wild cow milking

File:Wild cow milking (4609778778).jpg

Though the specifics can vary depending on the rodeo, the general rules for wild cow milking are:

• Each team commonly consists of two,{{cite web|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/06/17/bull-riding-cow-milking-and-woolly-wild-horse-racing-white-swan-rodeo-155341?page=0%2C1|title=Bull Riding, Cow Milking and Woolly Wild Horse Racing at White Swan Rodeo: Page 2 of 2|work=Indian Country Today Media Network.com|access-date=14 May 2015}} three,{{cite web|url=https://www.strawberrydaysrodeo.com/events/wild-cow-milking/|title=Wild Cow Milking|work=Strawberry Days Rodeo|access-date=14 May 2015}} or more individuals. Ranch rodeo teams usually have four members.{{cite web|url=http://www.cowboyway.com/WildCowMilking1.htm|title=Wild Cow Milking Pictures|work=cowboyway.com|access-date=14 May 2015}}
• Competitions may include cowboys on horses. If so, one or two team members are on horseback; the others are on foot.{{cite web|url=http://www.westernheritageclassic.com/p.aspx?pID=Events/Ranch-Rodeo/224&|title=Western Heritage Classic Ranch Rodeo Rules|work=westernheritageclassic.com|access-date=14 May 2015}} Other events have all team members afoot.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqOOXr7pphM|title=Crazy Wild Cow Milking 2012 Strawberry Days Rodeo Pleasant Grove Utah|date=21 June 2012|work=YouTube|access-date=14 May 2015}}
• One individual (occasionally two), called the "mugger,"{{cite web|url=http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/frontierdays5.html|title=Frontier Days: Photos From Wyoming Tales and Trails|access-date=14 May 2015}} is tasked with holding the animal's head. Another, the "milker," generally the fastest person on the team, attempts to milk the cow. Some teams have an "anchor man," whose primary duty is to hold onto the rope that restrains the cow.
• Some competitions place the cows in the bucking chutes and all teams compete at once. Each cow is already wearing a halter with a long lead rope, or a lasso around its neck. A team member, usually the anchor man, is given the rope of their cow prior to the opening of the chutes.
• Other competitions require the contestants to rope their cow.
• Ranch rodeo competitions generally have only one or two teams compete at a time, and the timer starts when the cow crosses the steer roping line. Team members cannot cross the start line before the cow does without incurring a time penalty. A cowboy on horseback will try to rope the cow. If they miss once, the roper can try again; but there is a two-loop limit for roping attempts.{{cite web|url=http://backyardranch.com/Ranch_Rodeo_Wild_Cow_Milking.htm|title=Ranch_Rodeo_Wild_Cow_Milking|work=backyardranch.com|access-date=14 May 2015}}
• Once the cow is roped, the team members on foot will try to hold the cow still so it can be milked.{{cite web|url=http://www.stirlingfamilyranchrodeo.com/ranch-rodeo-rules.html|title=Stirling Ranch Rodeo Rules|work=stirlingfamilyranchrodeo.com|access-date=14 May 2015}} The rope must be taken off the saddle horn before milking starts. Usually, the roper must also dismount, and is often the person who starts milking the cow.
• The cow is milked into a bottle; usually an empty soda bottle.
• One of the team members runs (on foot) with the bottle to the judge. The timer stops when they cross the line to reach the judge.
• The judge will verify that the task has been completed by pouring the milk out of the bottle. If no milk comes out of the bottle, the team is disqualified.
• There is a time limit, usually of two minutes; if the task is not completed within the time limit, the team is disqualified.
• The fastest time wins.

File:Last Chance Stampede and Fair 2012 (7674134956).jpg

The sport is known for being unpredictable, and for being both entertaining (to the spectators) and dangerous (for the participants), with participants often getting trampled by the cow or tripped up by the rope.

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Category:Rodeo-affiliated events