Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Rules and Scoring

1.1. The Mark out Rule-the cowboys boots have to be past the point of the horses shoulder on its first jump out of the Chute. if you do not do this you will be disqualified.

1.2. Free hand-the rider can only hold on to a bronc rein with one hand, the other hand/free hand can not touch the rider or the horse at any time during the ride

1.3. 8 seconds- the rider must make an eight second rider with out falling off or getting disqualified

1.4. Scoring- scoring is handled by two judges each able to give the rider 25 points and the horse 25 points which makes a perfect ride 100 points.

1.4.1. Horse score- the horse is scored on how hard and fast it bucks, and it can also get points for sudden turns or other style techniques

1.4.2. Rider score- the rider is scored on how well the remains in the middle of the horse, and how well he spurs the horse. Spurring is when the rider moves his boots in front of the horses shoulders before the horses front two legs touch the ground, then the cowboys boots must come back to the seat of the saddle when the horses front two legs come off the ground again. The higher you spur on the neck the more points you will recieve

2. Famous horses

2.1. Big Bend Rodeo Company’s Spring Fling- This Mare had 14 trips to the NFR 10 in bareback and 4 in saddlebronc winning best saddlebronc horse twice

2.2. War Paint- raised by Orie Sommers on the Klamath Indian Reservation in Oregon was the best horse of its generation. War Paint was voted the PRCA Bucking Horse of the Year in each of the first three years the honor was bestowed, but only made it to the NFR once. War Paint had a nearly 90% buck off rate.

2.3. Oral Zumwalt rodeo string out of Missoula Trails End- Trails end made it to the nfr 11 times, was the 1959 Bucking Horse of the Year and was three times recognized as the top saddle bronc of the national Finals Rodeo

3. History

3.1. Bronc riding is rodeo's original event.

3.2. Bronc ridings original purpose was to break and train horses. It later became a competition to be the cowboy that couldn't be throwed and the horse that couldn't be rode.

4. famous riders

4.1. Kenny McLean- Qualified for the NFR 9 times and won 3 times. From British Colombia

4.2. Billy Etbauer- Qualified a record 21 times to the NFR winning it 5 times. From Huron South Dakota

4.3. Dan Mortensen- Qualified 16 times with six saddle bronc riding world championships, and an all around championship. From Billings Montana