Get ready for an amazing rodeo season at Carbondale Wild West Rodeo! Our events are fun for all ages, featuring Grand Entry presentations and special entertainment that won’t disappoint. Contestants vie for the All Around Saddle Award, the ultimate prize for top earners in two events. Ranch Bronc Riding and Hide Race alternate biweekly, building excitement towards the Finals with buckle series rewards. We hope you’ll join us for a thrilling season of grit and gumption!
In 2024, our rodeo season kicks off on June 6th with call-in registration from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm each Tuesday starting June 4th. The entry phone number is 970-923-9270. Please note that the first night will include the Hide Race! The second rodeo on June 13th will feature Ranch Broncs, alternating with Hide Race thereafter, with both featured on July 4th.
This year, there will be an All-Around Saddle award for the Top Money Winner in 2 or more events. To qualify, participate in one event at least 9 times and a second event at least 4 times, winning money in both and being the top money earner overall. We’ll also present the “Trent Goscha Sportsmanship Award” and the Spirit of Court Will Award in memory of Court, recognizing exceptional dedication and sportsmanship.
Event schedules, rules, payouts, added money, and other activities are subject to change at the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Association’s discretion.
An exhilarating ride where up to 30 barrel racing contestants run around barrels in a cloverleaf pattern, aiming for the fastest time to win! The competition is fierce, but each barrel knocked over adds five seconds to the total time, so precision is key.
Entry fee is $40, and it must be paid by 5:30 pm, whether you’re in the performance or the slack. We have space for 20 racers in the slack and 10 in the performance, so be sure to secure your spot early!
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
Limited to a maximum of 10 contestants aged 5 to 13 years old, the Junior Barrel Racing event allows junior-age racers to participate in the Open Barrels category but not in both Junior and Open Barrels during the same rodeo.
Youth competitors follow the same cloverleaf pattern as Open Barrel Racers. Witness the determination of Junior Barrel Racers as they compete each week, offering them a chance to improve their skills and eventually transition to Open Barrel Racing. Many young riders give the Open Barrel Racers a tough competition in this timed event, with an entry fee of $20.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
Get ready for the cowboys to gear up for the most dangerous event of the rodeo! With only one hand hanging on to the bull rope, the rider attempts to stay on the 2,000-pound animal for at least eight seconds. If his free hand touches the bull before the eight seconds are up, the rider is disqualified. This is an event where both the cowboy and the bull are judged and each is given a score from 0-50. The scores are then added and the cowboy with the largest total score wins. $50 entry fee.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
The Ranch Bronc Ride is an exciting event where riders compete to stay on a bucking horse for 8 seconds. Riders use a standard working ranch saddle and hold onto a bronc halter with one rein called a “bronc rein” or “hack rein.” They can also hold onto the saddle horn, cantle, or a night latch with their free hand. Unlike other events, there is no disqualification for losing a stirrup or a “mark out” rule. Two judges score both the rider and the horse, with a total of 100 points possible. This event alternates weeks with the Cowhide Race event except for the final rodeo when both events will be held. Entry fee is $50 and is limited to 10 contestants per rodeo.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
June 13
June 27
July 4
July 11
July 25
August 8
Final – August 22
Garfield County Fair and Rodeo Royalty or rodeo volunteers assist the participants in warm-up exercises before the race is on. Arena push-ups are just the beginning. Not for those afraid to get dirty! Watch as kids 3-10 years old chase a group of calves around the arena to snatch ribbons from their tails! Kids must snatch the ribbons from the calves’ tail and return to the finish line in the fastest three times to win!
Registration opens at 5:30 to 8 pm Thursdays at the Secretary Shed.
