ARTICLES

The name of this association is the North Dakota Rodeo Association, and is commonly referred to as the NDRA.  It shall be a nonprofit organization in accord with the laws of the state of North Dakota.  The NDRA has been formed for the following purposes:

 

1.  To organize the rodeo contestants of North Dakota for their mutual protection and benefit to:

  a. Insure a just amount of prize money.

  b. Require that all entrance fees of competing contestants be added to the prize money, less any association(s) percentage.

  c. Secure competent, honest judges and officials in all events.

2.  To cooperate with the management of all rodeos in which members contest.

3.  To protect the membership against unfairness on the part of any rodeo management.

4.  To bring about standardization of NDRA approved rodeos so that the members of the association will participate.

5.  To work for the betterment of conditions and rules governing the rodeo events in which the member of the association participate.

6.  To routinely publish a newsletter concerning the dates of rodeos, prize money, and other particulars in which members are interested.

7.  To implement a point award system for determining nine (9) standard event champions and recipients for the all-around cowboy, all-around cowgirl, male rookie, & female rookie awards at the end of each rodeo season.

8.  To promote western traditions, sportsmanship and true competition in rodeo.

 

BY-LAWS

 

Organization of the Board and Officers

1.  The board of directors will be composed of three (3) officers (President, Vice President, Executive Secretary), ten (10) event directors,  one (1) optional event director, eight (8) committee members, one (1) contract member, one (1) stock Contractor director, and the immediate past president officer.

2.  The event directors, committee members, and stock contractor director will be elected on a two-year basis with the terms to be staggered so that approximately half of the board members are elected on a yearly basis.  In even numbered years:  BB, BR, SW, SMB, LBK, TR Header Contract Acts, Area #1-2-3-4; odd numbered years:  SB, CR, TR Heeler, LBR, Stock Contractor, Area #1-2-3-4.

  a.       The event directors will be elected by the general membership with board approval.  Should a member resign their position before an election, the board of directors may appoint someone to fill out the remaining term.

  b.       The Area Directors will be elected according to established regions of local rodeo committees; two from each region.

  c.       The stock contractor director will be chosen by approved NDRA stock contractors and may be re-elected to serve consecutive terms.

3.  The contract member shall be an NDRA announcer, clown, judge, bullfighter, entertainment contractor, stock contractor, or represent a rodeo sponsor and/or interest.  This board member will be elected on a biannual basis by the board of directors.

4.  The immediate past president of the NDRA shall serve as an at-large board member with full voting privileges for one year.

5.  The officers of the association shall consist of a president, vice president, & executive secretary.  The president & vice president will be elected on an annual basis by the board of directors.  The president must be elected from within the current board or by virtue of having previously served on the board of directors. The executive secretary will be hired by the board on an annual basis.

 

Annual Meeting and Elections

1.  Elections for board members and officers will be conducted during the annual awards banquet meeting held in conjunction with the annual membership meeting.  The time and place of the meeting will be determined by the officers and published in the NDRA newsletter.  The election processes will be conducted as approved by the board of directors.

2.  Duly-elected board members and officers will take office at the first board meeting following the annual membership meeting.

3.  Rule changes/additions will only be heard by the board at the annual membership meeting.  No rule changes/additions will be entertained by the NDRA board of directors at any other meeting.

 

Duties of the Board and Officers

1.  The policy-making powers of the NDRA shall be held by the board of directors to make, adopt, alter, or amend any by-laws or rules of the association.   The board shall have the final authority to render decisions relative to business matters of the association, membership conduct and competition, and any other issues or concerns related to the sport of rodeo.  This authority shall pertain to matters or situations that may or may not be addressed by provisions of this rule book.

2.  Rule changes must be presented to the board, passed by a majority vote, appear in the NDRA official newspaper, and then be voted on a second time before going into effect.  Rule changes will only be presented during the annual membership meeting.

3.  A quorum of at least nine (9) board members must be present at a duly-convened meeting to officially conduct business.  A majority vote of a quorum shall formalize all final board decisions.  Each board member will be entitled to one (1) vote.  The executive secretary shall have no voting powers.  The president will vote only to break a tie vote of the board.

4.  The president shall have the authority to call a meeting of the board of directors at any given time, providing that each board member is given advance notice of the proposed meeting date, time, and location.  The vice president may assume the duties of the president in the absence of the president.

5.  Event directors on the board may appoint an alternate to carry out the duties of the director in the absence of the regular director.  Alternate directors shall have full authority in the absence of the regular director.

6.  No member of the board may hold or assume more than one (1) position on the board at the same time.

7.  The board of directors will appoint a substitute representative for any vacancy that occurs on the board through resignation or removal of an officer or board member.  Resignations must be presented to the board in person or in writing.

8.  The president, vice president, and all board members shall serve without salary.  However, expenses or compensation for special services rendered for the association can be paid at the discretion of and with formal approval by the board.  Mileage is to be paid at the federal approved rate.

9.  The executive secretary of the association shall maintain all official records of the organization including board minutes, membership and financial records, correspondence, and any other documents related to the business of the board and association.  The executive secretary shall maintain a financial account for all monies received by the organization.  The locations for maintaining both association records and the financial accounts shall be designated by the board of directors.

10.  The president, vice president, and the executive secretary shall be authorized for providing signatory approval of all financial transactions conducted on behalf of the association.  All such transactions will be conducted only after approval by the board.

11.  The executive secretary shall maintain all current financial statements of the association funds and have such statements available for board review.  At each annual membership meeting, the executive secretary shall have copies of the most current financial statements available for any association members requesting such information.

12.  Any monies of the association paid out or disbursed by the officers must be by check.  All checks written against the NDRA treasury account must be signed by any one of the following three officers:  executive secretary, president, or vice president.

13.  The NDRA reserves all TV, movie and broadcasting rights.  Any broadcast production or reproduction without the written consent of the NDRA is prohibited.

 

 

GENERAL RULES

 

Memberships and Dues

1.  All contestants, judges, stock contractors, pickup men, and bullfighters must be members of the association to compete or provide services at an NDRA-sanctioned rodeo.  Said membership will be paid prior to competing or providing service.  Pickup men and bullfighters may permit any number of rodeos without purchasing a membership card.  Only those with a current membership card will be eligible for working at the NDRA finals.

2.  There will be a single membership category, high school (age 18 & under), and a family membership category for contestants.  All individuals over 18 years of age on the date of application must contest under a single membership card, excluding those individual having a contesting spouse or having a contesting child under the age of 18 years.

3.  All members will pay annual membership dues with such dues to be determined by the board.  High school memberships for students under the age of 18 will be $20.00.  The dues year shall begin on January 1st and conclude on December 31st.  Free memberships will be provided to the ND high school students that qualify for the National High School Finals rodeo (places 1-4).

4.  A numbered membership card shall be issued to each eligible applicant desiring to join the association.  Two (2) types of membership cards will be issued:  1. a “check acceptable” card (ND-100), and 2.  A “cash only” card (CO-100).  All second year and older members, and former members in good standing with the association will receive a “check acceptable” card.  All first year members, out-of-state members, and former members who have written a “bad” (insufficient fund) check(s) will be issued a “cash only” card.  Out-of-state members, beginning their third consecutive year of membership in the NDRA, shall be given a “check acceptable” card.  If an NSF check is written by one of these members, they shall revert back to a cash only basis.  Check acceptable members may agree to cover checks of “cash only” members provided these members accept responsibility for any bad checks.  The association will guarantee entry fee checks by “check acceptable” members only.

5.  A hometown contestant is a non-card holding contestant who may enter one (1) NDRA-approved rodeo within 100 miles of the permanent residence of the hometown contestant without paying a permit charge.

6.  Rodeo committees shall not pay membership dues.  Each committee will receive three (3) complimentary NDRA newspapers if an approved NDRA rodeo is held.

7.  To be approved for NDRA membership, a new stock contractor must bring a new rodeo eligible for NDRA first sanctioning into the association.  All contractors will be approved each year at the annual meeting. To be an approved stock contractor on the NDRA list, all stock contractors must have been a prime contractor or subcontractor for at least one NDRA rodeo during the previous rodeo season.  Any contractor not renewing annual NDRA membership will be considered a new stock contractor after a lapse in membership payment.

8.  All approved stock contractors will be listed with the association under the headings prime contractor and sub-contractor.  Only prime contractors are eligible to solicit bids and produce rodeos.

9.  All duly-elected board members will receive a free single NDRA membership, and those wishing may buy a family card for the difference in the price between the two.

 

Rodeo Approvals, Points, and Awards

1.  There shall be nine (9) standard events of the association:  bareback riding, calf roping, ladies breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing, team roping, Sr. men’s breakaway roping & bull riding.  These events shall be required for each NDRA rodeo, with or without a limited number of optional events submitted by the rodeo committee.  The board shall approve or disapprove each rodeo applying in writing for NDRA sanction.  All rodeo approval requests must be into the NDRA office at least 60 days prior to the first performance of the rodeo requesting NDRA sanction to be considered.  A $100 bond must accompany the rodeo approval requests.  This bond will be returned to the rodeo committee following rodeo if all required personnel have the correct cards/permits.  If rodeo personnel do not have the required card/permit, this money will be taken out of the bond, and the remainder (if applicable) returned to the rodeo committee.

 

2.  The association shall implement a yearly award system whereby one (1) point is awarded for each dollar won at an approved rodeo.  The association shall implement a system whereby each event shall award points through eight places:  80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10.  The point award system will determine champions in each of the standard events with the highest totals at the year’s end. 

         a. Points must be accumulated in two or more events to be considered for the all around cowboy & cowgirl awards.  Points won in optional events do not count toward all around standings.  In rodeos with enter twice team roping, the highest placing won in the team roping will count toward the all around.

            b. The following criteria will be used to determine prize winners for a tie for saddles:   1. Total money won during the regular season and finals rodeo will be calculated to determine saddle winner; 2. If a tie by money won, the saddle will be awarded to the person who competed in the most regular season rodeos; 3. If still a tie after using criteria 1 & 2--the person who received the most points at the finals rodeo shall win the saddle.  The reserve buckle shall be awarded to the person not meeting above criteria.

3.  No points will be accumulated towards year-end awards without a current NDRA membership card.  Current membership card must be purchased before competing in any event at a rodeo.  Money won at a rodeo where a contestant did not have a current membership will not count if the card is purchased later.

4.  Ground money in all events will go back to the contestant(s) who qualify in that event; if nobody qualifies the money will go back to all contestants entered in that event.  If no qualified rides/times the money will be split 50-50 between the committee and prime stock contractor.  Ground money does not count towards standings.

