If you give cowboys and their horses the most rebellious cows, that's the best way to train them, says Ronnie Rice, horse and cowboy trainer. Horse-riding contest, throwing ropes to catch cows. Team of 2 people must be able to throw a noose on the head Washington Football Est. 1919 Sports Team shirt, the other on the leg of the cow. Each year Texas has hundreds of competitions, big and small, for cowboys. Prizes can be up to millions of dollars. Craig Haythorn, Texas cowboy, USA shared: My family used to have a cattle ranch, and spent all day on horseback with cows in the pasture.