keeping it running in a straight line.  This makes the steer wrestler’s job easier when jumping from his horse.

Header and Heeler - In team roping, the header ropes first and must make one of three legal catches on the steer — around both horns, around one horn and the head, or around the neck.  After the header makes his catch, he turns the steer to the left and exposes the steer's hind legs to the heeler, who then attempts to rope both hind legs.

Hooey - The knot used by calf ropers to hold the wraps used to tie three of the stock's feet together after the calf has been thrown.

Hung up - A rider who is off the animal but is still stuck in the rigging or bull rope. This is a dangerous situation for the cowboy and can lead to serious injury.

In the wall - A contestant who comes off an animal on the inside of the spin.

Kack - The saddle used by saddle bronc riders.

Mark out rule - In the bareback and saddle bronc events, the cowboys must have their spurs touching the animal above the point of the horse's shoulder on its first jump out of the bucking chutes. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of a no score. The judges determine if a competitor has made the mark out or not.

Mugger - The cowboy who gets a firm hold on the horse's neck during the Wild Horse Race. This allows the rider to put the saddle on the horse.

No time - The contestant has not caught or thrown the stock properly and does not receive a time for that go-round.

Out the backdoor - When the rider is thrown over the back end of an animal.

Pickup men - Cowboys on horseback who work the roughstock events.  They manage the horses and bulls and rescue bronc and bareback riders from their horses after they make a ride.  They also release the flank strap on horses after their work is done.

Piggin’ string - A small soft rope about 6 feet long used by calf ropers to tie the animal's feet together.

Purse - The money paid to the winners of each rodeo event.  It equals the total of the added money and entry fees.

Rank Roughstock - Animals that are difficult to ride.  It could mean tough, rough, mean, or dangerous when describing specific broncs or bulls.

Re-Ride - Another ride given to a saddle bronc, bareback, or bull rider in the same go-round when either the stock or the cowboy is not afforded a fair opportunity to show their best.

Roughstock events  - Bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding.

Shankman - The cowboy in the Wild Horse Race who grabs and holds on to the lead line attached to the horse's halter so the mugger can get a hold on the horse's neck.

Union animal - An animal that bucks until the sound of the 8-second whistle, then quits.

Vaqueros - Literally Spanish for "cowboy," the term as used by early Spanish and Mexicans referred to men who worked with cattle and other livestock on ranchos or ranches. Not to be confused with the more formal term of Caballero which literally means "horseman" but is properly translated as gentleman. The term buckaroo is an English mispronunciation of vaquero.

Resources

Introduction to Rodeo

Glossary of Terms