5.  The event directors of the board will be responsible for obtaining sponsorship of the championship saddles for their respective events by June 1st of the beginning of the new rodeo season.  If an event saddle is not sponsored, the NDRA will purchase the champion a buckle using the awards tack on funds.  The champion will be allowed to pay the balance that would be due on the saddle if some sponsorship has been obtained. 

6.  The NDRA rookie of the year awards will be provided for the individual male and female contestants who accumulate the most points in one or more events at NDRA rodeos during a one year season.  These awards will be named in honor of the founding board president & first secretary—The Peg O’Neill Rookie Cowboy and The Pearl Cullen Rookie cowgirl awards.  The contestant must meet the following criteria for award consideration:

     a. Be under the age of 18 years at the time of membership application.

     b. Be contesting in the first season of NDRA competition.

7.  Recipients of year-end and finals rodeo awards must attend the designated awards ceremonies.  Persons failing to attend will be assessed a fine in the amount of $100 per award unless they have informed the NDRA office prior to the awards ceremonies that they will not be attending and have assigned a person to pick up their award(s).  Failure to pay the fine will result in the person being placed on the fines/turn out list and award retained at the NDRA office until such time as fine is paid.  The board may, at their discretion, present any awards to alternate recipients if the regular recipients do not comply with this provision.

8.  Any contestant that does not to compete in the finals rodeo forfeits their right to receive any awards that they would otherwise be entitled to win.

9.  Selection of rodeo livestock for the “stock of the year” awards will be conducted at the second performance of the year-end finals rodeo.  Voting for “rough stock” awards will be made by official ballots submitted by the contestants at a time so stated by the event directors.

10.  Approved rodeos taking place after the finals rodeo shall have points counting toward the next year’s championship awards.  New NDRA memberships will be required after January 1st of each year to maintain validation of these points.   Points earned under an NDRA permit will count for the new season if full membership is obtained in the next season.

11.  Point and/or money won at rodeos in which the NDRA has been co-sanctioned by another association, will not count towards the NDRA yearend finals totals, or be used in any tie breaking situations for rodeo count or money won.  

 

Secretary and Rodeo Office

1.  Rodeo secretaries must be association members in good standing with the NDRA or a member of the local rodeo committee qualified to act as rodeo secretary. 

  a.       If the stock contractor desires to furnish his own secretary at stock contractor’s expense, the committee secretary shall work in conjunction with that person.

  b. The rodeo committee or stock contractor shall be responsible for secretary’s actions and is liable for the secretary’s mistakes or discrepancies in the payoff or in the handling of entry fees.

2.  Any member who intends to act as secretary must notify the association of his/her intentions so that he/she can be sent the association’s mailings of secretary information.  Secretaries who are delinquent or on the inactive list are not eligible to act as secretary at any rodeo.

3.  Arena secretaries shall be required to have all contestants, bullfighters, judges, and pickup men show their cards prior to the start of the rodeo.  Should a contestant not have a paid up membership card, clearance from the association board or executive secretary must be obtained to allow that contestant to compete.   If the arena secretary fails to ask for these cards that person will be subject to a fine at the discretion of the board.  Pickup men and bullfighters not purchasing cards must be assessed a permit charge before being paid for their services.

4. Rodeo secretaries must send a list of the winners, their addresses, money won, scores and times to the NDRA executive secretary for recording toward the joint standings within 24 hours of the last performance.  This list must be signed by the rodeo secretary or the producer of the rodeo.

 

Committee & Rodeo Arenas

1.  The local rodeo committee shall be responsible to maintain the rodeo arena in sound condition with fences, chutes, and corrals in good repair. The arena ground will be worked before each performance and slack session.   The barrel pattern must be worked or raked after the ladies barrel racing event.  A source of good drinking water must be available and accessible.

2.  Local committees are responsible for providing flags, whistles, stopwatches, five (5) stakes for the barrel racing, roping barrier equipment:  including ropes, pulleys, and string, and any other equipment as necessary for rodeo competition.

3.  The committee will supply at least three (3) fifty-five gallon metal barrels with both ends closed for the barrel racing event.

4.  The rodeo arena must be available for contestant’s use up to one (1) hour before the start of the performance or slack session.  However, this provision may be waived in the event that other activities are taking place within the arena.

5.  The committee may appoint an arena director who shall be empowered to enforce the rules of the association.

6.  The minimum purse for an approved NDRA rodeo must be $200.00 per event and minimum fees of $50 per event.

7.  Each duly-entered contestant at an NDRA approved rodeo shall pay:

   a. A stock charge of $5 per event entered, with one (1) extra admission pass to be provided to the contestant upon payment of the charge (rule A) or

   b. The regular admission fee (rule B).

8.  The management of each NDRA approved rodeo shall be required to provide an ambulance with trained medical attendants to be present during a rodeo performance and slack. 

 

Timers

1.  There must be two (2) timers available and working at every rodeo for all competition events.  Timers may be replaced in different events, but the same timer must work the same event for the entire rodeo, including slack.

2.  At least one (1) of the two timers ideally should not be associated with any contestant.  It is the responsibility of the prime stock contractor to see that competent timers are hired to time the rodeo events.

   a. In order to be approved to time an NDRA approved rodeo, all timers are required to attend a timer clinic on a bi-annual basis, or be approved as experienced by the NDRA office on a conditional basis.

3.  Timers will use at least one (1) digital stopwatch.  All stopwatch times will be recorded in tenths of a second, with the exception of the barrel racing, which will be recorded in hundredths.  The entire readout shall be used in the barrel racing when the electric eye is used.  Hand times must also be provided in the barrel racing.

4.  Timers will never stop a watch when a contestant is competing until the flag judge clearly signals the end of time.  In the event of doubt, one timer should stop the watch and the second timer should continue her watch until the judge can clarify the correct signal.  The judge will make a decision about which time is to be recorded.

5.  In the barrel racing event, both timers will use stopwatches as backup to the electronic time clock.  Both stopwatch times will be recorded along with the complete electronic eye time.

6.  Timers will stop their watches if timed event stock escape from the arena.  Timers are responsible for blowing the whistle in timed events if the contestant has gone over the time limit (see individual events for time limits).

7.  The timers will be responsible for seeking any clarifications from the flag judge and correctly adding any penalties as signaled from the barrier judge and field flagger.

 

Judges

1.  There shall be a minimum of two (2) qualified NDRA judges for each approved rodeo.

2.  All judges must be current NDRA members, who have attended an NDRA or professional judging clinic once every two years. Individuals may appeal to the board for extenuating circumstances.  There are no state residency requirements for judges. The NDRA board has the right to approve a judge not on the list to judge an approved rodeo, with the provision that the person take a clinic before being approved for the next rodeo season.  If the person fails to comply, he will not be approved to judge until filling the appropriate requirements as set forth by the board.

3.  Rodeo committees may select both NDRA judges for their rodeo providing this is done 30 days prior to the rodeo dates.  If the selection is not done by this time, the judges for an NDRA rodeo will be selected by the NDRA judging committee.

4.  The NDRA judging committee may hire approved judges and pay a minimum of $100.00 per performance for each rodeo.  The local committee will be required to reimburse the association for these judging fees.

5.  An arena diagram will be provided to each rodeo committee that is to be filled out by at least one judge and any contestants helping to mark the barrels/goat tying stakes.  Information to be included shall be:  arena length & width, the barrel pattern stakes, goat tying stake (if used), box lengths and score lines.  One copy is to be posted with the timed event draw at the office and a second copy must be returned to the NDRA office with the judges score sheets.

6.  All NDRA judges will use a disqualification flag and stop watch for the three rough stock events.

  a. The flag will be thrown immediately upon a disqualification by any contestant.

  b. Judges will take the longest time (not the average) between two stop watches as the official time for a qualifying 8 second ride.

  c.   No video tape may be used to influence a judge’s decision.

7.  All judges will accept the same responsibilities as contestants for adhering to the rules and regulations of the association.  In addition, if a judge is hired and fails to appear or provide an approved substitute, that judge will be fined at the discretion of the board.

8.  Judges will be required to mark the rough stock animals on score sheets even though the rider was disqualified.

9.  All NDRA judges are subject to initial approval and renewal by the NDRA board of directors.

10.  Judges will be allowed to participate in the Sr. men’s breakaway roping provided they find a qualified substitute to take their position during that event, preferably the barrier position.

 

Finals Rodeo

1.  A finals rodeo will be held on an annual basis with the dates and location to be determined by the NDRA board of directors.  The top twelve (12) contestants in each of the nine standard events shall be eligible to participate in the finals rodeo.

   a.      All out-of-state contestants must compete in 50% of the NDRA first approved rodeos in order to be eligible for competition in the NDRA finals rodeo and to be eligible for awards.  Rodeos that are co-approved by the association will not count in the 50%. 

   b.  A member will be exempt from the 50% rule if they have a valid ND Driver’s License number or have a ND birth certificate.

   c.      In the event there are an odd number of rodeos in a given season, the number of rodeos required to meet 50% participation will be rounded up. (i.e. 21 rodeos, compete in 11)

2.  Participation by eligible contestants is mandatory unless an individual is excused or declared ineligible by the board.  A contestant who is eligible and fails to participate in the finals without an approved waiver may be fined by the board.  An excused finals contestant will be replaced by the next eligible contestant ranking after the twelfth position in each of the nine standard events and forfeits his/her right to any awards.

3.  The mandatory participation provision for the finals shall be applicable to all stock contractors, specialty act contractors, and other finals personnel who agree but fail to participate at the finals rodeo without an approved waiver or release.

   a.      All Dr. Releases for the finals rodeo must be signed by an M.D. and must be turned in to the finals secretary before the draw is posted for each round of the finals.  No releases will be accepted after the draw has been posted.

4.  Any contestant entered in the finals must compete in each go round.   All contestants who turn out at the finals will be assessed a $100.00 fine.

5.  The selection of the finals judges, pickup men, and bullfighter(s) shall be subject to a vote of the top fifteen (15) contestants in each of the standard events.  The voting contestants shall be determined by their official position in the standings effective on the date of voting for these finals personnel.

   a.      Contestants must indicate their choice for the timed event flagger, who will be designated as such.

   b.      Bareback and saddle bronc contestants shall vote for two (2) pickup men.

   c.      Bull riding contestants will select the designated NDRA finals bullfighter(s).

6.  The NDRA board of directors may delegate the authority for the coordination and management of the finals rodeo to a finals committee, a finals manager, or both.  Such authorities and responsibilities shall be outlined by handbook, manual, or by a memorandum of understanding as agreed upon and approved by the board.

