A typical run sees handlers load a calf into a gated chute as the roper backs his horse into an open area beside the chute and readies his loop while a thin rope is stretched across the front to act as a barrier. The head start calves receive is arbitrarily decided based on the size of the arena and the roper must not break the barrier before the calf crosses this line. The cowboy signals with a nod that he's ready and the calf breaks from its chute into the arena under the watchful eyes of timekeepers, field flag judge, and scoreline flag judge. Before the loop even tightens around the calf, the cowboy leaps into the air as inertia propels him forward off of his stopped mount.
Fastest time wins the money.
While the cowboy does his part, his partner's role in calf roping is just as important. The roping horse must adjust its speed to the calf, stop as soon as the calf is caught, which helps the cowboy in his moving dismount, and back up to keep the rope taut while the roper throws and ties the calf. Because of their reliance on their horses, ropers will invest long hours in practice as his mount's performance normally makes the difference. Ropers will trailer their horses with them wherever they go to compete or rent a reputable horse. In competition, western attire must be worn and the rules vary as to whether or not ropers can warm-up their horses within the arena prior to a round Calves, by rule, must weigh between 200 and 300 pounds.