"Ride cowboy ride", as the song goes, is exactly what a cowboy has to do for a bull riding event, at least for eight seconds anyways. A cowboy must stay on and ride a bull for eight seconds in a bull riding competition to score points. All the mean while, the bull rider must hang on with only one hand, while kicking and spurring the bull while taking the ride of his life for eight seconds. However, before a cowboy can ride a bull , he needs his equipment. Bull riding equipment is essential to help stay on the bull and to minimize injuries to the rider.
The object of a bull riding event is for a cowboy, AKA ,"bull rider" in this event, to mount a bull in a shoot and hang on for the next eight seconds after the gate opens without falling off. Scores are given for the technique of the bull rider, the quality of the ride, and the difficulty of the bull. A bull rider can stay on longer than eight seconds, but is only scored for an eight second ride, nothing more nothing less. A rider will score poorly if his bull is lazy and doesn't do many difficult bucks, jumps, and turns. The more active the bull the better the score, usually. A good ride will consist of a bull rider staying on for eight seconds while the bull runs, jumps, and bucks while turning different directions the entire time, trying to throw the bull rider off his back. However, this is also part of what makes bull riding so dangerous and that is why some of the equipment is a necessity.
A bull rider can get seriously injured by a bull, in many different ways. A bull can run a rider against the fence panels or wall and crush, scrape, break or cut their legs. With all of the bucking and turning going on, a rider can get throw on the ground hard, causing broken ribs and other body parts. Even Superman (Christopher Reeves) was a victim of being thrown. He was thrown from a horse and became paralyzed from the injuries. Once a rider is on the ground, a bull can trample them, breaking bones and causing deep lacerations from being cut by the hooves. Rodeo bulls tend to be mean. It is very common for a bull to turn on a rider after throwing him. Many times bull riders have serious cuts and punctures from a bulls horn gauging them. Rodeo clowns are in the arena to distract the bulls, so riders can get up and out of harms way. However, way too often the cowboys don't have a chance before the bull turns on them. This is why the equipment is so important. Here is an overview of the equipment used in a bull riding event.
While they may not be considered equipment, before any other equipment can come into the event, there are two necessary components. These would be the characters, the bull and the bull rider. Once a bull has been drawn for the rider, then the first piece of equipment needed would be a bull rope.
The bull's gear
The bull rope
This is a rope that wraps around the girth of the bull in front of where the rider sits. This is used as anchor for the bull rider to hold onto with one hand (the right), during the ride. This is the only thing the rider has to hold on with and only the right hand is allowed to hold with. This is also the only piece of equipment used for the bull. The bull rope is flat and usually made from braided nylon or polypropylene. A Brazilian bullrope is usually the best choice as it is made the strongest and it is the most flexible and durable.
The bull rider's equipment
Headgear
Cowboy hat
While this is often worn for show, and is a trade mark of the cowboy, it does have some helpful uses. A cowboy hat will not stop a sharp bull horn from penetrating a bull riders head. However, when a cowboy takes a fall, the hat may reflect dirt being kicked back into the riders eyes. This may mean the difference between life and death, no injury or a serious injury. If the bull kicks up dirt as the rider is falling and the hat keeps it from blinding the rider, he will be able to see the bull's next move and roll out of the way. The hat may work as a negative by restricting the riders vision at times, but it can keep debris and dirt from the eyes. In addition, if the hat is between the riders head and the bulls hooves during contact, the hat will serve as a protective layer taking a cut from the bulls sharp hooves, instead of the riders face and head.
Latigo
A latigo is worn like a collar around the neck. It will help prevent neck and collar bone injuries when getting slammed to the ground. Additionally, it will prevent a bull from sticking his horns through a riders neck possibly cutting the jugular vein.
Face mask/helmet
The helmet offers more protection for a bull rider's head and face. When a rider gets thrown under the bull and faces getting trampled on, this serves as a barrier protection, like a motorcycle helmet, it can save your life. The helmet will protect the rider from cuts and fractures in the face, skull, and jaw, when trampled on or thrown into a fence or on the hard ground.
Mouth piece
The mouth piece, like the ones used in boxing will protect a bull riders teeth, as well as front of the jaw bone when a rider hit's the ground face first or a bulls hooves land on his mouth.
Protective vest
The protective vest is one piece of equipment a bull rider should not skimp on. The vest serves two main purposes. First it works as a cushion, absorbing any shocks and blows when a rider hit's the ground. This could mean the difference between getting bruised or having broken ribs. The second purpose of the protective vest is to protect the riders torso from deep cuts or puncture's in the torso, from the bull's horns and hooves. The torso is home to all the vital organs, so the protective vest is most important piece of equipment you can have. The vest is a must to keep the riders vital organs protected from punctures. No one will ever know, but if Christopher Reeves had worn one of these vests, perhaps he wouldn't have had a spinal cord injury. Having a well made high quality vest is a must.
Rosin
Rosin is a sticky substance that is applied to the bull rope or rider's glove. It gives the cowboy more grip by adhering to the glove. I call it the "stick & stay". If the bull rider has a good grip on the rope, the odds are better that he can stay on the bull.
Glove
Since a bull rider can only use the right hand, only one glove is needed. The glove helps give more grip when holding the bull rope. In addition, the glove protects the rider's hands and fingers from rope burns and cuts.
Athletic tape
Wrapping athletic tape around the hand and wrist helps strengthen the bull riders hold and also helps keep the wrist from getting sprained.
Chaps
Chaps also serve two purposes. The first purpose is for show, often bull riders will have advertising on their chaps promoting their sponsors. The most important use for chaps though, are for protection. Chaps are leg coverings, made from leather, which are worn over a riders pants. The chaps protect the legs from cuts and scrapes from the ground or anything they may brush up against such as an arena wall while riding. They also add an extra layer of protection to keep a bulls hooves from cutting into a riders jeans and cutting his legs.
Spur, rowels, and spur straps
The three of these go together. These are worn on the heel of the boot and give the rider an extra edge to nudge the bull for a more active ride.
Boots
The boots are not only one of the trademarks of a cowboy ,like the hat, but they also serve other purposes besides show. Boots are a strong foot wear made of leather which allows a rider to where spurs. More importantly though boots provide protection from a rider getting stepped on and his feet getting cut. Boots are stronger than sneakers, thus providing extra protection.
Gear bag
With all of this equipment a bull rider will be bogged down dropping all of his gear along the way. Having a gear bag will help in storage of the gear and keep it all together. By having a gear bag to store gear in, it is easier for a rider to keep track of his equipment and be prepared for the ride.