Bull Dogging
“the event that made Bill Pickett famous.“
If riding on the back of an ill-tempered bull isn't enough, there's always "doggin" a steer! Most steers used in this event weigh between 650 and 700 pounds and are chased down by a rider on horseback, at about 30 miles per hour! This is an event of speed, skill and raw nerve and the event that made Bill Pickett famous.
Things to look for:
Racing to overtake the steer, the "dogger" positions his horse alongside the steer, reaches with his right hand and grabs the steer's right horn. As the horse speeds by the steer, the cowboy gets the horn in the crook of his right elbow. At the same time, his left hand passes down on the other horn while he veers off the horse to the left.
Using his weight, momentum and determination, the dogger wrestles the steer to the ground making sure that the steer is lying flat on its side with all four feet and head in the same direction.
Bull doggin's in the only event in which a cowboy is allowed help in the arena. His partner, is called the "hazer'." The Hazer watches for mistakes which happen if the steer slams on his brakes or veers away form the dogger. The hazer has to foresee these possibilities and correct them, often in a split second.
Scoring:
Is all a matter of seconds; the fastest take down wins!