Bareback vs Saddle Bronc: More Than Just a Saddle

Bareback riders grip a riggin' with no saddle and ride more explosively, while saddle bronc riders use a specialized saddle and rein and are judged heavily on rhythm and timing.

Bronc riding is often the image people picture when they hear the phrase “rodeo cowboy.” Long before it became a competitive sport, bronc riding grew out of everyday ranch work in the mid-to-late 1800s like other rodeo events such as team roping and bull riding, bronc riding. Cowboys needed to “break” or tame wild horses so they could be used on the ranch and the more a horse bucked, the tougher the job. The theory was that the more often the horse was ridden, the less they would buck while accepting the rider. Today’s bronc riding is a professional sport with clear rules for competition and animal care.

What started as ranch necessity evolved into one of rodeo’s most respected and crowd-favorite events. Today, bronc riding is divided into two competitions: bareback bronc riding and saddle bronc riding.

What Is Bronc Riding?

Bronc riding is a roughstock rodeo event where a rider attempts to stay on a bucking horse for eight seconds, using only one hand to hold on. Judges score both the rider and the horse, making it a true test of partnership, timing, and athleticism.

Bronc riding is unique because the goal isn’t to overpower the horse, it’s to match the rhythm of the buck. The intense fight between rider and horse is what makes bronc riding so thrilling.

A Brief History of Bronc Riding in Rodeo

In the early 1900s, bronc riding became a staple of organized rodeo competitions. Cowboys would compete to see who could ride the toughest horses with the most control and style.

A key figure in the development of the sport is Earl Bascom, who invented the first one-hand bareback riggin' in 1924, a development that helped shape modern bareback bronc riding.

In fact, back in the day, cowgirls rode saddled broncs at rodeos, too! That changed after the tragic death of bronc rider Bonnie McCarroll during a competition at Oregon’s Pendleton Round-Up in 1929. Shortly after, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (then called the Rodeo Association of America) removed women’s bronc riding events from competition.

How Are Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding Scored?

Both bareback and saddle bronc riding use the same scoring structure:

• Up to 50 points for the rider
• Up to 50 points for the horse
• 100 points total for a perfect ride

Judges look for:

• The horse’s bucking ability, including buck strength, consistency, and rhythm
• The rider’s control, balance, and timing
• Completion of a full eight-second ride
• The rider holding on with one hand only

Small mistakes in either event from timing to balance can quickly turn a promising ride into a no score.

What Does “Marking Out” Mean in Bronc Riding?

One major similarity between bareback and saddle bronc riding is the mark-out rule. Riders must have both feet placed above the horse’s shoulders on the first jump out of the chute. The rider’s heels must be in contact with the horse’s shoulders during this initial jump to meet the marking out requirement.

If a rider fails to mark out with one or both feet, the result is an immediate no score.

What’s the Difference Between Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding?

Bareback riders use a riggin' instead of a saddle and must rely solely on their grip and balance, making the event physically demanding and technically distinct from saddle bronc riding. In contrast, saddle bronc riders use a specialized saddle and rein, requiring a different set of skills and timing.

Saddle Bronc Riding: Equipment & Style

In saddle bronc riding, the cowboy uses:

• A specialized saddle (no horn)
• A thick rein attached to the horse’s halter
• Stirrups that help guide timing and balance

Saddle bronc horses are typically:

• Heavier, sometimes several hundred pounds more than bareback horses
• Known for a slower, more rhythmic bucking motion

Because of this rhythm, judges focus heavily on how well the rider synchronizes with the horse’s movement. The goal is a smooth, flowing ride that looks controlled from start to finish. Saddle bronc riders require significant technical skill, including precise timing, balance, and the ability to maintain style throughout the ride.

Saddle bronc riding is often described as the most traditional form of rodeo riding, emphasizing finesse and timing.

Bareback Bronc Riding: Equipment & Style

In bareback bronc riding, there is no saddle. Instead, the rider holds a riggin', a molded leather handhold cinched around the horse’s girth with a pad underneath.

Bareback horses are usually:

• Leaner and more agile
• Faster and more explosive in their bucking action

Because there’s less equipment, bareback riding demands:

• Strong upper-body control
• A powerful grip
• Feet moving in a toes-turned-out, rhythmic motion that matches the horse’s buck

Bareback is often considered one of the most physically demanding events in rodeo.

Which Event Is Harder: Bareback or Saddle Bronc?

That depends on who you ask.

• Bareback bronc riding is widely viewed as more physically punishing due to the lack of a saddle and the intensity of the horses.
• Saddle bronc riding requires precise timing and technique, and riders can receive a no score if key requirements aren’t met, such as losing a stirrup or dropping the rein before the eight-second whistle.

Both events demand elite skill, experience, and trust between rider and horse.

Why Bronc Riding Still Matters Today

Bareback and saddle bronc riding remain cornerstones of rodeo because they showcase the heart of the sport, tradition, athleticism, and respect for the horse. Each ride is different, and every performance reflects generations of rodeo heritage.

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