Bareback riding is one of the most physically demanding sports in rodeo. The cowboy can only use one arm to hang on to the cinch, and the pressure on that arm is intense. The rider must try to spur the horse each time it jumps, reaching as far forward as they can with their feet. At the same time, they must make sure to not lose their handhold. The higher and wilder they spur, the higher their mark will be.

For the team roping event, two cowboys must work together, each on separate, well-trained horses. The header ropes the steer at the head end, and the heeler ropes the steer's legs. Once both ropes are taut between the horses and the steer, time is called. A fast run in the Williams Lake Stampede is considered 5 or 6 seconds.

Now for the most dangerous event in rodeo...the provoker of many, many, injuries....and what rodeoing is all about! Bull riding requires the ability to look fear in the eye and laugh. The rider is given a handhold which is secured snuggly to the bull. During the ride, the cowboy must keep himself close up on the handhold and not let his arm straighten and jerk loose of the rope. The rider can be disqualified for touching the bull with his free hand, or bucking off before an eight second ride. Riders receive higher marks if they spur the bull.

Calf roping is the most technical event in a rodeo. The calf is let into the pen before the roper, to give it a bit of a head start. The roper must rope the calf, then run down his rope and throw the calf down by hand. When the calf is down, the roper must tie together three of it's legs with pegging string. The tie must hold for at least six seconds to be counted as valid.