7.  The NDRA board shall be responsible for ensuring the equal opportunity of only NDRA approved stock contractors to be represented and to participate at the finals rodeo.

8.  The event directors of the board shall be responsible for assisting approved finals stock contractors with the selection of livestock for their respective events at the finals rodeo.

 

Liability

The NDRA assumes no responsibility or liability for any physical injury or damage to the person, property, or livestock of any owner, leasee, contestant, committee personnel, contestant’s assistants, or special contractor.  Each rodeo contestant, by the act of a formal entry to compete, waives any and all claims against the NDRA and the local rodeo committee for any physical injury, stress, or property damage or loss sustained at any time.

 

RODEO REGULATIONS

 

General

1.  The decisions of the judges, flag man, or timers shall be final.  No protest by any contestant will be permitted.

2.  No timer, judge, or flag man may be substituted during the course of an NDRA-approved rodeo except in the event of sickness, injury, or by request of an NDRA board officer in concurrent agreement with the local rodeo committee and/or stock contractor.

3.  No contestant may talk to a judge or timer in any way while a rodeo event is in progress.  Any questions may be addressed to the judge or timer no sooner than at the end of the closing section of the event to be discussed.

4.  The rodeo announcer must announce all scores and times of competition, noting that such information is unofficial.

5.  Judges will be responsible for calculating and validating all official scores, times, and turnouts at the conclusion of each performance or slack.

6.  The minimum purse for an approved NDRA rodeo must be $200.00 per event.

7.  Each duly-entered contestant at an NDRA approved rodeo shall pay:

   a. A stock charge of $5 per event, with one (1) extra admission pass to be provided to the contestant upon payment of the charge (rule A) or the  regular admission fee (rule B).

8.  The management of each NDRA-approved rodeo shall be required to provide an ambulance with trained medical attendants to be present during a rodeo performance and slack.

9.  Any member who has a grievance against the association, an NDRA official, or a particular rodeo shall present this grievance to the event director or the NDRA board.

10.  All contestants shall abide by all rules and regulations set forth by the association.  This book is the official rule book of the NDRA.  Any and all rules, articles, and by-laws not expressly stipulated in this rule book are not applicable, excluding those changes, amendments, and additions approved by the board of directors after May 15, 2004.

 

Contestants

1.  All contestants entering the arena must wear appropriate western attire include: cowboy hats, long sleeved shirts with cuffs and collar, long pants and boots.  With the exception of visible physical injuries or a Dr. Notice, contestants will not be permitted to wear sweatshirts or athletic shoes.  This provision applies to periods prior to and during rodeo performances as well as during slack.  A contestant not in appropriate attire at designated times will be disqualified.  A judge, arena director, NDRA officer, or event director shall have the authority to enforce this provision.

2.  Local rodeo committees and stock contractors shall make every effort to enforce the western attire rule among all committee members, arena personnel, and livestock handlers--anyone that is visible to the spectators.

3.  All NDRA members and rodeo officials shall not indulge in alcoholic beverages nor be under the influence of alcoholic beverages within the arena during a rodeo performance or slack.

4.  Failure of a contestant to appear after three (3) public calls to compete shall warrant a turnout of the contestant being called. Once stock has been officially turned out, it may not be brought back for competition by that contestant.

5.  Contestants must wear sponsorship numbers and/or vests while competing if these are provided by the rodeo management.

6.  Contestants may be required to participate in the grand entry of a rodeo.

7.  Contestants in the arena must not interfere with the vision of judges, timers, and paid spectators.

8.  In rough stock events, a contestant cannot have shirt sleeve rolled up above the elbow.

9.  No more than two (2) persons may be on the chutes to assist a rough stock contestant.

10.  Judges may disqualify a rough stock contestant who has been advised he is next to go if he is not above his animal when the previous animal leaves the arena.

11.  All contestants are required to make an honest effort and to demonstrate sportsmanlike conduct while competing during a rodeo performance or slack.

12.  A contestant will be disqualified if he or she competes out of turn according to the official judge’s sheets.

 

 

Central Entry

1.  Rodeo entries for NDRA rodeos shall be taken only through a central entry system as approved by the NDRA board.  Entries shall be taken during designated times only.

2.  When entering, an NDRA contestant must give his/her correct association card/member number and the correct number of anyone else being entered if requested to do so.

         a. When entering a rodeo, all contestants must give two preferences.  Those that choose to give only one preference shall have their second preference be “out” which means they may be drawn out of the rodeo if the first preference is full.

3.  The local rodeo secretary will be responsible for validating hometown eligibility.

4.  The central entry secretary will inform entered contestants when they may call back to determine when they are up or to draw out.

5. Draw outs may occur only through the central entry secretary during established call back hours.  At the close of the call back period, a contestant is regarded as entered at a rodeo unless officially drawn out.

   a.      Late call backs may be charged $2.50 per contestant.

   b.      Any contestant showing up to compete on a day other than when the rodeo  secretary has him/her listed,  must post a $100.00 bond in order to compete.  If the contestant is found to be in error concerning the competition date, any money won at the rodeo along with the bond will be forfeited.  The bond will be returned if central entry is found in error.

   c.      All central entry calls will be taped to determine discrepancies concerning entries and call backs. Tapes to be kept for one year.

6.  When entries close, all team ropers will be entered with a designated partner.  If a team roping partner draws out, the team will be withdrawn.

7.  Any contestant calling central entry after the close of the published entry time may be assessed a minimum penalty of $10.00 if the entry is accepted.   The central entry secretary shall report any rodeo entry violations to the NDRA board and its officers.

 

Entry Fees, Turnouts, Draw Outs

1.  Entry fees for all paid contestants shall be included in the payoff.  A special finals fund fee of $2.00 per contestant, an awards fund fee of $1 per event entered, a finals bullfighter fund of $1 to all bull riders, and $1 per barrel racer for electric eye charges will be collected and forwarded to the NDRA executive director.  A fee of $3 per person entered will be charged and forwarded to the central entry secretary.  Additional fees may be added for co-sanctioning associations.

2.  An administrative fee of $15.00 per rodeo will be charged against all contestants who do not have a current NDRA membership card and are not eligible to be considered a hometown contestant.  This fee will be split $10.00 to the NDRA and $5.00 to the rodeo committee.  Non-card holders must pay all entry and administrative fees on a cash basis only.  No award points will accrue while contesting on a permit during a single season.  However, points earned on a permit after the close of the regular season will count into the next if full membership is obtained in the new season.  Rodeos in which a contestant competes under a permit shall not be counted toward the 50% rule.

3.  Entry fees will be the same among men’s and ladies events and shall be charged per person per event; minimum of $50 per event.  The established entry fee must be advertised as such in the NDRA newsletter.  Each contestant is also required to pay the additional fees that may be assessed at any given rodeo.

4.   Each NDRA rodeo committee will have the option of assessing a day money charge of $5.50 per person per event entered.  $5 of this fee will be jackpotted and paid to the highest score/fast time of each performance or slack.  The committee or rodeo secretary shall keep $.50 from each entry as an administrative fee for paying off each event by the end of that performance or slack.  In the event there are no qualified rides/times, the committee will keep the day money for that event for that performance or slack.

5.  A maximum stock charge of up to $5.00 per event per contestant may be assessed by the local committee.

6.  Contestant stock will be turned out if a contestant fails to appear after three (3) calls to do so.  No stock will be held any longer than the position drawn for in each timed-event or in each rough stock section during a performance or slack.  Any stock that is officially turned out will not be brought back for competition by that contestant.

7.  Contestants entered by central entry and failing to appear at a rodeo will pay a $50 fine plus any other applicable fees.  However, contestants failing to appear at a rodeo may submit their regular entry fees and not be subject to penalty, provided that such fees are submitted to the rodeo secretary before the payoff is calculated or by the end of the last performance, whichever comes first.  These fees will be added to the purse.

8.  Stock will be turned out by a judge if a contestant is stalling and/or wasting too much time.

9.  After being duly-entered by central entry a contestant may not draw-out of a rodeo unless a medical release is provided to the NDRA executive director no later than one (1) week after the rodeo.  There will be a limit of two (2) medical releases allowed per contestant during the rodeo season.  The duration of one medical release shall cover a five (5) day period.  If a contestant is entered in more than one rodeo during the five day period, only one medical release has been used.

a.      Dr. Releases will only be accepted if signed by an M.D. on official letterhead or other official doctor’s report—i.e. ER room instructions with M.D. signature.  Dr. Releases will not be accepted from sports medicine personnel.

10.  A barrel racer may “vet” release at two (2) rodeos per year.  The duration of one vet release shall cover a five (5) day period.  If a contestant is entered in more than one rodeo during the five day period, only one vet release has been used.  Vet releases shall be signed by the attending veterinarian on official business letterhead, and must be received by the NDRA office within two weeks of the rodeo(s) where the vet release occurred.

11.  If a contestant is injured or becomes ill while competing at a rodeo, the entry fees will be returned to the contestant for those events in which stock has not been used.  Entry fee refunds may be subject to the submission of a medical release.

12.  If in the judge’s opinion, a contestant is unable to compete in one event because of injury, the contestant will have the option to compete in other events in which he/she is entered.  A judge may sign a visible injury release if, in his opinion, the contestant is unable to compete.

13.  The rodeo secretary will report the names of any contestants:  (a) who did not pay entry fees,  (b) who did not appear (turnout), and (c) who appeared after a turnout.  These names will be submitted immediately to the NDRA executive director, who will prepare a listing of the amounts of unpaid entry fees for each rodeo.

 

Drawing & Position of Stock

1.  Animals for all events will be inspected before the draw and no sore, lame, sick, or injured animals or animals with defective eyesight shall be permitted in the draw at any time.  Should an animal become sick or be injured between the time it is drawn and the time it is scheduled for use in competition, that animal shall not be used in competition and the extra animal drawn shall be used for the contestant.

2.  Positions may be drawn for immediately at the close of call backs by the central entry secretary.

3.  All stock in contest events must be drawn by number by a judge, including team roping cattle.  All animals in the draw are to be numbered and identifiable by same.  There must always be as many as three exact copies for the secretary’s records.  Receptacle containing the numbers to be drawn must be held above the drawing judge’s head and numbers shaken between each number drawn.  Drawing must be conducted so that any entrant may witness the draw.  The judge’s sheets from any and all previous performances must be posted by the arena secretary at the time with that day’s performance draw.

