Bull Riding
The most popular rodeo riding event, and the most dangerous. The bulls are amazingly fast, powerful, agile, and can weigh as much as a ton. Not only does the bull rider have to stay on for 8 seconds, but he has to escape on foot once he gets off. Bull Riding requires guts, balance, coordination, strength, quick reflexes, flexibility and a positive mental attitude.
Riders use a specially designed flat braided rope. A dry powdered resin is applied to the gloved hand and to the bull rope, allowing for a more secure grip. The tail of the bull rope is laid across the bull rider’s palm, looped around the back of the hand and returned to his palm where it is gripped in a tightly clenched fist. Then sliding up tight against his hand, the rider rides for the gait to open. The rider tries to remain forward, or "over his hand", at all times. Leaning back could cause him to be whipped forward when the bull bucks.
The bull rider is only permitted to hold on with one hand and cannot touch himself or the animal with his free hand. The more powerful a bull bucks and the faster he spins, the more points the ride is worth. If the rider manages to stay aboard for the required eight seconds, the tow rodeo judges will combine scores to award up to 50 points for how well the bull bucked and 50 points for how well the cowboy maintained control during the ride