The most popular rodeo riding event, and the most dangerous, is Bull Riding. Many of the big Brahmas go a whole season without being ridden the required 8 seconds. Because they will charge their upended rider, only the clown can help him. Men on horses are useless – the bull will charge them and the horses spook. The clown’s courage and anticipation of what the bull will do are the reasons that bull riders can eat supper that night.

BUL L R I D ING

A bull rider uses a rope, which is looped like a noose around the animal's middle. It is a flat plait with a handhold like the snug handle of a duffle bag. The rider puts his gloved hand in this loop, knuckles down, and a friend – standing on the chute – pulls the slack out of the rope. When the rope feels right to the rider, he takes the free end of the rope and lays it across his palm. Then he wraps it once behind his hand and lays it across the palm again. He clenches his fist and hunches his body close to his hand. As soon as he feels the bull standing squarely, he nods and the gate swings open. As long as the cowboy does not touch the bull with his free hand and still has his riding hand on some part of the rope at the end of the eight seconds, the judges will score his ride on how hard the bull bucked and on how well the cowboy rode.