RODEOHOUSTON™ Bull Riding

Whether it is the thrill of seeing man versus beast or the excitement of watching finely tuned athletes on the roughest rides of their lives, rodeo fans love bull riding and have made it one of rodeo's most popular events.

A challenging event requiring balance, control and a strong arm, bull riding matches man against animal with the ultimate goal being a successful eight-second ride. The bull rider uses a flat-braided rope with a single hand-hold that is pulled tight behind the bull’s shoulders and held fast by the cowboy’s riding hand. The cowboy must stay on the bull using only one hand on the rope. A weighted bell attached to this rope hangs underneath the bull and falls free from the animal at the end of the ride.

With the bull spinning, turning and kicking, the cowboy isn’t required to spur but will often move his dull rowel spurs along the bull to maintain contact and balance. Spurring to accommodate the bull’s bucking style and to increase control will add points to the contestant’s score.

The rider is disqualified if his free hand touches the bull or himself during the ride or the rider hits the ground before the eight-second buzzer. As in all roughstock events, the bull’s bucking efforts account for half the rider’s score.