Rodeo Bull Riding

What is bull riding?

Bull riding is a rodeo sport in which riders try to stay on the back of a bouncing bull.

How to bull ride

The bull is held in a pen called a “chute.” The rider climbs onto the bull, signals when he/she is ready to ride, and the pen door is opened. The bull charges out, bouncing around and trying to throw the rider off. The rider hangs onto a rope tied to the bull, and shifts his/her body weight to try to keep his/her balance and stay on the bull.

How to win

Riders receive points for the ride, based on how well they control the bull and how long they stay on the bull, up to eight seconds, when the ride officially ends. A competition usually has four rounds, and the rider with the most points from all four wins.

Equipment

Rope – the rider hangs onto a rope that is tied to the bull
Gloves – the rider uses leather gloves to hold on to the bull during the ride
Boots – the rider usually wears cowboy boots
Hat – the rider usually wears a cowboy hat

Sport lingo

Arena – the bull bucks round in a pen called an arena
Rodeo clown – when a bull bucks a rider off, the rodeo clown races in to distract the bull so it doesn’t take a run at the rider and hurt him/her