Today, a cowboy's success in calf roping depends largely on the teamwork between himself and his horse in a contest of split-second timing. One misstep by either man or horse can cost the fraction of a second which separates winners from losers in this timed event. The luck of the draw is also a factor. A fiesty calf that runs fast or kicks hard can foil a roper's finest effort.

After giving the calf a predesignated head start, the calf must trip a barrier string before the cowboy can begin. The rider chases his bovine challenger on horseback and catches it with his rope. The cowboy who "breaks the barrier" by leaving the roping box too soon has a ten second penalty added to his time.

As the horse stops, the roper dismounts, runs down the rope and flanks the calf to the ground. He then ties any three legs of the calf with a short rope, called a pigging string, which he has carried in his teeth. The clock is stopped when the roper throws his hands in the air. The calf must remain tied for six seconds after the cowboy remounts his horse. If an observing judge has not noted any rule infractions, the calf roper's time becomes official. It often takes a time of ten seconds or less to win a hotly contested calf roping event. PRCA cowboy calf roping features some of the most highly conditioned two and four-legged athletes in professional rodeo.