4.  Stock for re-rides must be drawn before any go-round and must be posted.  Feature animals may be held out of the drawing, and then returned to the draw for the go-round.  The stock contractor may feature any number of animals up to the total number of the base herd for each performance.

  a.       Any stock in original draw that is turned out--this means not bucked, exhibition, or contested, automatically goes into the re-ride if needed.

  b.       Any animal turned out shall be used as the first reride in the order the animals were drawn on the judge’s sheets.  The other animals drawn as rerides will be used in the order drawn after the turnout animals have been contested on.

  c.       The order of re-rides will include those animals drawn           prior to the performance and those animals that may be turned out.  An animal can be drawn as a reride only one time per go-round.

7.  Stock in all events shall be drawn by either judge at least one (1) hour before the performance or slack.  Timed event stock will be drawn no earlier than two (2) hours before the performance or slack.

  a.       The draw must be posted in the rodeo office and at the chutes, weather permitting.

  b.       In all events, no drawn stock can be held over from performance to performance or overnight.

  c.       In timed events, stock will be drawn for a contestant until he has actually been disqualified or turned stock out.

5.  No contestant may compete on the same head of stock twice at any one rodeo in the same event.  In the team roping the header may not draw the same stock twice in a rodeo.

6.  In timed events, stock will be drawn for one run and one go-round at a time.

7.  All cattle in the draw will be run one time before any cattle will be run twice.  Any animal drawn and not competed on (turned out) shall be considered run and if there are no re-runs animal shall be used for first extra.

 

Slack

1.  Anything over 10-15 contestants per event, per go-round, should be run in slack with small overages to be dealt with at the discretion of the central entry secretary, rodeo committee and stock contractor(s).

2.  One slack time shall be advertised in the NDRA newsletter for every rodeo. One additional slack time may be set up if the number of rodeo entries necessitates this action.  This may only be done after entries have closed, and with the consent of the contestants involved, the rodeo committee and the stock contractor.  The additional slack will be set up only by the central entry secretary and only after the performances and published slack time have filled.  No rodeo will have more slack sections than there are rodeo performances, i.e. two performances, two slacks.

3.  Slack timed events may be drawn in sections, limited by the number of cattle.  Contestants shall be informed which sections they will compete in.

4.  The order of events in slack shall be run the same as in the regular rodeo performance.  A rodeo committee does have the option to run Ladies Barrel Racing as the first event in slack.  All other events will run in the standard order.  If events are drawn into sections, limited by the number of stock, they will be kept in the standard order of events.

 

Order of events

1.  The standard order of events for every NDRA rodeo shall be run as follows:  bareback riding, calf roping, ladies breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing, team roping, goat tying, sr. men’s breakaway roping, & bull riding.

   a.      Events may be split into sections due to numbers of contestants, or stock numbers.

2.  At the local committee’s discretion, other optional events may be placed in between the standard events.

 

Payoff

1.  From the entrance fees of an NDRA-approved rodeo, 4% shall be deducted and forwarded to the NDRA executive director.  Entrance fees (less the 4% association fee) plus prize money shall be totaled in each event to determine the payoff.  In a one go-round rodeo,   six (6) moneys will be paid if the total purse (after the 4% is deducted) is $1000 or more in a given go-round.  Six places to be split using the following percentages: 29-24-19-14-9-5%.  If the payoff for an event is less than $1000, four (4) moneys will be paid.  Four places to be split as such: 40-30-20-10%.   If the total payoff is $3000-4999.99, eight (8) money’s will be paid as such:  25-21-18-14-10-6-4-2%. If the total payoff is $5000 or more, ten (10) money’s shall be paid as such:  22-19-17-13-9-6-5-4-3-2%.

a.      If there are only three (3) contestants in an event, only three (3) places will be paid (50-30-20%); if only two (2) contestants, two (2) places paid (60-40%); and one (1) entry, 1 place paid (100%).  If not enough qualified rides are recorded, then the ground money is paid as per the rulebook.

2.  If an NDRA rodeo is approved through the local committee by another association, up to one percent (1%) of the entry fees may be deducted from the payoff balance (after the NDRA deduction) and paid to the other association.

3.  Entry fees from turnouts or no shows will not be added to the purse, except for those turnout entry fees that are paid before the payoff is calculated or before the end of the last performance, whichever comes first.

4.  When a rodeo has a long and short go-round, the money will be paid 40% long-go,  20% short-go, and 40% average.  No additional entry fees will be paid for the short-go.

 

Disciplinary Action

1.  The NDRA board of directors will enforce all association rules and regulations and maintain disciplinary measures to include reprimands, fines, suspensions, and blacklist.

2.  Any NDRA member or contestant of an NDRA approved rodeo may be fined, suspended, or both for any of the following infractions:

  a.       Non-payment of rodeo entry fees and any applicable turnout charges;

  b.       Fighting, quarreling, or causing trouble            within or outside of the rodeo arena as these actions relate to a rodeo event or function;

  c.       Slandering or misrepresenting the NDRA;

  d.       Attempting to fix,  threaten,  bribe, influence,  physically assault,  or harass a rodeo judge at any time between the opening and closing dates of an approved rodeo;

  e.       Talking or interfering with a judge or timer while a rodeo event is in progress;

  f.       Unsportsmanlike conduct;

  g.       Abuse or misuse of rodeo livestock within or outside of the arena;

  h.       Creating any event, situation, or circumstance in a deliberate manner so as to cause infractions of association regulations or to misrepresent board of directors, its officers, or membership.

3.  Violators of any of the above infractions will be reported in a timely manner to the NDRA board by the judge involved, by an NDRA officer, event director,   arena director, or stock contractor of the rodeo where the violation occurred.  Upon determining appropriate evidence of the alleged violation, the board may impose fines and/or suspensions.

   a.      In the case of animal mistreatment violations, the person will be assessed a minimum of $100.00 fine after being given due process.  The person will be notified in writing of the complaint and must appear before the board of directors to answer the complaint.  Failure to do so results in being assessed a $100.00 fine for the first offense and shall be placed on the blacklist until said fine is paid.

4.  Any arena official has the authority to impose fines and suspensions immediately against any contestant he feels is harassing him.  There will be a minimum fine of $25.00 with such fine to be increased at the discretion of the board.

5.  Any NDRA member or contestant of an  approved rodeo that is suspended and/or blacklisted must pay the amount of the fee/fine levied against him/her to the NDRA office before that individual can be removed from a blacklist and be allowed to enter any approved rodeos.  Suspensions for other violations may require the contestant to appear before the board for a disciplinary hearing before being removed from the blacklist.  The NDRA will maintain and post a suspended contestant member list.

6.  Any NDRA member writing a bad check will be fined to the full extent of state law and suspended from entering any NDRA rodeos until the bad check is made good.  Any points won by a contestant at a rodeo where a bad check was passed for entry fees will not count toward year end standings.  Any points accumulated between the time when a bad check was passed and when it was made good shall not count toward the championship standings.  A member writing a bad check will be placed on cash only membership status.

7.  Additional fines and suspensions may be imposed by the board on an individual basis for those members writing bad checks.  A second offense of this violation will warrant membership suspension for one (1) full year.

 

ROUGHSTOCK EVENTS

 

Bareback Bronc Riding

1.  Horses will be furnished by an approved contractor hired by the rodeo committee.  Riding to be done with one-hand rigging.  Rigging shall not be more than ten inches in width at handhold and not over six inch dee-ring,  or not a freak;  required bareback pad to extend a full two inches behind the rigging.  Judges decide on all rigging pads.  There will be no bareback riggings cinched down with rider’s hand in handhold.  If it is necessary to re-set or re-cinch rigging after hand is in the handhold rider will be given time to readjust his glove. Tightening rigging cinch from both sides will be permitted, but latigos cannot be drawn up at the same time.

2.  To qualify, rider must have spurs over the break of the shoulders and touching horse when the horse’s front foot or feet touch the ground the initial move out of the chute.  If a horse stalls coming out of the chute or backs out, either judge shall tell rider to take his feet out of the horse’s neck and the markout qualification will be waived.  Bareback riding shall be timed eight (8) seconds, time to start when the inside shoulder or hip breaks the plane of the chute.

3.  Contestants and stock contractors will have the right to have judges pass on whether riggings are objectionable.

4.  Judge may require rider to take his hand out of the rigging after a horse is cinched.  Stock contractor may request judge to take such actions.

5.  Rider must tell flank man and/or the stock contractor if he does not want his draw touched with the hotshot.  However, if rider declines the use of the hotshot and the animal does not buck, no re-ride shall be given.

6.  Any of the following offenses will disqualify a rider:

   a.      Riding with rowels that are too sharp, that are locked or will lock, in the opinion of the judges.

   b.      Being bucked off.

   c.      Touching the animal with free hand. 

   d.      Failing to make first jump qualification.

7.  There will be no tape or any other adhesive materials or substance other than dry resin used on rigging or on rider’s glove, which will be a plain glove with no flaps, rolls, wedges, welds or gimmicks.  Rider may have a single layer of sheepskin or leather under handhold and either one shall be glued down.  Rider may not take any kind of finger tuck or finger wrap.  Violators shall be subject to fine.

8.  Riggings must lie flat on horses back while rigging is being cinched.  Stock contractor may call on judge to pass on whether rigging is being set and/or cinched in a way that might hurt the horse’s back.  No fiberglass or metal in riggings or handholds.  Only leather or rawhide allowed for handholds.  Flathead rivets or screws allowed securing handhold; only other metal allowed will be in the dee-rings.  Pad used under riggings must be leather covered on both sides.  If they are hair pads, they must be at least one inch thick

And if foam pad, at least one and one quarter inches thick.  Pads will extend at least two inches behind the rigging.

9.  Cinches on bareback riggings shall be made of mohair and shall be at least eight inches wide.

10.  Contestants who hang up may be subject to fine by the board upon discretion of the judge and/or event director and/or arena director the minimum fine will be $25.00.

11.  The judges will carry and use stop watches at all approved rodeos.  All rides will be timed by both judges.  If the time on one of the stop watches is eight (8) seconds or more, a score will be given.  If both times are less than eight (8) seconds, no score will be given.

