What makes rodeo bulls jump

In Germany, the Registered Association of Veterinarians for Animal Protection reviewed the impact of flank straps and spurs on animals and concluded that they should be prohibited [ 3 ]. Bull riding is not a normal husbandry practice on farms or stations and does not align with good cattle handling skills. The Australian cattle industry strongly promotes low-stress stock handling, where workers are trained to minimise stress and handle animals calmly with minimum noise and movement.

Workers on many farms and stations have undertaken such training over the past few decades. Meat and Livestock Australia, the industry research and development organisation, supports low-stress stock handling because it is consistent with good animal welfare, occupational health and safety and productivity. Research shows that community concerns regarding the use of animals in entertainment is rising [ 4 ]. As such, there are greater community expectations on government, businesses and organisations to respond appropriately to public concerns regarding the welfare of animals.

Rodeos are often sponsored and supported by local businesses and sometime community groups with some receiving donations collected at the event. However, most businesses and organisations are unaware of the significant animal welfare issues associated with rodeos, although awareness is increasing. Increasingly, companies are withdrawing support for animal events, including rodeos, that provoke community concern, on the basis that they do not align with their brand strategy.

Where rodeos and rodeo schools are permitted to be conducted, the RSPCA advocates the adoption of compulsory and enforced animal welfare standards and a registration and licensing system.

Compliance with compulsory standards for the management, housing and transport of rodeo animals must be made a condition of licensing. Attendance by a suitably qualified veterinarian should also be mandatory at all rodeo events to ensure prompt and appropriate veterinary care is provided to animals as required. In their review of rodeos, the Germany based Registered Association of Veterinarians for Animal Protection recommended that bull riding cease based on animal welfare grounds [ 3 ].

Contrary to several myths about these athletes, there is no way to train bulls to buck a certain way, or even at all. Each rodeo bull has its own unique bucking habits. There are four major bucking styles to look for in bulls: a spinner, jump kicker, right out of the chute gate, or a few jumps out and around to the right or left, or a combination of the four. A spinner is a bull that comes out of the chute gate ready to put his rider in the money. Take Silver Spurs Rodeo bull 5 Nubs , for instance.

His average bull score is 40 out of 50 points. In February , Anderson Alancar rode Nubs for Throughout the ride, you can see Nubs jump out of the bucking chute and begin bucking. After a few rounds to the right, he switches direction and goes left, scoring more points.

A spinning bull has just the right amount of kick, jump, and centrifugal motion to get his job done. Special thanks to Professional Bull Riders for all information included in this article. Nikki is an Arlington expert and writer.

The bulls know they are competing, and know the drill Respect these bucking bulls, for not only are they rivals, but seasoned professional athletes.

They have only one ride the entire event One and done, bucking bulls have only one ride the entire night. Agitation is not used in any way to get them to buck Bucking is an instinct to these specifically-bred animals. They are transported with the utmost care The animals are only allowed to travel a maximum of 10 hours per day in trailers with air-ride suspension to prevent injury before leading them to rest and graze for hours.

While in transport, these bulls are in inches of soft sawdust They eat like kings Bulls are fed 15 pounds of high quality hay every day, and often times get B complex vitamin shots and nutritional supplements to keep them healthy, happy and at the top of their game.

There is a veterinarian on call for each stock contractor at the event There is always a vet on site or on call. They're further trained to know when they should—and when they shouldn't—get cantankerous and kick up a little dust.

This isn't to say that they'll necessarily buck on cue, but they don't have to be provoked by pain or even discomfort before they'll do so. Nothing is done to the bulls to "make" them buck. They're going to do that anyway. But a painless, harmless method is employed to encourage this ability and behavior and to give the animal the incentive to buck as hard and effectively as possible. It's accomplished through the use of a specially-designed device known as the flank strap. Despite what you hear from certain animal rights activists, this strap does not induce pain.

It works by pressure, just like a lead chain for a dog or a bit in a saddle horse's mouth. In fact, the flank strap is tightened in the same way you cinch a girth on a riding saddle on a horse, except the flank has a quick release. These straps are typically lined with sheepskin or they're padded to avoid chafing, cutting or otherwise hurting the bull.

The strap does not come in contact with the bull's genitals, no matter what you've heard to the contrary. If you have any doubt, tune in the next time a rodeo is televised and watch what happens when the ride is over. The cowboy is no longer on the bull's back, but the flank strap is still in place. Is the bull bucking? Usually not, at least not for very long or very hard, because that flank strap was never what was causing him to buck so hard in the first place, at least not by itself by causing the animal pain.