Bareback riding, developed in the rodeo arena many years ago, consistently produces some of the wildest action in the sport.

Throughout the eight-second ride, the cowboy must grasp the rigging (a handhold made of leather and rawhide) with only one hand. Optimum spurring action begins with the rider in control, his heels at the horse's neck. He then pulls his feet, toes turned outward, to the horse's withers until the cowboy's feet are nearly touching the bareback rigging.

A rider is disqualified if he touches his equipment, himself or the animal with his free hand. The rider is judged on his control during the ride and on his spurring technique. The score also is based on the rider's "exposure" to the strength of the horse. In addition, the horse's performance accounts for half the potential score.

STEER WRESTLING

Wrestling a steer requires more than brute strength. The successful steer wrestler, or bulldogger, is strong, to be sure, but he also understands the principles of leverage.

The steer wrestler on horseback starts behind a barrier, and begins his chase after the steer has been given a head start. If the bulldogger leaves too soon and breaks the barrier, he receives a 10-second penalty. The steer wrestler is assisted by a hazer, another cowboy on horseback tasked with keepin the steer running in a straight line.

When the bulldogger's horse pulls even with the steer, he eases down the right side of the horse and reaches for the steer's horns. After grasping the horns, he digs his heels into the dirt. As the steer slows, the cowboy turns the animal, lifts up on its right horn and pushes down with his lefthand in an effort to tip the steer over.

After the catch, the steer wrestler must either bring the steer to a stop or change the direction of the animal's body before the throw or is disqualified. The clock stops when the steer is on his side with all four legs pointing in the same direction.

Steer wrestling is often known as the "big man's event" and with good reason; at the 1997 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, the average steer wrestler weighed in at 215 pounds.

MUTTON BUSTIN

Mutton bustin is fun for the crowd and the kids participating. Aspiring young cowboys and cowgirls looking for their six seconds of fame come busting out of the chute aboard their wooly mounts.

Children between the ages of five and seven weighing less than 55 pounds are eligible to participate. With helmets and protective vests mandatory, every precaution is taken to make the event safe. Like their mentors in the ranks of professional rodeo, these young athletes are scored half for their own performance and half for that of the animal. But the judges are much more lenient in this event and every kid receives a score, even if they don't ride 'til the six-second buzzer.

These youngsters also have another one-up on the professionals. Every participant receives a Justin Boots Mutton Bustin' buckle and bandanna. There are even Justin Junior Boots awarded to the overall winners.

TEAM ROPING

If a team roping header isn't quick, you won't find him at the National Finals Rodeo. Headers need quickness like brain surgeons need medical training. To win money at most professional rodeos, team roping headers must accomplish myriad duties in less time than it takes the average person to yawn.

First of all, headers must charge out of the box on horseback (without breaking the barrier, mind you), chase down a fast-racing steer and rope him around his protected horns, neck or "half-head"--a partial horn-neck catch.

After making the catch, the header rides to the left, taking the steer in tow. The heeler moves in and ropes both hind legs. Catching only one hind leg results in a five-second penalty. If the heeler tosses his loop before the header has changed direction of the steer and has the animal moving forward, it's called a "crossfire" and it results in disqualification.

The run is completed when the steer is secured and the team ropers' horses are facing each other on opposite sides of the steer. Team roping is, as its name implies, rodeo's only true team event. Beginning in 1995, however, the PRCA opted to recognize team roping headers and heelers with separate world titles.

CALF SCRAMBLE

At the drop of the hat, the scramble begins! Youngsters charge across the arena and attempt to properly catch, halter, and coax a calf across the finish line -- sometimes with the help of a rodeo clown. A haltered calf and an exhausted smile from the scrambler are just the beginnning for the winners.

The winning scramblers take on a yearlong commitment to raise a heifer selected personally from a breeder of their choice. Time management, proper feeding and grooming, and hours of work every day are required of the participants. They keep careful records and submit progress reports staff, instructors or county agents, and members of the Calf Scramble Committee.

The young winners return the following year to exhibit their projects in the Star of Texas Scramble Heifer Show. They also have the option to participate in the Star of Texas Junior Beef Heifer Show, which affords them the opportunity to compete against other junior exhibitors from around the great state of Texas.

The Scramble competition is a highlight for rodeo fans, and a great yearlong learning opportunity for the young scramblers.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Rodeo's "classic" event, saddle bronc riding, has roots that run deep in the history of the Old West. Ranch hands would often gather and compete among themeselves to see who could display the best style while riding unbroken horses. It was from this early competition that today's event was born.

Each rider must begin his ride with his feet over the bronc's shoulders to give the horse the advantage. A rider who synchronizes his spurring action with the animal's bucking efforts will receive a high score. Other factors considered in the scoring are the cowboy's control throughout the ride, the length of his spurring stroke and how hard the horse bucks.

Model spurring action begins with the rider's feet far forward on the bronc's point of shoulder, sweeping to the back of the saddle, or "cantle," as the horse bucks. The rider then snaps his feet back to the horse's neck a split second before the animal's front feet hit the ground.

Disqualification results if, prior to the buzzer which sounds after eight seconds, the rider touches the animal, himself or his equipment with his free hand, if either foot slips out of stirrup, if he drops the bronc rein, or if he fails to have his feet in the proper "mark out" position at the beginning of the ride.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

Like bronc riding, tie-down roping is an event born on the ranches of the Old West. Sick calves were roped and tied down for medical treatment.

Today, success in tie-down roping depends largely on the teamwork between a cowboy and his horse. The luck of the draw is also a factor. A feisty calf that runs fast or kicks hard can foil a roper's finest effort.

After the calf is given a head start, horse and rider give chase. The contestant ropes the calf, then dismounts and runs to the ani