Saddle Bronc Riding
Bronc riding evolved as a sport after cowboys and cowgirls spent days working with wild horses trying to tame them for ranch work. Each rider was responsible to make sure the horse would be suited to help gather the herd. Like any sport, this skill became a competition between the ranch hands. Bronc riding shows just how well a rider can stay on a bucking bronc to make it the 8 seconds needed to score. Some big competitors in today’s saddle bronc riding include: Dawson Hay, Jess Pope, and the Wright Brothers.
Bareback Riding
Bare Bronc riding is very similar to Saddle bronc except you only have a “rigging” to help hold you to the bucking horse. Both Saddle Bronc and Bareback riding events are scored on a 100 point scale. Fifty points goes to judge the horse’s athletic ability and fifty points goes to the cowboy based on time, style, and execute.