Bareback Bronc Riding

The rider holds onto the leather handle of a rigging, which is a wide belt that fits around the horse’s mid-section just behind the shoulders. The cowboy must “mark the animal out” by positioning his heels over the horse’s shoulders on the first jump out of the chute. Each time the horse kicks, the cowboy brings his knees toward his body, keeping his heels against the horse and his toes turned out (an action called “spurring”), and then stretches his legs out again. Higher scores reflect frequent “spurring” because of the degree of difficulty.