Women’s Breakaway Roping

Don’t blink or you may just miss the run. Breakaway roping is the event comparable to the men’s tie-down roping on the cowboy side except the cowgirls are not required to dismount and tie the calf. In breakaway roping, the cowgirl has a flag tied close to the end of her rope and a nylon string tied from the rope to the saddle horn. Once the barrier is released and the calf leaves the roping chute, the cowgirl gives chase, throwing the loop around the calf’s neck. When the rope grows tight after the calf is roped, the string breaks away from the saddle horn and the flag goes flying, signaling the timer to stop the clock. The time in the breakaway roping can sometimes get as fast as 2.0 seconds and since it is a timed event, the fastest time wins. A broken barrier results in a 10-second penalty.

WOMEN’S BREAKAWAY ROPING The Scoop

The roper enters the box on the right side of the roping chute where the calf has been loaded. Waiting until her horse is squarely looking ahead, she nods and the gate opens allowing the calf into the arena.

The calf has a small rope looped around its neck, connected to the rope barrier in front of the roper. When the calf runs far enough from the chute, the barrier breaks and releases to rope and the roper may leave the box. A 10-second penalty is applied for breaking the barrier early.