BAREBACK RIGGING. Though often referred to as similar to a suitcase handle, a bareback rigging Is a custom-made, individually fitted piece of highly specialized equipment. Each bareback rider must buy his own rigging, for it would only be luck if another cowboy's rigging really fit. And without the proper fit the odds against winning go way, way up.

The fit depends upon the handhold; its width, length, thickness, and the space between it and the rigging body into which the cowboy's hand is inserted for the wild lunging ride. Riggings come in right and left-handed models.

A top bareback rider, incidentally, is an artist at cinching his rigging on the horse. Too tight and the horse won't buck as hard. Too loose and the rigging turns ... a wreck for sure.

SPURS.Worn on the contestants' boot heels, rodeo spurs have dull rowels and do not cut the animals. They, too, are not for decoration, but necessary, particularly for rough stock riders to grab with and stay above the animals. Though similar in appearance, spur styles vary from event to event. All are a matter of individual preference.

BULL ROPE. Pro-rodeo rules require that a bull rider ride with a "loose" rope. That simply means a rope-held tight around the bull only by the strength of the cowboy's hand-that will come off the bull when the cowboy is thrown or jumps off at the end of the ride. The weight of a heavy bell at the bottom of the rope pulls it free.

A bull rope is plaited (woven), with a "handle" plaited in. The rope can be made of ordinary manila hemp or poly. It is heavily rosined, as is the riding glove. When a rider is getting ready in the chute, you'll see him running his gloved hand up and down the tail of the rope. By friction, he's warming the rosin for a better grip.

TIMED-EVENT SADDLE. The key element in a timed-event saddle is the low, rolled-back cantle (the raised area at the rear of the seat) over which the cowboy can lift his leg smoothly and without having to lift it much higher than his horse's back when making a quick dismount.

BRONC SADDLE. Because each must meet certain specifications laid down by the PRCA, prorodeo bucking horse saddles are often called "association" saddles.

A bronc rider's style depends a great deal upon the saddle he uses, so finding the one that fits him and allows him to show the best he's got is really important.

The differences between a bronc saddle and timed-event saddle are in the height and shape of cantle (the raised area at the rear of the seat), length of seat, the swells (the side extensions at front), and most of all, absence of any horn on the bucking horse saddle. The stirrup leathers, In addition to being set well forward, are free-swinging so the bronc rider can place his spurs over the break of the bronc's shoulders the first jump out of the chute, and as the ride progresses, sweep his feet in a for-and-aft motion from shoulders to cantle of the saddle in time with the horse's bucking.

CHAPS. Pronounced "shaps", and also called leggings, these colorful leather coverings are there for more than decoration. Chaps afford considerable protection to cowboys who get ironed against a fence, mashed in the chute or bucked off - arena dirt's harder than it looks from the stands.

"Sketches courtesy of Loren C. Tope"

Cody Nite Rodeo and Cody Stampede Program 1996