Rough Ride

Pendleton Oregon
Most rodeos seem to start off with bare back bucking horses. The horse is confined to a box stall called a bucking chute at the edge of the arena. They cinch a bucking strap around the animal, just behind the front legs. The strap has a suitcase handle on the top. The rider settles himself on the horses back and securely grasps the handle in his strongest grip. When he is comfortable, He grits his teeth and nods his head and the field crew open the gate that releases the horse into the arena. As the horse is released a flank strap is tightened around the horse just in front of the rear legs. The flank strap is wrapped in wool to protect the horses skin. It doesn't hurt but is annoying the horse causing him to buck to try to get it off. Having a rider on his back probably increases his activity. By the time the horse has been around long enough to compete in the round-up, he knows that sometimes he can get rid of the rider if he works at it. Of course this is only my observation and not based on actual conversation with a horse. Mr. Ed might have a whole different perspective on the sport. Another similar sport is saddle bronc riding. Everything is the same except the rider sits on a saddle and holds a single halter rope in his hand. The other end is attached to the horses halter. In either case the riders free hand is not allowed to touch the horse or rigging.

There are some technical rules about the riders performance, but suffice it to say the rider has to stay on for 8 seconds.

At the Round-up, judges wearing stripped vests score the horse on his bucking intensity and the rider on his riding ability and technique. Both Bare Back and Saddle Bronc riding are depicted in this series of photos.

If the rider falls off or violates a rule, he gets disqualified. Another judge with a stopwatch keeps the official 8 second time.

I never got to go for an 8 second ride. I suspect that 8 seconds goes a lot slower on a bucking horse than it does on most any other activity I can think of except maybe bulls.

Some of the horses circle back and stay in the vicinity of the chutes. It gets a little congested there sometimes.

Some rodeos have a much smaller arena. At Pendleton it seems that other contestants hang out in the arena while they are waiting to compete. They all have a few camera men close to the action. There are always a few mounted riders in the arena. Some horses head to the far side.

Many of the horses develop a pattern and turn the same direction or go straight away each time out.

At least one cameraman got flattened while we were watching.

They are usually quick to move when the action comes their way.

When the bucking horse leaves the area the pick-up men follow on horseback.

The pickup men stay close to help out when needed.

After the 8 seconds, the rider wants to get safely to the ground. The pickup rider rides along side of the bucking horse and the rider grabs the pickup rider around the torso and slides off the bucker and when the pickup horse slows down he lowers himself to the ground and walks away. Occasionally that works.

Many times the rider misses the torso grasp or looses his grip before the pickup horse is slowed to basic running speed. Occasionally the rider inadvertently projects himself across the back of the pickup horse and lands in a heap on the ground on the opposite side of the horse. Each of these mistakes has an entertaining consequence.

One photo here shows a bare back rider. The rest are saddle broncs. Bare back horses do not wear a halter.