12.  Judges will be required to mark the bareback horse even when the rider is disqualified.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding

1.  Horses will be furnished by an approved stock contractor hired by the rodeo committee.  Riding to be done with a halter, one rope rein, and a saddle that complies with the following specifications:

  a. Rigging:  three-fourths double-front edge of dee-ring must pull not further back than directly below the center of the point of the swell.  Standard e-z or ring type saddle dee must be used and cannot exceed five and three-fourths inches in outside width measurement.

  b.       Swell undercut:  undercut of not more than one inch on each swell.

  c.       Gullet:  no less than four inches wide at the center of the fork of covered saddles.

  d.       Tree:  saddles must be built on standard tree as follows:

     fork-14 inches wide

     height-9 inches maximum

     gullet-5 3/4 inches wide

     cantle-5 inches maximum height

     14 inches maximum width

     stirrup leathers must be hung over the bars.

2.  Saddle must conform to the above measurements with a reasonable added thickness allowed for leather covering.  No freaks.  Front cinch on bronc saddles will be mohair and must be at least eight inches wide.

3.  Standard halter must be used unless both the stock contractor and contestant agree otherwise.  Standard halter shall be a halter with a nose band at least on and one-half inches in width.  Contestant shall furnish his own saddle, halter, and rein.    

4.  Riding rein and hand must be on the same side.  Riders may cinch their own saddle, but saddle must not be set too far ahead of the horse’s withers.  Either stock contractor or contestant has the right to call the judge to decide whether or not the horse is saddled and flanked properly.  Middle flank belongs to the contestant.  The flank cinch may or may not be hobbled.  To qualify, the rider must have spurs over the break of the horse’s shoulders and touching the horse when the horse’s front foot or feet touch the ground the initial move out of the chute.  One arm must be free at all times.

5.  Saddle bronc riding shall be timed eight (8) seconds, time to start when the inside shoulder or hip breaks the plane of the chute.

6.  Rider must tell the flank man or stock contractor if he does not want his horse touched with a hotshot.  If rider refuses use of hotshot and the animal fails to buck, no re-ride will be given.  No hotshot will be used on an animal when the animal is in the arena.

7.  Any of the following shall disqualify a rider:

   a.      Losing or dropping rein before the 8 second time limit.

   b.      Changing hands on rein during ride.

   c.      Pulling leather.

   d.      Losing a stirrup.

   e.      Wrapping a rein around hand.

   f.       Touching animal, saddle or rein with the free hand.

   g.      Riding with rowels locked or rowels that will lock.

   h.      Bucking off.

   i.       Rowels too sharp.    

8.  Dry resin may be used on chaps and saddle. Anyone using any other substance shall be disqualified.

9.  The judges will carry and use stop watches at all approved rodeos.  All rides will be timed by both judges.  If the time on one of the stop watches is eight (8) seconds or more, a score will be given.  If both times are less than eight (8) seconds, no score will be given.

10.  Judges will be required to mark the saddle bronc horse even when the rider has been disqualified.  

    

Bull Riding

1.  Animals will be furnished by an approved stock contractor hired by the rodeo committee.

2.  Riding to be done with one hand and loose rope, with or without handhold; no knots or hitches to prevent rope from falling off animal when rider leaves him.  Rope must have bell; no bell, no marking.  Bull will be ridden eight (8) seconds, time to start when any part of the animal’s body breaks the plane of the chute.  If at any time during the eight second ride, the bull stops, the contestant has the right to take his score or re-ride.

3.  If rider makes qualified ride with any part of rope in riding hand, he is to be marked.  Contestant will have the right to call judges to pass on whether or not bull is properly flanked to buck to the best of his ability.  Bell must be under the belly of the bull.  The matter of re-rides shall be decided by judges.

4.  Hooks, rings, or posts shall not be used on bull ropes.

5.  Head fighting bulls having bad horns must be de-horned or kept out of the draw.

6.  No hotshot will be used on bull after rider sits down on bull unless rider requests such use.

   a.      Rider must tell flank man and/or stock contractor if he doesn’t want his draw touched with the hotshot.  However, if a rider declines use of hotshot and animal does not buck, no re-ride will be given.

   b.      Hotshot may not be used on animal after it leaves the chute into the arena.

7.  Rider will be disqualified for any of the following offenses:

   a.      Being bucked off.

   b.      Touching the animal with free hand.

   c.      Using sharp spurs or placing spurs under the rope when rope is being tightened.

8.  The judges will carry and use stop watches at all approved rodeos.  All rides will be timed by both judges.  If the time on one of the stop watches is eight (8) seconds or more, a score will be given.  If both times are less than eight (8) seconds, no score will be given.

9.  Judges will be required to mark the bull even when the rider has been disqualified.

 

Re-Rides:

1.  Re-rides may be given only when stock fails to break, stops, falls, or fouls the rider.  The association board has the right to declare any stock unsatisfactory and any stock so declared will be taken from the draw.

2.  If an animal fails to break, stops, falls, fouls the rider, or comes in contact with the pickup horse before the whistle blows, a re-ride shall be given at the discretion of the riding event judges.  Contestants shall be entitled to a re-ride on the same animal.  If a rider takes the same animal back instead of a re-ride, he must take that marking.  When a contestant is fouled he will get a re-ride provided he had made a qualified ride to the point when he was fouled.

3.  If an animal that runs off is already drawn for another contestant, that contestant must qualify on that animal before a re-ride is given.

   a.      Judge shall immediately inform contestant he is entitled to a re-ride.  Contestant may refuse re-ride and take marking.

   b.      If a contestant initially accepts the re-ride and later changes his mind, he will receive a no score.

   c.      If an animal runs off for the third consecutive time, he must be taken out of the draw and a re-ride animal drawn for the second contestant.

4.  If an animal that is drawn for a re-ride is already drawn for another contestant in the same go-round, the contestant with the animal drawn will take it before the man who drew the animal for a re-ride.  In bull riding, contestant will receive animal the last performance or at any time during a performance mutually agreed upon by both stock contractor and contestant receiving re-ride.

   a.      If an animal that is drawn for a re-ride is         already drawn for another contestant in a later go-round, the contestant with the re-ride in the prior go-round will take the animal first.

5.  If, in the opinion of the judges, a rider makes two honest efforts to get out on a chute fighting animal and is unable to do so, he may have a re-ride.

6.  When a final head is to be ridden in riding events, at least two additional head of stock will be available for re-rides.

7.  After drawn re-rides and those animals that are turned out are used up for re-rides,  all  stock out that go-round,  except feature animals  and animals already doubled back, will be put in the hat and additional re-rides for that go-round drawn.  Stock out the last performance of a go-round may be held out of the draw for additional re-rides if it becomes necessary to draw back at all animals out in the go-round to get enough re-rides.

9.  No re-ride will be given if a cowboy’s own equipment breaks.  If stock contractor’s equipment breaks, contestant may have a re-ride.

10.  If a flank strap comes off, a re-ride may be given on the same animal provided the rider completes a qualified ride or he may take his score.  If contestant takes same animal over and it does not buck no re-ride will be given.  Rider may take animal over only with approval of contractor.

 

TIMED EVENTS

 

General Rules

1.  A 10-foot tape must be on hand for the barrier judge.  Height of barrier in timed events shall be from 32-36 inches, measured at the center of the box.  Automatic slack catchers are not acceptable.

2.  Barriers in the timed events must be a side-pull barrier, when at all possible, with pulley and neck rope pulling from side of chute.

3.  Barrier judge is responsible for changing barrier string whenever it may have been weakened, or on request of next contestant.

4.  Barrier judge shall keep a record of the length of the barrier neck rope each performance, to assure the same start for contestants each performance.  Adjusting length of neck rope will be accomplished.

5.  A ten (10) second penalty will be added for breaking or beating the barrier.

6.  Barrier equipment must be inspected by the judge before each timed event.  If equipment is faulty, it must be replaced.  Should barrier break at any point other than designated breaking point, decision is up to the barrier judge.  If contestant obviously beats barrier, or barrier rope is broken and string unbroken, barrier judge may assess a 10-second penalty.

7.  If barrier flag man is used, animal is to be flagged when animal’s nose crosses the starting line, or score line in front of the line judge.

8.  Barrier judge shall be sure that nobody can stand close enough to barrier or barrier equipment to tamper with.

9.  Once score has been set in timed events, it will not be changed at that rodeo, nor can length of box be changed.

10.  In order for time to be considered official barrier flag must operate.  The barrier flag should be on the barrier pole or barrier instead of on the neck rope of the timed event cattle.

11.  If neck rope fails to work, but time is recorded, contestant or team will get time.  Barrier penalty will be waived unless obviously beaten by contestant.

12.  If official time has not started, contestant or team will get stock back if stock is qualified on in field.  If barrier was obviously beaten, the barrier penalty will be applied to the rerun.

13.  If in the opinion of the line judge, contestant is fouled by barrier, ropers shall get their calf or steer back providing contestant declares himself by pulling up immediately.

14.  Animal belongs to the contestant when he calls for it regardless of what happens, except for mechanical failure and if in the opinion of the line judge, the contestant is fouled by the barrier or the rope does not come off of the animal or the animal does not cross the width of the score line (which is the width of the boxes at the length of the score line) before it crosses the length of the score line.  Animal will be given over with no penalty if in the opinion of the judge, the contestant did not deliberately beat the barrier and if the contestant accepts the animal, he accepts the animal as sound. 

15.  In any timed event, if an animal escapes from the arena, flag will be dropped and watches stopped.  Contestants will get animal back with lap-and-tap start, and time already spent will be added to the time used in qualifying.  If time is not recorded, the decision of the flag judge shall be final.

16.  If rope is on animal when animal escapes from the arena, roper will get animal lap-and-tap, with rope on in the chute.

17.  Contestant must make an effort at a second loop or jump or be flagged out.  Once a man has been flagged out, he will receive no stock back.

18.  If time is not recorded when a field flagger  flags out a contestant who has a second loop or jump coming,  the contestant has the option of taking the animal back,  lap-and-tap,  with 10 seconds added to the new time.

19.  During any performance, if an animal in a timed event escapes the chutes or pens before it is called for by contestant, or if the automatic barrier fails to work and stock is brought back, contestant must take same animal over, during or immediately after the same performance; and that animal will be returned by the arena director and the labor crew during, or at the end of that performance in the same manner he was originally worked or brought to the pens for contesting.  Several head of animals will be brought back together.  No animal may be re-penned by itself.  Decision will be made by arena director about when stock is re-penned.

20.  Calf roping cattle must have a liner.

21.  Flag judge shall position himself for calf roping at the opposite end of the arena from the timed event chutes, in the left hand corner of the arena, allowing him to come towards the roper.  In steer wrestling and team roping, field flagger shall place himself on the left hand side of the timed event box.

22.  If an animal that is drawn in a pen in a timed event becomes sick or crippled before it is run, a judge must pass on the animal’s inability to be used before it can be shipped or replaced in the draw.  In that instance, that animal is to be removed from the draw (or herd) for the remainder of the rodeo.

