10/22/2026
JUDGES & RODEO DIRECTORS — THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!
Let's talk about something that may seem minor but can have a BIG impact on the safety of our contestants, horses, and livestock.
Through our Next Level Online Coaching & Mentorship Group, which has over 100 members, I watch videos from across the United States and Canada every week, at every level of competition. That gives me a unique opportunity to see what is happening in arenas across the country.
And I see one thing far too often is judges and arena personnel standing somewhere other than directly behind the goat.
I know goat tying isn't exactly the event most judges fight to judge, and because it isn't at every level of rodeo, it is the event most judges have the least experience judging. And while I've searched through judges' handbooks, I haven't found this specific positioning issue addressed. Some associations, however, do have guidelines on where arena personnel should stand.
Where you stand matters more than you might realize!
Here's why:
1. ANIMAL & CONTESTANT SAFETY
When someone stands off to the goat's side, it can make the goat move right and potentially into the path of the approaching horse.
That creates an unnecessary risk for the goat, the horse, AND the contestant.
We all know accidents can happen in rodeo, but we should do everything we can to prevent them.
And let's face it, videos of goats getting run over don't exactly do our sport any favors. When those videos circulate on social media, they give animal rights organizations more am******on to criticize goat tying.
To protect the future of our event, we have to be proactive about protecting the animals involved, and contestant safety should always be our top priority.
2. ACCURATE JUDGING
The judge's position also matters when making the right call.
Standing off to the side can make it difficult, if not impossible, to accurately determine whether a horse crosses the goat stake.
Our contestants deserve fair, consistent judging, and that starts with putting yourself in a position to see what you're being asked to judge.
3. CONTRACTORS WANT TO AVOID TEACHING GOATS TO GO RIGHT
Contractors can spend weeks getting an even set of goats ready because their reputation is on the line, and (most) contractors want their stock to highlight the contestants' abilities.
Goats are also not cheap, so we don't want them to get injured or develop bad habits and need to be replaced. Even a goat that normally goes left can go right if someone is standing in its line of sight when it is released.
This post isn't meant to criticize judges or arena personnel, but I believe coaches, judges, directors, and producers all share responsibility for making our events as safe and fair as possible.
We appreciate the judges and directors who recognize the work these contestants put into this event and are working to make it even better.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
