Grand Fiesta

Left: Pat Puckett competing in the Stock Horse Competition in Riverside, CA; Deb Puckett roping in the Baja Fiesta at Rancho La Mentada.

Buck Brannaman, Sheridan, WY and Enrique Loperena, International Riata Roping Champion

1st Spin Board Roping at Jerry Sterling's Arena, Tehachapi, CA

To maintain the spirit of the Californio, this competition is called the“Grand Fiesta.” The Fiesta atmosphere pervades the competition grounds with music, good humor, good food, and friendship.

Divisions

Division 1:

2 & 3 year old horses ridden snaffle or hackamore recognizing that some horsemen start their horsesin a hackamore, not a snaffle.

Division 2:

4 & 5 & 6 year old horses to be ridden in hackamore or 2-rein.

Division 3:

7 year old horses and older to be ridden in a bridle.
Note: Horses may be ridden in a 2-rein until they reach 8 years old.

Snaffle bits: Broken mouthpieces with rings, D’s, or eggbutts. No shanks, no twisted wire, no mullen (solid) mouth, no gags. To be ridden with slobber straps and hair or synthetic mecate.

Hackamore: Bosals will have a rawhide core only. To be ridden with hair or synthetic mecate.

Two-Rein: Bosalito with rawhide core to be used underneath bridle with hair mecate. See below for bridle requirements.

Bridle: No broken mouthpieces and no grazing bits. All bits must be connected at the bottom of the shanks by a bar or chains. All horses in a bridle must be ridden one-handed. A bosalito and get-down rope are required unless the horse is being ridden in a two-rein.

The No’s:

Sidepulls, tie downs, chain curb straps, running martingales, split reins, rubber on horns, dinks, impolite behavior.

The Do’s:

Traditional Californio attire and accoutrements are encouraged.

Ropes must be 50’ minimum.

List of Events:

Event Overview:

Stock Horse Contest

Horses to be judged separately in all divisions as follows:

Division 3 – (Riata only) work single steer as allowed by facility. Pattern should include the following elements: ride in gate and cut one steer out into arena. Box steer on end of arena. Take steer down the fence both ways. Circle steer both directions, pen it, let it out, track and rope it around the neck or neck and one front leg, stop it.

Division 2 – (any rope) Work gate and cut one steer out into arena. Box steer on end of arena, take steer down the fence both ways, pen it, let it out, track and rope it around the neck or neck and one front leg, stop it.

Division 1 –Work gate, cut one steer into arena, box on end of arena, then pen it.

This is a spin board roping game. The timer spins the arrow and it stops on one of 7 choices:
1. Scoop Loop 2. Side Arm 3. Free Choice 4. Houlihan 5. Roll Over 6. Left Rib Up 7. Back Hand

Each 3-man team has 5 minutes to head and heel the steer using the loop that was spun. Once it is headed and heeled it is recommended that the 3rd roper catch one or two front feet to lay the steer down with the least amount of stress. Any loop can be used to catch the front feet after the steer is headed and heeled correctly. It is acceptable for the header to trap a front leg if he hasn’t already caught a front foot in his head loop. The run is over when the steer is on the ground with front feet and hind feet in a loop and the ropes are tight.

This contest consists of a minimum of 3 rounds with a possible tie-breaker round that may be timed. The teams that have successfully completed the most rounds will be eligible for the tie-breaker. Each roper can enter only one time. If there is a team that is short one roper, the person who came the longest distance will be given the option to rope on an additional team. Legal head catches are clean around the neck or around the neck and one front leg. No high hocks, no loping, and no roping like a dink. If a steer is choked down, the team loses that round.

This is a judged event with time as a factor. All the steers are put in one end of the arena (usually around 15 head). A two-man team enters the arena. The first man goes into the herd and cuts in front of the judge for 30 seconds. The partner acts as the turn-back man. When the 30 seconds is up, the judge says “Rope it” and the time starts for the 1st steer. The cutter drives the steer out to the turn-back man who then heads the steer. The cutter heels it by two feet. After the steer is roped, the ropes must be removed and the steer may be put out of the arena into a holding pen. Then the two partners trade jobs. This means that each competitor will cut, head, and heel. This is a two-head event. You are allowed two shots at the head and two shots at the heels for each steer. A legal head catch is around the neck or around the neck and one front leg. Note: The team is disqualified if either steer goes back into the herd after the judge says “Rope it.” If a steer is choked down, the team is disqualified.

2-man team for time. Whole head or whole head with front leg. Two hind feet. The steer must pass a barrel set approximately 50 feet from barrier prior to being headed. Teams may be a combination of horses from all three Divisions as follows:

Cattle are turned loose in a pasture or arena with bells tied around their necks. Two-man teams draw a specific steer. All the teams run out and rope their steers, remove the bells and run back to the judge. The first man back to the judge with the bell wins. The steer must be necked first and then heeled. If an arena is used, the host can choose to allow two teams at a time to rope their steers with the winning team from each “heat” proceeding to a final rope-off. If a large pasture is available, all the teams will rope at once.

Numbered cattle will be settled at the end of an arena. There will be two herd-holders and two turn-back riders. Each contestant will draw 3 head and have 2 1/2 minutes to cut out his assigned steers and show his horse to the judge. This class is open to all Divisions. Bridle Horses must be ridden one-handed.

This will be a judged event for three-man teams. There will be beginner and advanced classes that rope 2 head and 3 head respectively. The time limit for both classes is 9 minutes. The objective is to rope each steer with as little stress as possible and lay it down on the correct side in close proximity to the fire. The team will be disqualified if a steer is choked down. No loping, no high hocks, no roping like a dink. This contest can be a mixture of horses from all Divisions.

This class is open to Bridle Horses only. It consists of dry work, cutting, and roping. The dry work will include the following elements: Figure 8, flying lead changes, spin on hind quarters, long trot, working a gate, side passing poles, backing, stopping. After completing the dry work, each horse will enter a corral and cut a steer. When the judge says “Outside,” the competitor will drive the steer out of the corral into an arena where the steer will be circled up, roped by a single hind leg, and tied down.