Bronc riding
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bronc riding, either as saddle bronc or bareback bronc is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on an untamed horse or bronco, weighing between 800 and 1,500 pounds, which is held in a small pipe enclosure called a bucking chute. The rider tightly grips a handle which is strapped to the horse. 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.
Broncs can be neutered males (geldings), females (mares) or un-neutered males (stallions), with mares being somewhat more common. Horses, being prey animals, do not care to have things on their backs. Horses that cannot be trained to accept riders may become broncs in rodeos. In addition, horses are somewhat ticklish and a flank strap is used to encourage the bronc to kick out in addition to bucking. The flank strap is about 4 inches wide, is covered in sheepskin and fastens behind the widest part of the abdomen. Animal rights groups (such as PETA or HSUS), claim that the flank strap often touch the horses' genitals (which are located beneath the tail on females and between the hind legs on males).
In the past, flank straps were not used, but due to safety concerns they are required today. The flank strap encourages a horse to kick its legs out, rather than rearing up on the hind legs, which can be dangerous to both horse and rider as there is a risk of flipping over backward. The soft flank strap, worn like a belt about the hips, tickles the horse and keeps its mind on kicking out rather than rearing dangerously.
The rider attempts to stay on the horse for 8 seconds without touching the horse with his free hand. 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.
Rodeo broncos are said to have one of the best jobs in the equine world.[citation needed] They work for about 8 minutes per year, and often live and continue to compete into their late teens and 20s because of their relatively natural lifestyle.
