Breakaway roping is the newest event in pro rodeo to be co-sanctioned at full purse. A single roper on horseback, a calf, one throw. The roper's rope is tied to the saddle horn with a flag of string. When the rope tightens around the calf's neck, the string breaks, "breakaway." Clock stops.
The event goes back decades in youth and amateur rodeo. Until recently it wasn't at pro rodeos with full purses. The WPRA added it to their world standings in the 2000s and it has grown into the sport's fastest-rising discipline. Some state high school rodeo associations now offer it to both boys and girls.
Times are fast. 1.5 to 2.5 seconds at the top level. The barrier rule is the same as other timed events, 10-second penalty for breaking it early. A clean run means a clean catch and a clean string break. Ropers typically practice on live calves every day and go through hundreds of pigging-string flags a month.