擒小牛比赛是牛仔骑马追赶一头比自己重2-3倍的小牛，从马上抱住并掰牛角使牛失去平衡，摔倒在地上。难度极大极易受伤。即使牛的受伤率低于百分之五，动物权益协会（animal rights community ）仍担心牛的安全。
Origins
Historically, steer wrestling was not a part of ranch life. The event originated in the 1930s, and is claimed to have been started by an individual named Bill Pickett, a Wild West Show performer said to have caught a runaway steer by wrestling it to the ground. There are several versions of the story, some claiming that he developed the idea after he observed how cattle dogs worked with unruly animals
起源
最初“擒小牛”并不是牧场工作的一部分，这项活动起源于20世纪30年代，一位名叫比尔·皮克特的西部竞技表演者希望通过把牛摔倒在地上的方式来抓住它，同时参考了牧牛犬的抓牛技巧，慢慢演变成了现在的擒小牛比赛（Bulldogging Steer Wrestling）。
比尔·皮克特
Modern EventWhen the steer wrestler is ready he "calls" for the steer by nodding his head and the chute man trips a lever opening the doors. The suddenly freed steer breaks out running, shadowed by the hazer. When the steer reaches the end of his rope, it pops off and simultaneously releases the barrier for the steer wrestler. The steer wrestler attempts to catch up to the running steer, lean over the side of the horse which is running flat out and grab the horns of the running steer. The steer wrestler then is pulled off his horse by the slowing steer and plants his heels into the dirt further slowing the steer and himself. He then takes one hand off the horns, reaches down and grabs the nose of the steer pulling the steer off balance and ultimately "throwing" the steer to the ground. Once all four legs are off the ground, an official waves a flag marking the official end and a time is taken. The steer is released and trots off.
比赛
比赛由两名骑手，分列牛的两侧，配合完成。
骑手准备就绪向裁判点头示意，牛棚打开，牛奔跑进入场地，骑手面前的门打开，比赛开始。右侧的骑手控制牛的奔跑方向，左侧的骑手从马上扑下将牛擒住。牛的四脚离地，裁判举旗示意，比赛结束。
Technique
The preferred method of wrestling the steer to the ground is to lean from the galloping horse which is running beside the steer, transferring the weight of the upper body to the neck of the steer, with one hand on the near horn of the steer and the far horn grasped in the crook of the other elbow. One then lets the horse carry his feet by the steer until his feet naturally fall out of the stirrups. The steer wrestler then slides with his feet turned slightly to the left, twisting the head of the steer toward one by pushing down with the near hand and pulling up and in with the far elbow. Finally the steer wrestler lets go of the near horn, and puts the steer's nose in the crook of his left elbow, and throws his weight backwards causing the steer to become unbalanced and fall to the ground.
比赛技巧
骑手身体倾斜，将重心从马背全部转移到牛身上。右手抓住右侧牛角，左侧的牛角用胳膊肘扣住。在骑手的脚完全脱离脚蹬前，马会一直向前奔跑。骑手摔到地上后，右手顶住牛的下巴往上抬而左侧用胳膊肘将牛角向下扣，将牛头按到地上后用腿顶住牛肚子，将牛仰面翻到地上。
Rules
Rules of steer wrestling include: The bulldogger's horse must not break the rope barrier in front of it at the beginning of a run, but must wait for the animal escaping from the adjacent chute to release the rope. Breaking the rope barrier early adds a 10 second penalty to the bulldogger's time. If the steer stumbles or falls before the bulldogger brings it down, he must either wait for it to rise or help it up before wrestling it to the ground. If the bulldogger completely misses the steer on his way down, he will receive a "no time"
比赛规则
擒小牛的比赛规则包括
·在牛进入场地后骑手才能出发。如果马抢跑，加罚10秒钟。
·如果在骑手接触到牛之前牛摔倒或走路踉跄，骑手必须帮助牛站起来或等它自己站起来。
·如果骑手没有擒到牛，被判成绩无效。
从大门打开到比赛结束，专业骑手只需要3-10秒时间。
