Breakaway roping is a thrilling variation of calf roping where the calf is never tied or wrestled to the ground. Instead, the rider’s rope is secured to the saddle horn with a string. As the calf sprints forward, it eventually reaches the end of the rope, snapping the string and signaling the end of the run. A small white flag at the rope’s end helps the timer catch the precise moment the string breaks. The fastest roper wins—and with runs lasting just 2 to 3 seconds, it’s over in a flash!