Ranch Bronc Riding Pictures - Page 1 of 3

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About Ranch Bronc Riding

Ranch bronc riding (or ranch rodeo bronc riding) is an exciting event often held as part of a ranch rodeo. (A ranch rodeo is a rodeo where contestants compete as teams from ranches, not as individuals as in a "regular" rodeo.) The ranch bronc riding event is unique in ranch rodeo in that it is the only event in which only one team member competes instead of the entire team. At some ranch rodeos the ranch bronc riding event is a stand-alone event, meaning it is held with the rest of the rodeo, but the results are not included with the other ranch rodeo events.

Ranch Bronc Riding Rules - An Overview

The rules for ranch rodeo bronc riding can vary from one competition to the next. The rules can vary according to whether or not the event is sanctioned by a governing body (such as the Working Ranch Cowboys Association), or according to the preferences of the hosting rodeo committee. The rules provided below are common, but are given for descriptive and general overview purposes only as the rules for any particular ranch bronc riding event you may compete in or watch are likely to be different.

• Ride for 8 seconds.
• A standard, working ranch saddle is used for the ride. The horse should be saddled as it ordinarily would be for everyday use. In contrast, in a "regular" rodeo a special saddle designed for riding bucking horses (frequently called an "Association saddle") is used for the saddle bronc event, and a "bareback riggin'" is used for the bareback bronc riding event.
• The use of bucking rolls (padded attachments at the front of the saddle) are commonly permitted. In addition, a rolled up saddle blanket (or something similar) tied across the front of the saddle is also commonly allowed.
• The broncs wear a bronc halter with one rein (called a "bronc rein" or a "hack rein") for the rider to hold onto. Usually, it is required that the rider holds onto the hack rein throughout the entire ride.
• Typically, riders are allowed to hold onto the saddle horn, cantle, or a night latch (a rope or strap tied through the gullet of the saddle) with their free hand (the one not holding the hack rein). You can read more about what a night latch is here.
• No "mark out" rule. (A mark out rule requires the rider to have the rowels of both spurs in front of, and touching, the break of the bronc's shoulders on its first move out of the chute. The rider's feet must still be in this position when the bronc's front feet hit the ground for the first time.) This rule is standard in both saddle bronc riding and bareback bronc riding, but not in ranch bronc riding. You can read more about the mark out rule here.
• The loss of a stirrup is usually allowed without disqualification.
• Hobbling of stirrups (tying the stirrups together underneath the horse's belly) is usually not allowed.
• Binding of stirrups or stirrup leathers (tying the stirrups or stirrup leathers to the cinch, billets, etc.) is usually not allowed.
• Scoring: There are usually two judges for the ranch bronc riding event, with each judge scoring the bronc from 1–25 points (for a total of 50 points possible for the bronc) and the rider from 1–25 points (for a total of 50 points possible for the rider). Therefore, the total number of points that can usually be awarded is 100. However, under some rules additional points for the rider called "style" points can also be awarded.

Remember, the rules shown above are given for a general description of the ranch rodeo bronc riding event only. Rules can and do vary from one ranch bronc riding event to another.