A steer wrestler, or bulldogger, must understand the laws of gravity, leverage and brute strength in this competition which involves two cowboys, two horses and a steer. The steer wrestler starts behind a barrier and begins his chase after the steer has been given a head start. If the bulldogger breaks the barrier, he receives a 10-second penalty. The steer wrestler is assisted by a hazer, another horseback cowboy who keeps the steer from veering right. When the steer wrestler's horse pulls even with the steer, the bulldogger eases down on the right side of the horse, reaching for the steer's horns. After he has the horns in his grasp, he digs his heels into the dirt to stop the steer's momentum. As the steer slows, the cowboy turns the animal, lifts up on its right horn and pushes down with his left hand to produce the leverage needed to bring the steer to the ground. After the catch, the steer wrestler must either bring the steer to a stop or change the direction of the animal's body before the throw. A steer's minimum weight for this competition is 450 lbs.