I pre focus on dirt, mostly. if you follow rodeo enough you get to know the stock, and the contestance, plus I once rodeoed myslef, so I know the sport very well.

On bare back, I'll pre focus on the gate, or if I know the horse, I'll pick a spot on the dirt, for calfs, steers, both wresteling and ropeing I'll pick a spot on the dirt that I know they calf will be caught, or the steer will be turned and bank on the spot. Side shots are not an issue, even slow lenses can keep up with side shots, that includes bull riding too, bulls dont usually run off, and if they do, I dont even wast a shutter click on them. I never show wreck shot exept to the contestant. . .

as per horse races, I pick a spot on the rail, just before the horses get there, that's way I said f 5.6 because there's enough depth of field to compensate for the slight mis que of the shutter reliese, or the hores not in the "right" spot!

for each event, I have a plan and almost always pick a spot where I know I want the action, if it does not happen, then it does not happen, that the breaks. . .

I use a older bogan, the three section one with the half-wing, they're about $60 bucks U.S., and top it with an RRS reciver, and all my lenses have rrs plates.