Rodeo 101: Bull Riding

In the chute, the bull rider positions himself atop the bull, securing a braided rope around the bull's girth. He then loops the rope around his hand, gripping it tightly in his palm. While spurring is optional, the primary aim for the cowboy is to endure for eight seconds without making contact with himself, his gear, or the bull using his free hand.

The cowboy earns high marks for maintaining central balance on the 2000-pound bull and exhibiting full control throughout the ride. Once the mandatory eight seconds pass, two judges evaluate the ride's difficulty, considering the bull's various movements like spinning (recorded up to 5 G Forces on a spinning bull), jumping, kicking, lunging, rearing, and side-to-side motion, alongside assessing the cowboy's level of control. The Bull Riding is the only event that has a recorded 100-point score.