Bronc riding, either saddle bronc or bareback bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rider getting on a horse (sometimes called a bronc or bronco), which is held in a small pipe enclosure called a bucking chute. The rider climbs into the chute and mounts the animal. When the rider says he is ready, the gate of the bucking chute is opened and the horse bursts out and attempts to throw or buck off the rider.
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Scoring
The rider attempts to stay on the horse for 8 seconds without touching the horse with his free hand after "marking the horse out." This means he must have the heels of his boots in contact with the horse's shoulders the first jump out of the chute before the horse's front legs hit the ground. The rider that manages to complete a ride is scored on a scale of 0-50 and the horse is also scored on a scale of 0-50. Scores in the 80s are very good, and in the 90s, are exceptional. A horse who bucks in a spectacular and effective manner will score more points than a horse who bucks in a straight line with no significant changes of direction.
Saddle vs. Bareback Riding
Saddle bronc and bareback bronc styles are very different. In saddle bronc the rider uses a specialized saddle with free swinging stirrups and no horn. The saddle bronc rider grips a simple rein braided from cotton or polyester and attached to a leather halter worn by the horse. The rider lifts on the rein and attempts to find a rhythm with the animal by spurring forwards and backwards with his feet. The bareback bronc rider does not use a saddle or rein, but uses one hand to grip a simple handle on a surcingle style rigging placed on the horse just at the horse's withers. The rider leans back against the bucking horse and spurs up and down motion with his legs, again in rhythm with the motion of the horse.
The Flank Strap
A flank strap is used to encourage the horse to kick out straighter and higher when it bucks. The flank strap is about 4 inches wide, is usually covered in sheepskin and fastens behind the widest part of the abdomen. Flank straps which hurt the horse are not allowed by rodeo rules in the United States. Animal rights groups sometimes claim that the flank strap forces a horse to buck even if it doesn't want to,arguing that it restricts the horses' genitals (which are located beneath the tail on females and between the hind legs on males).[1] However, a horse in pain will actually become sullen and not buck very well, and harm to the genitalia is anatomically impossible because the stifle joint of the hind leg limits how far back a flank strap can be attached.
The Horse
The bucking horse is usually a gelding, a castrated male horse. Because bucking horses usually travel in close quarters and are housed in a herd setting, geldings are generally less disruptive and more prone to get along with one another. However, mares are also used, and while a mixed herd of mares and geldings is a bit more prone to disruptions, they can be kept together without great difficulties. However, stallions are less common, because they can be disruptive in a herd and may fight if there are mares present. The modern bronc is not a truly feral horse. Most bucking stock is specifically bred for use in rodeos, with horses having exceptional bucking ability fetching a high price. Most are allowed to grow up in a natural, semi-wild condition on the open range, but also have to be gentled and tamed in order to be managed from the ground, safely loaded into trailers, vaccinated and wormed, and to load in and out of bucking chutes. The also are initially introduced to bucking work with cloth dummies attached to the saddle. Due to the rigors of travel and the short bursts of high intensity work required, most horses in a bucking string are at least 6 or 7 years old. [2]
Myths and reality
Modern rodeos in the United States are closely regulated and have been responsive to accusations of animal cruelty. The same is not always true for rodeos in other parts of the world, particularly in third world nations. However, myths of extreme cruelty in the USA persist. The reality is that a proven bucking horse can be sold for $8000 to $10,000, making "rough stock" a valuable investment that requires proper care. A bucking strap has to be an incentive, not a prod, or the horse will quickly sour and refuse to work. Health regulations mandate vaccinations and blood testing of horses crossing state lines, so rodeo horses receive routine care. An injured animal will not buck well and hence a cowboy cannot obtain a high score for his ride, so sick or injured animals are not run through the chutes, but instead are given appropriate veterinary care so they can be returned to their usual level of strength and power. PRCA regulations require veterinarians to be available at all rodeos to treat both bucking stock and other animals as needed. While it is widely stated that rough stock are sold for horsemeat, the reality is that any unwanted horse can meet this fate, including race horses, show horses, or even backyard pasture pets. Bucking horses are a valuable investment, worth caring for and keeping in good health for many years, and no more or less likely to wind up shipped to slaughter than other domesticated horses. Like other horses, many of the best bucking horses are actually retired at the end of their working career and allowed to live into old age. The issue of horse slaughter is not correlated directly to the rodeo industry, it is an issue that crosses all equestrian disciplines.
