Rodeo & Ranch Rodeo

In modern competition rodeos you find the following events that Morgans can compete in: Barrel Racing, Team Roping, Tie Down Roping and Breakaway Roping. 

Barrel Racing is a speed event where the fastest time wins. The pattern is a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels where the horses need to hug the barrels as they go around without knocking them over.

Team Roping is as the name suggests a two person sport. Two riders start in a starting box on either side of a calf contained in a holding chute. Once the calf is released, there is a barrier that the calf needs to break before the competitors can leave the box or they will recieve a time penalty. Once rider ropes the horns of the calf and then turns them so the second rider can rope the two hind legs to stop the time clock.

Tie Down Roping starts similarly to team roping, except only one cowboy leaves the box to rope the calf. The goal of this timed is for the rider to catch the calf by throwing a loop of rope from a lariat around its neck, dismount from the horse, run to the calf, and restrain it by tying three legs together, in as short a time as possible.

Breakaway Roping is similar to Tie Down Roping except you don't restrain the calf in anyway.

The Morgan qualities that make for a good rodeo mount are the breed's hallmark traits of good feet and legs, endurance, speed and excellent work ethic. The desire and ability to watch a cow is something that a lot of Morgans do naturally. Although Morgans aren't as fast of sprinters as other breeds, they have more heart and will push harder than any other breed out there.

Rodeo has done an excellent job education audiences about livestock and agriculture and bringing a rural lifestyle to the public in a fun and exciting way.

Ranch Rodeos are rodeos for working cowboys to showcase their cattle skills in four events: Branding, Team roping, Load & Tie as well as Sort & Doctor.

An article on Morgans in Rodeo written by Kim Oplotnik of The Morgan Horse Magazine: https://www.morganhorse.com/upload/photos/904TMH_JuneJuly2019_ROUNDTABLE_MorgansInRodeo.pdf

National Barrel Horse Association

American Cowboy Team Roping Association

National High School Rodeo Association

Working Ranch Cowboys Association