23.  Within the confines of the timed event box, it is the privilege of a contestant to dismiss someone from the box or have up to three persons in the box for assistance.  He may instruct the judge to either remove or allow other people in the box.

a.      box pads shall be used at all NDRA rodeos which will be furnished by the association; timed event contractors will be asked to carry them to the rodeos.

24.  The person pushing the cattle in the timed events cannot leave the mouth of the box until the animal has crossed the score line.  Penalty for failure to abide by this will be a $25.00 fine charged to the contestant.

25.  Stock contractors shall bring at least three head of stock in the timed events into the chute, according to position drawn, at the start of each go-round, unless contestants are riding the same horse.

26.  In roping events, a dropped rope that must be recoiled to be rebuilt is considered a thrown rope.

27.  Neck ropes must be tied with string.  No metal snaps or hardware shall be used on neck ropes in the timed events.  Adjustable slide shall be used on all neck ropes for cattle used in the timed events.

28.  All score line lengths are to be set by the judges and/or the arena director, in accordance with the rule book and arena conditions unless otherwise approved.

29.  There shall be two timers, a barrier judge and field flag judge.  Time to be taken between two flags.

30.  Animals used for these events should be inspected and unacceptable animals removed.  Timed event stock contractor must provide enough quality stock to cover the largest performance of the rodeo, excluding slack.

31.  If any arena personnel interfere with a timed event competition, the contestant may, at the discretion of the judge, receive a rerun providing he has made a qualified run up to the point of interference and contestant declares him at the time of interference.

32.  All timed event contestants must compete from the same box designated for their event, unless otherwise approved by the event director.  The sr. men’s breakaway ropers may start from either side.

33.  The same calves may not be used in the calf roping and ladies breakaway roping.  The team roping steers or a separate pen of cattle will be used for the sr. men’s breakaway roping.

34.  In a two go round finals rodeo, the timed events that run through a barrier will run in order of the standings from #10 to #1 for both rounds.  Second round will be based on the current standings after completion of the first round.  Ladies barrel racing positions to be drawn for each run.

35.  A contestant shall receive a no time if they compete on the wrong animal.  The contestant is responsible that their animal is in the chute before they call for the animal.

36. Unsatisfactory Animals in the Timed Events

 

A timed event representative may declare a timed event animal, or herd of animals unsatisfactory if the animal (1) is considered by the timed event representative or judge to be unhealthy or not suitable for competition, (2) has in the past caused safety concerns for a contestant or his horse, (3) would cause an uneven competition if used.

 

Upon notification to the contractor, either verbal or written (if verbal, written notification must follow) the contractor must not use the animal in that event. The animal may not be used at any other NDRA rodeo if reasons 2 & 3 are invoked. The animal may be used at another NDRA rodeo if reason 1 is invoked, only if the animal is deemed healthy to compete on at the next rodeo.

 

A fine of $100 will be assessed to the contractor if the animal was declared unsatisfactory by reasons 2 & 3 is brought to another NDRA rodeo in the same event. This fine will progressively double if the same animal is still brought to multiple NDRA rodeos.

 

Calf Roping

1.  Rope may be dallied or tied hard and fast; either is permissible.  Contestant must rope calf, dismount, go down rope and throw calf by hand and cross and tie any three feet.  To qualify as legal tie, there shall be at least one wrap around all three legs and a half hitch.  If calf is down when roper reaches it, the calf must be let up to his feet and be thrown by hand.  If roper’s hands is on the calf when calf falls, calf is considered thrown by hand.  Rope must hold calf until roper gets hand on calf.  Tie must hold and three legs remain crossed until passed on by the judge, and roper must not touch calf after giving the “finish” signal until after judge has finished his examination.  The field flag judge will pass on the tie of calves through use of a stopwatch, timing six (6) seconds from the time the rope horse takes his first step forward after the roper has remounted.  Rope will not be removed from the calf, and rope must remain slack until field judge has passed on the tie.  In the event a contestant’s catch rope is off a calf after completion of tie, the six (6) second time period is to start when roper clears calf.  Flagger must watch calf during the six second period and will stop watch when a calf kicks free, using the time shown on the watch to determine whether calf was tied long enough to qualify.  Unless instructed to do so by the judge, roper will be disqualified for removing rope from calf after signaling for time, until the tie has been passed on by the field judge.  If tie becomes illegal by calf kicking, or calf gets to his feet before tie has been ruled fair, the roper will be marked no time.

2.  Two loops will be permitted, catch-as-catch-can, and should the roper miss with both, he must retire and will be given a no time.  Roping calf without releasing loop from hand is not permitted.  If roper intends to use two loops, he must carry two ropes and must use second rope for second loop.  If foul catch is made with first loop, second rope may be used, but first rope must be released from either the saddle or the calf. 

3.  There will be a 30-second elapsed time limit in the calf roping.  A whistle indicating “no time” shall be blown by the timer at the end of the 35-second span.

4.  If calf roper ropes calf after 30-second whistle has sounded, he may be subject to disciplinary action for mistreatment of livestock.

5.  Contestant must adjust rope and reins in a manner that will prevent horse from dragging calf.  Contestant must receive no assistance of any kind from outside.  If horse drags calf excessively, field judge may stop horse.  The fine for unintentionally dragging a calf excessively shall be $25.00 for the first offense; $50.00 for the second offense; and $100.00 for the third and subsequent offenses.  Excessive dragging is defined as eight (8) feet or more.  Intentionally dragging a calf, regardless of distance, shall result in a $200.00 fine for each offense, plus possible disqualification.  Intentional shall be defined as caused by contestant. 

6.  Automatic barrier must be used at all approved rodeos for calf roping.  The minimum length of score at rodeos will be the length of the roping box minus 4 feet.  Any deviations in score length will be determined by mutual agreement of the judges, stock contractor, and the calf roping director.

7.  Calves must weigh no less than 200 pounds and no more than 300 pounds.  Any deviations must be approved by the calf roping director or his duly appointed designee. 

   a.      There can be no more than 50 pound deviation in weight from the smallest to the largest calf in a given herd.

   b.      All roping calves must be of the same breed and cross breeds must be of the same cross.

   c.      If any individual calf does not meet the above requirements, the calf roping director or his duly appointed designee has the right to immediately remove the calf from the herd, for the given rodeo.

   d.      Judges will have the authority to weigh the calves.

8.  If there must be a re-run of calves to complete a go-round, all calves must be tied down before any stock is drawn.  If after one go-round has been completed, a fresh calf has to be used.  The calf must be roped and tied down before the drawing; but if extra calves have been tied at that rodeo, they will not be considered fresh.

9.  When making application for rodeo approval, committees have the option to request a special ground rule for “no jerk down” in the calf roping.  If approved, this will be printed in the NDRA newsletter within the advertisement of the said rodeo.  Under optional calf roping ground rule, “jerk down” will be defined as over backwards, with the calf landing on his back or head with all four feet in the air.  The field flag judge will make the judgment.  Contestants will be fined $100.00 for the infraction.

 

Steer Wrestling

1.  Contestants must furnish own hazer and horse.  Steer must be caught from horse.  Only one hazer allowed.  Animal belongs to contestant when he calls for him regardless of what happens, except cases of mechanical failure.  If the steer gets loose the dogger may take no more than one step to catch steer.  After catching steer,  wrestler must bring it to a stop and twist it down.  If steer is accidentally knocked down or thrown down before being brought to  a stop,  or is thrown by wrestler putting animal’s horn into the ground,  it must be let up on all four feet and then thrown.  Steer will be considered down only when flat on its side or on its back with all four feet and head straight.  Wrestler must have hands on animal when flagged.  The fairness of the catch and throw will be left to the judges, and their decision will be final.

2.  Hazer must not render any assistance to contestant while contestant is working with steer.  Failure to observe this rule will disqualify contestant.

3.  When a barrier is used in steer wrestling, an automatic barrier must be used and there must be at least a 12 foot box. 

4.  Arena conditions will determine score, length of score to be set by event director or arena director, if present, subject to the conditions set forth herein.  The score may be no longer than the length of the steer wrestling box minus six (6) feet, unless other arrangements are approved by the steer wrestling director or his representative.

5.  Any cattle that have been used cannot be held over from one year to the next for use in steer wrestling except by board approval.

6. a. Animals used for this contest should be closely inspected and objectionable ones eliminated.  Contestants will not be required to compete on a crippled steer or a steer with a broken horn.  If contestant jumps at steer, he accepts it as sound. Contestant will be disqualified if he attempts in any way to tamper with steer or chutes.

b. The horns on Steer Wrestling cattle must be blunted to the size of a dime. Horns must be no less than 9” in length on each side. Failure to abide by this rule will result in a fine of $25 per animal not meeting these requirements against the stock contractor or rodeo committee. Judges are to inspect and report non-compliance to the NDRA office. Judges may be fined if event director deems the steers non-compliant and the judges didn’t report it.

 c. Steers horns that are unable to pass through the timed event chute must be trimmed prior to competition. Non compliance will result in a $50 fine per animal unable to pass through the chute

7.  Fresh steers added and that have not been used must be bull-dogged from horseback and thrown down.  It is the responsibility of the steer wrestler to throw the cattle at a time mutually agreed upon with stock contractor.

   a.      When fresh steers are used, any fresh steer not thrown down during competition will be thrown down after completion of go-round.  Contestants will be responsible to throw down such steers under the supervision of the arena director or the event director.

8.  A weight limit shall be placed on dogging cattle; a minimum of 450 pounds and a maximum of 700 pounds per head.

9.  Steer wrestler must be in contact with animal when flag is dropped.

10.  Cattle used for steer roping, cutting or other events shall not be used for steer wrestling without approval of event director.  Cattle may be used in the sr. men’s breakaway roping.

11.  There shall be two or more timers, a field flag judge and a barrier judge.  Time to be taken between two flags.

12.  Field flagger is required to watch contestant and steer until animal is turned loose.  Contestant is required to turn steer’s head so he can get up.  Arena director may report infractions.

13.  If dogger misses or loses steer, flag man must ask dogger if he wishes another jump.  Dogger must reply at once.

14.  Steer wrestling chutes must have at least 30 inches of clearance inside the chute and at the gate when in an open position.

15.  The catch pen gate must remain shut during the steer wrestling event at all approved rodeos and the finals rodeo.

 

Dally Team Roping

1.  Contestants will start from behind the barrier.  Header must start from steer wrestling box and throw first loop at head.  There will be a ten (10) second penalty assessed for breaking the barrier.  Steer belongs to roper after he crosses deadline, regardless of what happens, with one exception:  if steer gets out of arena, flag will be dropped and the roper gets the steer lap and tap with the time added which was taken when the steer left the arena.

