[image: wikipedia.org]
When you think of rodeos, bronc riding is probably what jumps to your mind. Saddle bronc involves a cowboy or cowgirl riding a bucking horse for as long as possible. This practice came from cowboys in the olden days who had to break willful horses. These days, the rodeo horses are specially bred to buck, jump and run in a spirited way, and the tradition continues.
How does the event work? A horse, usually a gelding (a castrated male) is put into a holding pen which is called a "bucking chute," and the cowboy lowers himself onto the horse while still enclosed. The cowboy can ride with a saddle, or bareback. Once the rider is ready, the gate opens and the free horse springs to action, bucking its rider. The cowboy has to stay on the horse for 8 seconds without touching it with his free hand. If he can do so, both he and his horse receive a score between 0 and 50, and their scores are added together for the final score the cowboy receives. The cowboy is scored on his form-for example, on the horse's first jump, the rider's boot heels must stay in contact with a point above the horse's shoulders until its feet hit the ground. The horse is scored on how well it bucks-whether it changes direction, and bucks with lots of energy, for example. Most good cowboys look to score at least 80 points overall.