In 2024, BPIR will operate using its own rules as outlined in the BPIR Rule book, which is online.

There is an Icon under the Rule Book section called RULE CHANGES to capture any rule changes or new rules added to the Rule Book as an easy reference for you.

• BPIR will continue to abide by its own rules in 2024.
• Membership cards must be purchased to participate in any BPIR rodeo. Permits are allowed for Oakland, Los Angeles and Atlanta rodeos.

THE IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE THAT WILL APPLY IN 2024 ARE AS FOLLOWS:

A.    Contestant Membership
Contestant Membership will be open to any Black/African American contestant of good character and reputation who is interested in competing in rodeo events, providing his/her application is accepted by the BPIR Association.

• Contestant Open Membership will be comprised of members who compete in major rodeo events: Bareback Riding, Bull Dogging, Calf Roping, Bull Riding, Ladies’ Barrel Racing, Ladies’ Breakaway, and Ladies’ Steer Undecorating.
• Open New and Renewing Membership dues shall be $100.00 per year (January 1st through December 31st). Junior’s new and renewing Membership (8 to 12 years old will be $50.00. Pee Wee which is 7 and under is free.

Please note: Peewees, if you choose to move up in the Junior Barrel Racing you must remain in that event for the remainder of the year.

B.    Conduct

5.    Any member will be fined, disqualified, and/or suspended immediately (depending on the severity) for any of the following offenses: failure to pay hotel/motel bills; smoking in non-smoking rooms or causing damage to the hotel, arena or any property of others associated with the rodeo. Other offenses subject to fine, disqualification and/or suspension include but are not limited to:

e)    drinking during performance, excessive drinking after events or taking alcoholic beverages into the arena during the regular performance of the rodeo

C.    Dress

1. When a contestant is participating in a rodeo performance, contestants’ numbers are issued, and all participants must wear their back numbers to enter the arena and to receive their stock. Any contestant competing without a back number during a performance will be excluded from the arena and/or disqualified. (Contestants MUST wear their numbers on their backs).
2. NO BASEBALL CAPS may be worn at any time, in the arena. Failure to comply will result in a fine of $10.00. Failure to comply with the dress code while competing will result in disqualification.

E.    Rodeo General Rules

6.    Sponsoring association or committees reserve the right to refuse stock with sufficient reason to any member of the BPIR. Stock charges will be properly identified on all BPIR, MLK and Associated Rodeos entry blanks.
7.    After the books have closed and the draw out deadline has passed, if there are open spots as a result of a draw out/turn out, any BPIR member will be allowed to enter and pay their fees prior to the stock draw based on availability of spots.

Note: After draw out deadline, no monies will be refunded and will remain in the pot.

1. G.     One Header/Two Header

The following pertains to whether the rodeo will be a one header or two header:

1. Bareback and Bull Riding at the Bill Pickett Invitational will always be a two header unless specified differently after the books are closed.

H.    Rookie Of The Year Qualifications:
To be eligible for Rookie of the year, a participant must compete in one more than 1/2 of BPIR rodeos according to the BPIR published requirements each year. The one more than 1/2 creates an interesting dilemma when there are an odd number of rodeos. To clarify, if there are seven rodeos, the participant would have to compete in a total of five rodeos (Example: ½ of seven is 3.5 and one more would be 4.5; since one cannot compete in half a rodeo, the number required to compete in would round up to the next whole number). A Rookie contender must be a NEW Open Rodeo member and have not participated and competed previously as a BPIR member in any BPIR open event.

The following language has been added to all Timed events except for Barrel Racing:

• In a two or more-go-round contest with an average, calf roper has a 30 second time limit to complete each run.
• Tie breakers will be determined based on a 3-digit timing format.

D.    Ladies Open, Juniors & Peewees Barrel Racing

16.    All barrel racers’ hats must be secured on their body until they cross the start of the timer. This rule applies to all groups (Peewees, Juniors and Open barrel racers).

E.    Ladies Steer Undecorating

9.    Reruns

IV.  If the ribbon comes off due to barrier or defaulted tape, Contestant will NOT get a Rerun after the stock has been contested during the 30 second time limit.

G.    PONY EXPRESS RELAY RACE
All Relay teams MUST register online. If there are any changes to your team members, you must notify the secretary before competing in order  to  avoid disqualification. Please note, team members cannot change from one run within the same rodeo.

* Each contestant will be allowed to compete on TWO TEAMS ONLY. If a person is found to have competed on more than the TWO TEAMS, ALL the teams will be DISQUALIFIED.  ALL THREE TEAMS will be disqualified, and NO MONEY will be REFUNDED.

BPIR reserves the right to determine how relay teams will run. Runs for Relay Teams will be determined by production time and/or # of teams.

For BPIR Finals:
Relay teams will be split between shows. No more than 4 for each show.

XV.    BPIR Finals Rules/Points
The BPIR Final’s main shows and Final’s RFKS does not count as a qualifying rodeo. However, any money won at the RFKS show at the finals will count towards the All-Around standings.

If a BPIR member competes and wins money in two or more events during the current rodeo year, they qualify for All-Around Cowboy/Cowgirl competition.

Please note, contestants will be grouped according to how they qualify to compete at the finals as follows:

• ONLY Group 1 (Qualified Rodeo requirements & earned money) will be eligible for Year End Awards and finals entry fee will be paid by BPIR.
• Group 2 (Qualified Rodeo requirements & No Money) will be considered Alternates. Alternates for this group will be identified by rodeo count. 
• Group 3 (Money & Not Enough Qualified Rodeos) will be considered Alternates. Alternates for this group will be identified by rodeo count first, then money earned.

Any tie breakers for finalist spots will be done by a draw.