2.  Animal belongs to contestant when he calls for him regardless of what happens except cases of mechanical failure.

3.  Each contestant will be allowed to carry but one rope.  Each team allowed only two loops, one loop at each end.  Roping steers without turning loose of the loop will be considered no catch.  Roper must dally to stop steer.  Any heeler 50 years of age or older may tie on.

4.  Time will be taken when steer is roped, both horses facing steer in line with ropes dallied and tight.  Horse’s front feet must be on the ground and ropers mounted when time is taken.  Steer must be standing up when roped by head or heels.

5.  All changes in lists of roping order to split horses, etc., must be made before any stock for that event is loaded in chutes.  After stock is loaded, ropers must rope in order listed.

6.  Steer must not be handled roughly at any time and ropers may be disqualified if in the opinion of the field judge they have intentionally done so.

7.  If header accidentally jerks steer off his feet or steer trips and falls, header must not drag steer over eight feet before steer regains his feet or the team will be disqualified.

8.  Broken rope or dropped rope will be considered no time, regardless if time has been taken or not. (Example:  rope hooked on box etc.) 

9.  Ropers must dally; coils dropped over horn will be considered no time.

10.  Ropers may not take off any illegal catch if asked by field flagger to hold steer for flagger inspection.  If header does not do so, team may receive a no time.

11.  Contestants are allowed to enter twice but must switch ends or partners on second try.

12.  In case the field flag judge flags out a team that still legally has one or more loops coming, the judge may give the same steer back lap and tap and five (5) second penalty will be assessed for each loop already thrown.

13.  NDRA will not allow plastic horned cattle in the team roping.

14.  Animals used for this event should be inspected and objectionable ones eliminated.  No steer wrestling cattle may be used in the team roping without approval of the event director or a recognized representative.

15.  The steer is drawn for the header; the header may not compete on the same head of stock more than once during the same rodeo.

16.  The minimum length of score at rodeos will be 1/2 the length of roping box.  Length of score may vary at event director’s or judge’s discretion.

17.  Slack will be drawn for in sections depending on how many steers the contractor has there

18.  If a team roper does not appear for the section at which he is scheduled to compete, this will be considered a turnout.  The man or men entered with may draw out or may get another partner(s) from among any of the entered contestants in that rodeo except for those ropers already entered at the legal limit.

19.  Team ropers that are entered but do not have partners at the time of the draw will have their names removed from the list.  No position will be drawn for a single name.

20.  There will be an open gate rule excluding those rodeos where there is an average.  If at any time during the run, any part of the steer crosses the catch pen gate, he is considered home free and a no time will be given.  No contestant can block the gate entrance nor can any livestock be chased back out.

21.  Legal head catches-there will be only three (3) legal head catches:

   a. Head or both horns.

   b. Half a head.

   c.      Around the neck.

22.  Illegal head catches:

   a. If hondo passes over on horn and the loop over the other, catch is illegal.

   b. If loop crosses itself in a head catch it is illegal.  This does not include heel catches or head and front foot catches.

   c. If a leg or legs are in the head loop.

23.  Heel catches:

   a. Any heel catch behind both shoulders is legal is rope goes up heels.  Catch must be above hoof.

   b. One hind foot receives a five (5) second penalty.

   c. Once a steer is past heel loop, it is considered a missed loop.

   d. If a heeler ropes a front foot or feet in the heel loop, this is a foul catch.  Neither contestant may remove to front foot or feet from the loop by hand.  However, should the front foot or feet come out of the heel loop by the time the field judge drops his flag, time will be counted.  If header faces and heeler is dallied with front foot in loop, team will receive a no time.

24.  If steer is roped by one horn, roper is not allowed to ride up and put the rope over the horn or head with his hands.

25.  Cross firing shall be illegal, according to the PRCA rule book.

26.  Judge has the right to inspect all catches and dallies.  Any questions as to catches in this contest will be decided by the judge.

 

Sr. Men’s Breakaway Roping

1.  Contestants must be 50 years of age or older within the current calendar year.

2.  Ropes must be tied to the saddle horn with string provided at the rodeo office.  Ropes must have a flag attached to them, no more than six inches from the horn.

3.  There will be only three legal head catches:  around both horns, around one horn and the head (1/2 head), and around the neck.  If the hondo passes over one horn and the loop over the other, the catch is illegal.  If the head loop crosses itself (figure 8) it is illegal.

4.  Ropers will carry just one loop.  There will be a minimum of 9 ft. barrier and the roper may not catch the steer before time starts; i.e. the neck rope is off or the barrier has been broken.

5.  The steer must break the rope from the saddle horn; if the roper breaks the string with his hand it is a no-time.  Once the slack is thrown the roper will be disqualified if he goes back to the rope.  String should obviously break away from the saddle horn to have a legal catch.

6.  The field flagger will drop the flag when the flag tied in the end of the rope is broken from the saddle horn by the animal.

7.  Sr. Men’s breakaway ropers may come from either the right or left box.

8.  There shall be three judges, one at the barrier, one in the field flagging the time, and one at the catch pen to verify that the catch is legal.  This last person may be chosen by the judge and/or contestants.

9.  Judges may participate in this event provided that he finds a suitable substitute for his position, preferably the barrier judge position.

10.  Flag will be tied at the knot on end of the rope.

 

Ladies Breakaway Roping

1.  Cattle to be drawn for from a separate pen than was used for calf roping.

2.  The contestant can use only one loop except where there is an average, and then two may be carried.

3.  A time limit of thirty (30) seconds shall be enforced.  However, a 10-second penalty for a broken barrier will not disqualify a contestant (example:  a 29-second run with a broken barrier will qualify and be recorded as a 39-second time).

4.  The only legal catch will be a bell collar catch. Any other catch will be considered a no time. A bell collar catch is defined as the calf’s whole head with no extremities.  Rope must remain around the calf neck when string breaks from saddle horn.

5.  A string must be tied to both the rope and the saddle horn in the breakaway roping.  A standard string will be issued at the time when entry fees are paid.  This string may be checked by the judge before the contestant enters the roping box.  A 12 inch or larger flag is to be attached and tied at the horn or behind the horn.

6.  The calf must break the rope away from the horn.  The contestant shall receive no time should she or her horse break the rope from the saddle horn.

7.  The minimum length of score at all approved rodeos will be 1/2 the length of the roping box.  The maximum length will be the length of the box.  Length of score may vary at the event directors or judges’ discretion.

8.  A barrier will be used in this event and a ten (10) second penalty added if it is broken.

9.  Roping the calf without releasing the loop from the hand will result in a no time.

10.  There will be an open gate.  If at any time the calf crosses the catch pen gate, he is considered home free and the contestant will receive no time.  No contestant may block the gate entrance nor can any livestock be chased back out.

11.  Any discrepancies will be left up to the judges and the event directors decisions.

12.  Flag will be tied at the knot on end of the rope.

 

Goat Tying   (optional event)

1.  The contestant must be mounted on a horse and must ride from the starting line to the goat,  dismount,  throw the goat by hand,  cross and tie any three (3) feet together with a leather string or pigging string.

2.  The tie will be passed on by a field judge.  If the feet do not stay crossed and tied for six (6) seconds, the contestant will receive a no time.  Contestant must stand back three (3) feet from the goat before the judge begins his time.

3.  Timing will start when the horse’s nose reaches the starting line and will stop when the contestant signals completion of her tie.

   a. Arena gate must be closed immediately after contestant enters the arena and kept closed.

4.  If the contestant runs over the goat or rope with her horse while mounted, or if the contestant’s horse comes into contact with the goat or rope at any time, a no time will be assessed.  If goat should break away because of the fault of the horse while the contestant is mounted, she will receive a no time.  A contestant is considered mounted until both feet are on the ground.  If the goat should break away at any other time, it will be left to the discretion of the judges whether she will get a re-run.

5.  The goat must be staked with a rope at least ten (10) feet long and the stake must be pounded completely into the ground so that no part is visible.

6.  The same starting line must be used in each go-round and the goat staked in the same spot with the same length of rope.  The ideal spots for starting line and goat stake are the starting line for the barrel racing and the third barrel stake.

7.  Positions must be drawn for by the central entry secretary, and the order reversed for each complete go-round.

8.  If goat is down when contestant reaches it, goat must be cleared with three (3) feet dangling straight under the goat before tie is made. 

9.  Once a contestant has signaled the tie is complete, she may not touch the goat or tie again.

10.  Goat must be held by collar at the end of the rope in a vertical position from the starting line until time begins.

11.  Goats shall be drawn for and the contestant shall not receive the same goat twice.

12.  Event director shall inspect the goats for size and weight and reject unacceptable goats.  Director shall provide alternate goat if the goat is rejected.

13.  If more than five (5) girls are entered in a performance, two goats must be used.  If there are an odd number of contestants, the larger number will compete on the first goat.

14.  Goat tying may be run in one or any number of performances, slack or a combination thereof.  The local rodeo committee, with guidance from the central entry, will decide when the goat tying will be run.

 

Barrel Racing

1.  There shall be two judges in the barrel race, to act as line judge and field judge to determine any irregularities that may occur in the arena.  One judge will flag and the other will reset barrels, etc.  The flagger will not move out of his position after the barrel racing has begun.

2.  Barrel racing is a timed event.  The start and finish line and the position for the barrels must be marked permanently for the entire rodeo.

3.  There is to be only one contest horse in the arena at a time during the barrel race, without exception.

4.  Flag man should flag when the horse’s nose reaches the starting line and will flag when the horse’s nose reaches the finish line.  The starting and finishing lines must be the same.  Any time contestant crosses the starting line time will begin.

5.  At a signal from the starter, the contestant will run to barrel number one, pass to the left of it and complete a turn around it, then run to barrel number two, pass to the right of it and complete a turn around it, then run to barrel number 3, pass to the right of it and complete a turn around it then run to the finish line.

6.  Contestant will be disqualified for not following pattern, consisting of one right and two left turns only.  This barrel course may also be run to the left.

7.  Contestants will be assessed a five (5) second penalty for knocking over a barrel.  Touching a barrel is permitted.

8.  Should a barrel be knocked over and it sets up on opposite end, the five second penalty will still be assessed.

9.  Barrel must be set back on marker if barrel is moved.

10.  Should for any reason the barrels not be place on the markers or the flag man not be in the correct place, things must be put in correct order and all contestants who ran on the incorrect course must be re-run with no penalty assessed.

