District 4 Rodeo 

1. No locked rowels or rowels that will lock on spurs or sharpened spurs may be used on bareback horses or saddle broncs. Spur rowels must have five or more points.

2. A neck rope must be used on a horse. If horse stops and calf hits the end of rope in such a manner that calf busts himself, roper will not be responsible. Contestant must adjust rope and reins in such a manner that will prevent horse from dragging calf. Rope to be removed from calf’s body as soon as possible after “tie” is completed. Roping calves shall weight at least 180 pounds each, and be strong and healthy.

3. All chain, metal and wire tie-downs, nosebands and bosals must be completely covered where it comes into contact with the horse’s skin.

4. The placing of fingers in eyes, lips, or nose of steers while wrestling same is forbidden.

5. Animals for all events will be inspected before the draw, and no sore, lame, sick, or injured animal, 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 to be used in competition, that animal shall not be used in competition and another animal drawn for the contestant as provided in the NHSRA rule book. An official veterinarian should be available at all events.

6. No animal shall be beaten, mutilated, or cruelly prodded. Standard cattle prods shall be used as little as possible. In the rough stock events, once an animal is in the chute, no cattle prods will be allowed except in the case of a bareback riding or saddle bronc horse that stalls and only with the agreement of the contestant, stock contractor and judge. Cattle prod will only be used when the horse turns head out of the chute and then it can only be used on the hip or shoulder area. Prods will not be used on bulls once they are in the chute except to move bull from chute to chute.

7. A conveyance must be available and used, if possible, to remove animals from the arena in case of injury. Animals removed from the arena pursuant to this section shall be placed in a situation as isolated and comfortable as possible to reduce stress.

8. No sharp or cutting object in cinch, saddle girth, or flank straps shall be permitted. Only sheepskin-lined flanking straps shall be used on bucking horses and shall be of the quick-release type. Sheepskin-lined flank straps shall be placed on the animal so the sheepskin covered portion is over both flanks, and the belly of the animal. No bull tails will be allowed under flank straps.

9. No “loose ropes” allowed in bareback bronc riding.

10. No stimulants or hypnotics to be used, or given to any animal used for contest purposes.

11. Chutes must be constructed as to prevent injury to stock. Maintenance men and equipment shall be stationed at chutes to assist in removal of any animal should it become caught. The arena shall be free of rocks, holes and obstacles.

12.  Clowns are not to abuse stock in any fashion.

13.  No small animal or pets allowed in arena where restraint is necessary or subject to injury or attack by another animal.

14. Livestock to be removed from arena after completion of entry in contest.

15. Use of fireworks to fight animals prohibited.

16. Contestant will be disqualified for any mistreatment of Stock.

17. No stock should be confined in vehicles beyond a period of 28 hours without being unloaded, properly fed, and watered. When animals are carried in conveyances in which they do have proper food, water, space, and opportunity to rest, the provisions for unloading shall not apply.

18. 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, should be released.

19. No foreign objects or ropes may be attached to the horns or any part of the bull after loaded in the chute except in the case of assisting a chute fighting bull and then the rope must be arranged so that it removes itself once the bull is released from the chute.

20. Any Stock contractor or rodeo personnel, guilty of mistreatment of livestock may be fined by the Board of Directors with a fine not to exceed $500.00.

21. All NHSRA animal welfare rules are to be enforced on the entire grounds of any approved high school rodeo including but not limited to the practice and jackpot arenas, stall areas, warm-up areas, etc.

22. The NHSRA makes every effort to ensure that all contestants, contractors, and committees are fully aware of rules regarding humane treatment of all rodeo livestock.