Photo courtesy of PRCA
A competitor gets onto a bronco in the chute. When the rider is ready he is released into the arena and has to stay on the bronco for eight seconds without touching the horse with his non-riding hand. On the first jump the rider must put the heels of his boots on the point of the shoulders before the front legs touch the ground. The rider and the horse can both get a score of 50 points each. The rider does not use a saddle or rein. The rider instead uses one hand to grip a simple handle on a surcingle style rigging placed on the horse between its shoulder blades. The rider spurs up and down with the motion trying to keep with the motion of the horse.