Bull Riding Terminology ABR -
Amateur Bull Riders
Added Money -
The money donated to the rodeo committee
by the sponsors to attract the contestants to the rodeo for
competition.
Arena Director -
The person whose responsibility it is to
see that the rodeo goes smoothly and according to the rules of the
I.P.R.A.
Arm Jerker -
A bull that is really stout and bucks with
the power to cause a great amount of pull on the contestant's arm.
Average -
The contestant's points are
combined from all go-rounds and the contestant with the highest total
points wins the average.
Bad Wreck -
A seriously painful buck off, commonly followed
by getting horned or stomped.
Bailing Out -
Getting off the bull the best way you can,
generally by throwing your weight against the animal.
Bearing Down -
To ride with maximum effort. Giving it 110%.
Blooper -
A bull with very little bucking ability that
jumps and kicks or just runs around the arena.
Blow-up -
A bull that runs out away from the chute before
starting to buck.
Boot the Bull -
A term used to mean a particular bull can
be spurred.
Bufford -
A bull that is easy to ride, rope, or throw down.
Bull Rope -
A flat woven rope, no larger than 9/16th
of an inch in diameter with a bell attached to it. The rope is wrapped
around the bull's body, just behind the front legs, and then around
the cowboy's hand, to help secure the cowboy to the bull.
Champion -
The rodeo champion is traditionally the
high-money winner in an event for the given season.
Chute Fighter -
A bull that will not stand still and tries
to fight the cowboy before he leaves the chute.
Crow Hopper -
A bull that doesn't buck,
but jumps stiff-legged instead.
Cowboy Up -
Getting mentally ready. To get the courage to
climb on and give it your all.
Dink -
A bull with very little bucking ability that
jumps and kicks or just runs around the arena.
Double Kicker -
A bull that kicks up with the hind legs,
walks on the front legs and then kicks again with the hind legs,
before the hind legs touch the ground.
Ducks Off -
A bull that is running in a forward
direction then suddenly moves off to the left or right.
Entry fee -
The money paid by the contestant before
competing in a rodeo. Contestants must pay separate entry fees for
each event they enter.
Fading -
A bull that spins and slowly gains ground in the
direction that he is spinning.
Fighting Bull -
The kind of bull that you would like to
give your mother-in-law. These bulls are almost considered to be head
hunters.
Flagman -
The official who signals the end of elapsed time
in timed events.
Flank strap -
A wool-lined strap with a self-holding
buckle that is passed around the flank of a bull. As the stock leaves
the chute, the strap is pulled tight causing the animal to buck in an
effort to get rid of the strap.
Freight Trained -
A contestant or clown that gets run over
by a bull traveling at top speed.
Go round -
The part of the rodeo that is required to allow
each contestant to compete on one head of stock.
Ground money -
The money paid when the purse for an event
is split equally and paid to all contestants in the event. This is
done when all contestants entered in an event fail to qualify.
Hat Bender -
A bull that does not buck and just runs
around the arena.
Head Hunter -
A bull that is constantly looking for a
two-legged target to hit.
Head Thrower -
A bull that tries to hit the cowboy with
his head or horns while the contestant is on his back.
Honest Bucker -
A bull that bucks the same way every time
out of the chute.
Honker -
A really rank and hard bull to ride.
Hooker -
A bull that is really handy with its horns.
Hung Up -
A rider that is off the bull but is still stuck in the bull rope.
IFR -
International Finals Rodeo
In the Well -
The term used to describe when a
contestant comes off the bull on the inside of the spin.
I.P.R.A. -
International Professional Rodeo Association
Jump and Kicker -
A bull that jumps and kicks its hind feet in a straight-away action.
Kissing the Bull
- When a cowboy's face meets the back of
the bull's head.
Lounger -
A horse that thrusts with its hind feet forward rather than kicking
out behind.
Mash Up -
A cowboy that clamps with his legs and has no
spurring motion.
Money Bull -
A bull that when ridden, usually takes the cowboy to the pay window.
Mulely -
A bull that has no horns. Making his ears appear large.
NFR -
National Finals Rodeo
No time -
This means that the contestant has not caught or
thrown the stock properly, and does not receive a time for that
go-round.
Out the Backdoor
- When the rider is thrown over the back
end of an animal.
PBR -
Professional Bull Riders
Purse -
The money paid to the winners of each rodeo
event. It equals the total of the added money and entry fees.
PRCA -
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Producer -
The individual that runs the rodeo and is
responsible for bringing all the elements together into a fast, smooth
running, and exciting production.
Rag Doll -
What a rider looks like when hung up and dragged
around.
Rank -
A very hard animal to ride.
Re-ride -
Another ride given to a bull rider in the same
go-round when either the stock or the cowboy is not afforded a fair
opportunity to show their best. This can be caused by things like a
chute-fighting animal, a fallen animal, etc.
Rowel -
The circular, notched, bluntly pointed, and
freewheeling part of a spur. Any competitor using spurs that will
cause a cut is disqualified.
Run Away -A
bull that does not buck and just runs around.
Scooter -
A bull that pivots on the front feet and scoots
the back end around, instead of pivoting on the front feet and kicking
the hind feet.
Seeing daylight -
The term used when a cowboy comes loose
from a bull far enough for the spectators to see daylight between the
cowboy and the animal.
Set you Up -A
bull that drops a shoulder like they are going to turn or spin in one
direction, and then immediately does the exact opposite.
Slinger -
A bull that tries to hit the cowboy with his head or horns while the
contestant is on his back.
Snorty -
A bull that blows air at a clown or downed cowboy.
Stock contractor
- The person or organization that provides
all the livestock used in the rodeo events.
Spinner -
A bull that tends to come out of the chute and spins to the left or
right.
Spurring Lick -
A motion of the cowboy's feet.
Sucks Back -
A bull that bucks in one direction, then instantly switches to the
opposite direction.
Swap Ends -
A bull that jumps into the air and turns 180 degrees before touching
the ground.
Timers -
The person responsible for marking a contestant's
time.
Tippy Toe -A
bull that walks on its front legs when most of their weight is off the
ground.
Toes Out -The
preferred style of holding the feet at a 90 degree angle to the animal
to ensure maximum spur contact.
Trash -
A bull with no set pattern.
Try -
Cowboy term for courage.
Union Bull -
A bull that bucks until the sound of the 8-second whistle, then quits.
Welly -
A bull that throws the rider to the inside of a spin. The "Well" a
danger spot for the cowboy |