Bull Riding in Wickenburg Arizona
by Priscilla Burgers
Title
Bull Riding in Wickenburg Arizona
Artist
Priscilla Burgers
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
BULL RIDING IN WICKENBURG ARIZONA by PRISCILLA BURGERS
A seasoned cowboy gives a stellar performance in the bull riding competition at the 2017 Gold Rush Days Senior Pro Rodeo in Wickenburg, Arizona. This annual Gold Rush Days event celebrates Wickenburg's ranching and mining heritage. Gold that Henry Wickenburg discovered in 1863 is what created this truly western community. Both the Gold Rush Days event and its NSPRA Senior Pro Rodeo have received numerous awards.
Bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider. In the American tradition the rider must stay atop the bucking bull for eight seconds to count as a qualified ride. The rider tightly fastens one hand to the bull with a long braided rope. It is a risky sport and has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports." Each bull has a unique name and number used to help identify it. A sufficient number of bulls, each judged to be of good strength, health, agility, and age, are selected to perform.
A rider mounts a bull and grips a flat braided rope. After securing a good grip on the rope, the rider nods to signal he is ready. The bucking chute (a small enclosure which opens from the side) is opened and the bull storms out into the arena. The rider must attempt to stay on the bull for at least eight seconds, while only touching the bull with his riding hand. The other hand must remain free for the duration of the ride.
The bull bucks, rears, kicks, spins, and twists in an effort to throw the rider off. This continues for a number of seconds until the rider bucks off or dismounts after completing the ride. A loud buzzer or whistle announces the completion of an eight-second ride. Throughout the ride, bullfighters, also popularly known as rodeo clowns, stay near the bull to aid the rider if necessary. When the ride ends, either intentionally or not, the bullfighters distract the bull to protect the rider from harm. Bulls have more raw power and a different style of movement from bucking horses. One move particular to bulls is a belly roll or sunfishing, in which the bull is completely off the ground and kicks either his hind feet or all four feet to the side in a twisting, rolling motion. Bulls also are more likely than horses to spin in tight, quick circles, while they are less likely to run or to jump extremely high and "break in two".
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BEST OF RODEO IMAGES Contest -3/5/2017
THIRD PLACE
FAA Featured Photo:
Rodeo Life - 2/14/2017
FAA Featured Photo:
Photographers From Around the World Group - 2/27/2017
FAA Featured Photo:
Abc Group - Q Is For Quick - 4/24/2017
FAA Featured Photo:
AAA Images Group - 8/8/2017
Uploaded
February 13th, 2017
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Viewed 467 Times - Last Visitor from Middletown, NJ on 03/28/2024 at 9:07 AM
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Comments (5)
Ralph Klein
Congratulations. Your this wonderful picture is featured on the HP of PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. Thank you very much for sharing. Beautiful work and great capture.