This is an extreme test of balance and courage. Bull riders are usually
“top hands” and represent the cream of fancy riders. Brahma bulls are
ridden with only “bull rigging,” which consists of two ropes, one around
the flank and one serving as a cinch with a bell to irritate and
infuriate the animal. They are always unpredictable and hard to ride.
The Brahma bull’s skin is very loose, like that of a dog, and the rider
must stay on by sheer balance. Oftentimes the bulls become mean and
dangerous unless distracted by a man in the arena. A so-called “clown,”
actually an expert at distracting the bulls, is a part of the rodeo
performance, and it is he who prevents the animals from turning on
thrown cowboys.
Adding to the excitement at these events is the fact that Brahmas can
and do quite often leap an eight-foot fence.