…without a chute?
Very Carefully.
In the Californios Ranch Roping Competition the best ropers in the contest get to compete in the Big Medicine Bull Roping Finals.
“Big Medicine†Bull Doctoring Finals
The “Big Medicine†Bull Doctoring is the finals for the entire weekend. The top scores combined from the doctoring events, the calf branding and the calf branding finals determine the top four teams that go on to rope the bulls. Bulls need doctoring just like all other classes of cattle and yet are strangely absent from all other roping competitions. The Californios strives to reward the competitors who are the real thing, working everyday on ranches across the West. Bulls are an integral part of ranch life and must be attended to. A single bull is turned into the arena with the team and they must get him on the ground in a smooth, humane and economical way. Bulls may not be choked down. Most teams use all three members to bring them gently to earth. Front foot shots are common and add to their score. If you’ve ever wondered how they lay the big boys down; this one’s for you. Scores from the “Big Medicine†are added progressively to the teams previous scores and High Team Overall trophy conchos crafted by Ernie Marsh are awarded to the top scoring team for the weekend. A team that wins the Overall award will have roped 17 head of cattle, with calves to yearlings to bulls, represented in that total.
You can Watch this ancient art in action In remote stretches of sage covered rangeland in the Great Basin Region, or you can see it at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center April 30- May 2nd.
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