More often than not, a hazer is another steer wrestler. These cowboys compete against each other for prize money, championship points, and standings—and then turn around and help one another compete.

Throughout the rodeo season, steer wrestlers haze for each other, travel together, share knowledge, and sometimes even compete aboard the same proven horses.

For those few seconds in the arena, a bulldogger has to completely trust the cowboy riding on the opposite side of the steer. The hazer has to understand the line, read the animal, and know exactly where his fellow competitor needs to be.

Then, a few runs later, their roles may be reversed.

It’s one of the things that makes professional rodeo unique: fierce competition and genuine community exist side by side. In fact, you’ll often see the bulldoggers and their hanging out and grabbing a beer together as soon as their event is done.

Every run begins with the steer in the chute and two mounted cowboys waiting on either side: the steer wrestler, also known as the bulldogger, and the hazer.

The steer is given a designated head start. Once that advantage is established, the barrier releases and the chase begins. The steer wrestler rides on one side of the steer while the hazer rides on the other, helping keep the animal running straight and in the best possible position.

Then the bulldogger makes his move.
He slides from his running horse onto the steer, takes hold of the horns, plants his feet, and uses technique, leverage, strength, and the steer’s own momentum to bring the animal to the ground.

The clock stops when the steer is legally on its side with all four feet pointing in the same direction. At the Tucson Rodeo, the entire thing can happen in less time than it took you to read this sentence.