All rodeo associations and bull riding associations are different sizes and have different rules and benefits. Many of them also played a key role in rodeo's history. Below is a comprehensive list of rodeo and bull riding associations with a brief synopsis of what is offered.
Rodeo associations set rules for animal treatment, set rules for competition, sanction rodeos, and organize a final rodeo for qualifying cowboys and cowgirls. Rodeo associations also sell memberships to rodeo professionals, including stock contractors, announcers, clowns, barrelmen, etc.
The PRCA holds and sanctions events from four different countries that include the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Canada. The PRCA is the biggest rodeo association in the world. The National Finals Rodeo is the championship event. NFR is held every December. The PRCA is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The IPRA is the second largest rodeo organization in the world. It sanctions rodeos in both the United States and Canada. It includes and sanctions rodeos in the US & Canada. The International Finals Rodeo (IFR) is held in January. IPRA is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Founded in 1948, the WPRA focuses on women competing in rodeo sports. It has 3000 members and 1500 events. Cowgirls compete in barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping, and the new event breakaway roping. It’s headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO.
Headquartered in Yates Center, KS, the United Rodeo Association has 800 members. It sanctions 100 rodeos, primarily in the midwest, and hosts the Championship Finals Rodeo in the fall. It was founded in 1962.
Founded in 1954, the Southern Rodeo Association is the oldest rodeo association east of the Mississippi River.
Based in Texas, the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association has members in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mexico. It was founded in 1992.
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association got its start in 1944 as the Cowboys’ Insurance Association. In 1965, it became a rodeo association. It operates and sanctions rodeos in Canada.
The American Professional Rodeo Association hosts its finals in November. It sanctions first-approved and co-approved rodeos.
Founded in 1952, the American Junior Rodeo Association is modeled on the PRCA. It focuses on rodeos for young cowgirls and cowboys. It values Christianity and encourages its rodeos to start with prayer.
Bull rider associations play a similar role to rodeo associations. The key difference is that bull rider associations focus on bull riding, while rodeo associations support all the rodeo sports.
Known for bringing bull riding to a national television audience, Professional Bull Riders boasts 800+ riders from around the world. Its bull riders come from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. It sanctions 200 bull riding events and was founded in 1992.
Founded in 1994 by one of the founding members of PBR, the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association helps young cowboys get started.
Founded in 2009 to make it easier for bull riders to continue riding as they got older, the World Senior Professional Bull Riders has members in the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Canada, and Australia. Its competitions are in the following age brackets: 35-40, 41-46, 47-54, and 55+.
Headquartered in Maryland, International Bull Riders sanctions hundreds of events and awards over $100,000 in prizes each year. It was founded in 2001.
Unlike other bull rider associations, the Elite Bullriders Association hosts competitions for ranch bronc riding and barrel racing in addition to bull riding. It hosts the Northeast Finals.