11.  Judges must make the decision that the barrel(s) were not on the markers.

12.  Should this happen, contestants and judges should be notified and the judges and arena director will set time for re-run.

13.  Should the contestant know the barrels are set wrong and there is sufficient time to correct it, they must run.

14.  If a contestant has run, she must be allowed to make a re-run after performance.  The decision to re-run must be made immediately following the rodeo, and all contestants notified, if possible.

15.  Should the marker be gone and a tape measure is used to re-set a barrel, that is sufficient and no re-run will be allowed.

16.  In any barrel race sections not part of a paid performance, a position order will be followed as posted and listed.

17.  At least thirty (30) minutes time must be given between runs when go round begins or ends in the same slack.

18.  Contestant will be disqualified for not being ready to contest when name is called.

19.  A center gate run will be used when possible.  If a center gate run is not available the gate nearest to the right barrel should be used.  All contestants must enter from the same gate, as designated by the arena director.

20.  The barrels shall be at least ten (10) feet off the official marker if contestant(s) are working their horse in the arena before or after the rodeo.  Contestants will be fined if not in compliance. 

21.  Barrel pattern will be raked 1/2 way through the barrel racing if there are more than ten (10) contestants in any performance.  The number of runs raked between shall remain consistent throughout a rodeo’s duration (i.e. every 6 runs throughout two performances and one slack).  The number of runs to rake between shall not exceed ten (10) ladies.

22.  Arena will be worked before each performance and worked or raked by committees after the final barrel racer in every performance.

23.  Any discrepancies not covered by the NDRA rule book shall revert to the WPRA rulebook.

 

Barrel Pattern

1.  Standard courses should be used whenever possible.  The standard distances for the barrel race are:

   A.     90 feet between barrel number 1 and 2.

   b.      105 feet between barrel number 1 and 3 and between 2 and 3.

   c.      60 feet from barrels number 1 and 2 to score line.  Score line should be at least 45 feet from the end of the arena.

2.  For unusually large arenas, the maximum distances will be 105 feet between barrels 1 and 2 and 120 feet between 1 and 3 and 2 and 3.  Score line must never be more than 90 feet.

3.  The following shall be used in smaller arenas:

   a. The score line should be at least 45 feet away from the end of the arena.

   b. Barrels 1 and 2 must be at least 18 feet from the arena sides.  In extra small arenas they may be less.  In no instance should the barrels be any closer than 15 feet from the arena sides.

   c.      Barrel 3 should be at least 36 feet from the end of the arena; the 3rd barrel should be set at least 15 feet longer than the 1st and 2nd barrels. 

   d.      If arena size permits, barrels must be set 60 feet or further apart.  In small arenas it is recommended the pattern be reduced proportionately to a standard barrel pattern.

 

Marking Barrels:

1.  Brightly colored 55 gallon steel drums with both ends enclosed must be used.  There shall be no rubber or plastic barrels or barrel pads used.

2.  Judges have the responsibility of seeing that the barrels are properly marked.  Committees are responsible for providing stakes and ropes to mark the three barrels and two electric eyes.

3.  When a rodeo has a non-competitive or junior barrel race or queen contest that uses the cloverleaf pattern, barrels must be set on different set of markers.  Any additional event requiring the use of a barrel must not be placed on the barrel markers.

4.  The barrels must be marked using a 100 foot measuring tape.  Add 5 feet on to the tape in order for correct measurement between 1 and 3 and 2 and 3 the person measuring the barrel pattern must make and arc on the ground from barrel 1 to barrel 3 and then from barrel 2 to barrel 3.  Where the arc crosses is where the 3rd barrel marker must be placed.  This will ensure equal distance for barrel racers who run to either the right or left barrel first.  The starting line must also be correctly measured back from barrel 1 and barrel 2, so the distance is the same to ensure barrel racers going either to the right or left the same opportunity.  Permanent markers shall be placed on both sides to indicate starting line. 

5.  You may use a pointed metal stake, horseshoe or can with a chain or rope attached to the end the end of it.  Cover the object, leaving only chain or rope on top of the ground.

6.  Markers should be buried at the location of each barrel so the barrels will be in the same place during each complete go-round.

7.  If the electric timer is used, permanent markers should be set for it also.

8.  It is the responsibility of each member to see barrel markers are set before the rodeo begins, and to check the markers prior to each performance.

9.  The barrels at NDRA rodeos will be placed inside the markers.

 

Electronic Timer:

1.  Equipment necessary:  complete electronic eye timer plus at least 1 extra timing clock or stopwatch to be operated manually.

   a.      Complete electronic timer must be backed up by a flag man who will stand directly behind on timer post in the arena.  One timer will record the times that appear on the electronic eye controlled readout.  Additional timers will operate the back up manual clocks or stopwatches and will record the time which is shown thereon. They will operate    from the flag man’s signals and record the time in 100ths from the stopwatches and the full readout for the electric eye.

   b.      Readout box times must be read and recorded            by official timer or official judge.

   c.      Permanent markers should be put in the ground for the electronic timer.  Electronic timers should be place on the score line no closer than the width of the first two barrels for the electronic eye to be centered in each performance.

   d.      The barrel race will be timed in 100ths but never in 1000ths under any circumstances, except when the electronic eye is used.

e. Contestants are required to assemble the electronic eye.  The last two contestants must assemble the electronic eye prior to the event and place the eyes near the electronic eye markers outside of the arena so they are readily accessible for set up by the flag man/judge, and the first two contestants are required to disassemble the eyes and put them back in the electronic eye case.  The electronic eyes should not be assembled and placed outside of the arena any earlier than one event prior to the start of the barrel race.  At the beginning of the rodeo season the barrel racing director may set up a schedule delegating responsibility of the electronic eye to a contestant living in the area close to the rodeo.  She shall be in charge of getting the electronic eye to the rodeo and reminding contestants of their responsibility to assemble and disassemble the eyes, and anyone not complying shall be assessed a fine in the amount of $50.00.

   f.       Set timer the same height and position each performance and lock the legs.

   g.      Unless a mechanical failure occurs, person setting timer should stand back at 6 feet from the timer.

 

Electronic Timer Failure

1.  Performance:

   a.      If re-run information is not posted prior to first performance, back up times will be used.

   b.      When the manual back up times are used for those electronically missed, a zero will be added to the 10th.  Electronic eye times will remain unaltered.

   c.      A re-run must be called for immediately following the event and contestants must be notified.  If a contestant decides to re-run there will be no penalties assessed from previous runs.  Those contestants who are not present at the re-run, or choose not the re-run must take the time reported on the first run. 

2.  Entire go-round-if the electronic eye fails to work for more than 1/2 of the contestants in an entire go-round,  the back-up (manual) recorded times will be the official times for all contestants in the go-round.

 

 

NDRA Humane Treatment of Livestock

1.  Animals for all events shall be inspected before the draw, and no sore, lame, sick or injured animal, or animal with defective eye-sight, shall be permitted in the draw at any time.  Should an animal become sick or be injured between the time it is drawn and the time it is scheduled to be used in competition, that animal shall not be used in competition and another animal will be drawn for the contestant as provided by NDRA rules.  An animal health specialist shall be on call for every performance and slack.

2.  No animal shall be treated inhumanely or prodded excessively.  No wooden paddles are permissible.  Standard electric prods shall be used as little as possible.  Animal shall be touched only on the hip or shoulder area with the prod.  No prod may be used on an animal after it leaves the chute into the arena.

3.  No sharp or cutting objects in the cinch, saddle girth, or flank straps shall be permitted.  Only sheepskin lined flank straps with a quick release mechanism shall be used on the animal so that the sheepskin portion is over both flanks and the belly of the animal.  No bull tails will be allowed under the flank straps.

4.  No locked rowels, or rowels that will lock on spurs may be used on bareback horses or saddle broncs.  Spurs must be dulled.

5.  No loose ropes will be allowed in the bareback riding.

6.  In calf roping, a neck rope must be used. Contestant must adjust rope and reins in such a manner that will prevent the horse from dragging a calf.  Rope to be removed from calf’s body as soon as possible after “tie” is flagged by the rodeo judge.

7.  Roping calves shall weigh at least 200 pounds each.  A minimum weight for dogging cattle shall be 450 pounds.  All roping stock shall be strong and healthy. Timed event stock contractors must provide enough quality cattle to fill the largest performance of the rodeo, excluding slack.

8.  Placing of fingers in the eyes, lips, or nose of animal while competing in the steer wrestling event is prohibited.

9.  If a team roping header accidentally jerks a steer off his feet or a steer trips and falls, the header must not drag the steer over eight (8) feet before the steer regains his feet, or the team will be disqualified. 

10.  No stimulants or hypnotic shall be used or given to any animal for contest purposes.

11.  Rodeo chutes must be humanely constructed and maintained so as to minimize any risk of injury to livestock.  Pen size for stock will be varied depending upon the size of animals and necessary conditions for good ventilation and movement.  Rodeo arena shall be reasonably free of rocks, holes, and obstacles.

12.  Local rodeo committees will be responsible for providing adequate access to water sources for livestock.

13.  Livestock will be removed from the arena after completion of contest.

14.  Use of fireworks to frighten animals in contest situations is prohibited.

15.  Any animal that becomes excessively excited so that it gets down in the chute repeatedly, or tries repeatedly to jump out of the chute, or in any way appears to be in danger of injuring itself, may be released immediately.

16.  Rodeo clown or bull fighters are not to abuse livestock in any fashion.

17.  Any animal becoming crippled during competition must be removed from the arena before continuing the rodeo contest or performance.  A conveyance must be available and used, if possible, to remove injured animals.  Injured calves shall be removed from the arena pursuant to any injury conditions, shall be placed in a situation as isolated and comfortable as possible to reduce stress.

18.  No stock shall be confined or transported in vehicles beyond a period of 24 hours without being unloaded, properly fed, and watered.

19.  Complaints or grievance about the misuse or mistreatment of rodeo livestock should be directed in person or in writing to the designated spokesperson of the NDRA.

20.  Any NDRA member of stock contractor deemed guilty of mistreatment of rodeo livestock will be subject to penalties and fines imposed after due process by the NDRA board of directors.  The minimum fine shall be in the amount of $100.00 for the first offense.  Contestants may be disqualified by authorized rodeo officials for any intentional mistreatment of livestock.

21.  The NDRA rules for humane treatment of livestock will be annually disseminated to the NDRA stock contractors, local rodeo committees, and NDRA finals rodeo committee.