An exciting team event in which one mounted competitor ropes a calf and the other partner runs out on foot to snatch a ribbon from the calf’s tail. A quick catch by the roper gives the runner an advantage. A circling or windmilling calf can prove a challenge to the runner. One of the rare times you’ll see a cowboy or cowgirl without their boots as they don their fastest running shoes to compete. The runner has to cross the finish line back at the roping box, where the fastest time wins. Entry fee $50 per roping, $25 each roper and runner.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
Youth rodeo contestants have been asking for this event and the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo committee heard. Contestants must be 13 to 17 years old. Limited to 6 contestants plus 3 alternates. Junior Bull Riding is the training ground for youth with the aspirations to compete in the most dangerous event in the sport of rodeo and join the ranks of the Bull Riders. Cheer on these brave young rodeo contestants where an 8-second ride can seem like an eternity. Junior Bull Rider contestants are required to bring their own helmets and vests, as they are mandatory for safety during the ride. Entry fee is $35 per event.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
Steer Riding offers young cowboys and cowgirls a chance to tackle rough stock for a thrilling 6-second ride! Witness the incredible bravery and skill of these young riders. Participants must be between 8 and 12 years old. The event accommodates up to 6 contestants and 3 alternates. Contestants are required to bring their own helmets and vests, as they are mandatory for safety during the ride.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
In this rodeo event, lil’ buckaroos get a turn in the spotlight as they grab wool and ride a sheep! Cheer them on as they try to hang on for as long as they can! Helmets and vests are provided for safety.
Registration opens at 5 pm Thursdays at the Secretary Shed. DO NOT CALL IN.
Competitors are required to call in from 6:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, the first week of the rodeo season, to register for Team Roping. The call-in number is 970-923-9270. After this initial period, a sign-up sheet will be made available for further entries.
Entry fees for Team Roping must be paid by 5:30 PM on the night of the rodeo, regardless of participation in the performance or slack. Failure to meet this deadline will result in disqualification. The event is limited to 100 teams, ranging from #8 to #11, with a $60 entry fee per team.
Team Roping involves both male and female competitors working as a team, consisting of a header and a heeler mounted on horses. Their objective is to catch a steer as quickly as possible, with the steer given a head start using an electronic eye barrier. Breaking the barrier incurs a ten-second penalty. The header aims to rope the steer around the horns, while other legal catches include a head catch or catching one horn and the nose. The steer’s horns are protected with “horn wraps” to prevent injuries. The heeler’s role is to rope both hind legs of the steer, with penalties for catching only one hind foot.
This event has deep historical ties to the work of cowboys on the open range, such as branding or livestock management. Cowboys continue to utilize these techniques in their daily ranch work.
Each roper participating in Team Roping must possess a current USTRC card. In cases where a card is absent, the Team Roping Handicap Committee will assign a number. Additionally, the #8 Roping is capped at a #4 Heeler.
Ladies Breakaway Roping is open to women aged 17 and above, with an entry fee of $40 per participant. This event is limited to 15 ropers per rodeo.
During the event, an electronic eye barrier is employed to provide calves with a head start. Ropers must throw the rope in a loop around the calf’s neck. Once successfully looped, the roper signals their horse to stop. The rope is then tied to the saddle horn using a string. As the calf reaches the end of the rope, the string breaks, marking the end of the run. The fastest run within the 25-second time limit is deemed the winner.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
Junior Breakaway Roping is open to girls aged 8 to 16 and boys aged 8 to 14, with a limited number of 10 contestants and a $20 entry fee.
During this event, one mounted cowgirl or cowboy chases after a calf. An electronic eye barrier ensures that calves are given a head start. Participants must throw the rope in a loop around the calf’s neck. Once successfully looped, the roper signals their horse to stop. The rope is then tied to the saddle horn using a string. As the calf reaches the end of the rope, the string breaks, marking the end of the run. The fastest run within the 25-second time limit is the winning run.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
Cowhide Racing, also known as the Hide Race, is open to participants aged 14 years and older. This exciting event is both fun and fast-paced.
During the race, a horseback rider starts at one end of the arena and gallops towards the opposite end where a cowboy or cowgirl stands next to a cowhide with a rope attached. The ground person tosses the rope to the rider as they circle around the hide. Once the rider grabs the rope, they dally it to the saddle horn, and the horse starts pulling the ground person back to the starting line. The ground person must stay on the hide throughout the race. The team that completes the race in the fastest time wins. All team members must be 14 years or older to participate.
Register through the call-in line on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm. The call-in number is 970-923-9270.
June 6
June 20
July 4
July 18
August 1
August 15
Gus Darien Riding Arena
County Road 100
(Catherine Store Road)
Carbondale, CO 81623