Two judges score the horse and the rider from zero to 25 points. As a bronc leaps from the chute, the rider must be touching his spurs on the points of the shoulders when the horse's front feet hit the ground. This completes the spurring action.
Time is flagged when the calf hits the end of the lariat rope and pops it loose from the saddle.
Breakaway roping is a judge's nightmare because the field flag judge must instantly decide if a catch is legal. If he drops the flag and then realizes there has been an infraction, he is in trouble. Calf Roping Calf roping is easy to explain, fun to watch and hard to do. Working from behind a barrier, the roper calls for his calf with a nod of his head, and the horse breaks hard and runs to the calf. The rider makes his throw, instantly jerks his slack to close the loop and then pitches his clack to keep it out of the way of his mount.