While there are many different events in
a typical rodeo, including barrel racing, cutting, sorting, penning, and roping, the event
most often associated is the bronc riding.
Bronc riding can be done either bareback or in a special saddle.
During a bronc ride, a cowboy, wearing protective clothes, must hold on to a bucking horse for
a set amount of time. His ride is then scored by how well he rode, how much the horse bucked,
and how he encouraged the horse to buck among other things.
Riders must hold on to a rope with one hand and must keep the other hand in the air.
In addition to spurring the horse to keep it bucking, a special device called a bucking strap
is used. This strap usually fastens around the loin of the horse, and is a painful irritant
meant to anger the horse.
If the rider lasts the full amount of time without being bucked off, he must then dismount. He can
do this a variety of ways. He can let go and allow himself to be bucked off, he can try to
dismount, or he can try to grab onto one of the outriders who are trying to catch the horse.
Bucking horses can be any breed, age, gender, size, or color. Contrary to popular belief, they
are not all mean horses or resue horses. Many were bred specifically for bucking, and there are
several farms that specialize in bucking horses. A good bucking horse can be worth a lot of money,
and some farms and lines of horses are well sought after.
While there are many different events in
a typical rodeo, including barrel racing, cutting, sorting, penning, and roping, the event
most often associated is the bronc riding. 
In addition to spurring the horse to keep it bucking, a special device called a bucking strap
is used. This strap usually fastens around the loin of the horse, and is a painful irritant
meant to anger the horse.