This competitive event has more things happening in just tenths of seconds. The steer wrestler depends on a great horse and a working partner, called the hazer, to put him into position to make a fast, smooth run. It starts with the contestant backing his horse into the box, making sure the 600 lbs steer’s head is straight, and when all is perfect, nods his head. The steer then leaves the chute at a full run, giving the steer a head start, and then the contestant, horse and hazer give chase. When they draw even with the steer, the wrestler jumps to the side of the steer, grasps the animal’s horns and “applies the brakes,” digging his boot heels into the dirt to slow down the 600 lbs of beef and then slides into position. Then he wrestles the steer onto it’s side, when the steer’s all four legs are down and straight, the clock stops. The wrestler must change the steer’s direction or stop it before bringing it down. If the steer falls down accidentally, it must be allowed up again and all four feet and then brought down again… if not… it is called a “hoolihan” and now time is awarded. If the contestant does not give the steer a proper head start…. A 10 second penalty is applied to his time.