They're the silent heroes of the rodeo, risking it all to protect cowboys and bucking horses. Discover their dangerous, vital role.
Rodeo pickup men may not have their name in lights or be the ones the crowd came to see, but alongside their horses, they are some of the most talented and well-respected cowboys at the rodeo.
Pickup men are horseback cowboys who help ensure safety at rodeos, offering special help with bucking horse events. They generally work in teams of two, although more may be on hand depending on the size of the rodeo. When working with bucking horses, their task is clear: one man will help the rider get off the horse if he hasn’t been thrown while the other removes the flank strap from the bucking horse and pushes that bucking horse safely out of the arena.
But their job involves so many other nuances. These men have to be able to anticipate what the bucking horse is going to do. By reading the horse's behavior, they can tell which way it might go or how it is going to react to what is happening and position their own horse and body accordingly. It’s a dangerous dance, and the chaps they wear aren’t for decoration. In fact, the chaps contain padding designed to help protect their legs from the beating that can happen in the shuffle, although a swift kick from a horse can often cut right through and injure them anyways.
Pickup horses have to be equally as devoted and brave as their rider counterparts. It takes a horse that has been exposed to a wide variety of scenarios such as other horses crashing into them, swinging ropes, dodging bucks and kicks, and carrying two riders…just to name a very few.
Some pickup horses are draft crosses as they often need a little more size when assisting with the stout bucking horses. Many are quarter horses but all breeds are welcome. With this job, it’s all about the mindset and capabilities of the horse rather than his bloodlines.
The partnership between the two pickup men working together also plays a role in the success of their tasks. They need to be able to communicate without words and step up for each other without being asked. If one leaves a gap, the other fills it. Two men, two horses, and one dream of keeping the roughstock cowboy and the bucking horse safe. In fact, when the buzzer sounds on a successful ride, the cowboy atop the bucking horse knows there is still more to come and he is not back to safety yet. He has to dismount the horse who is unaware the time for bucking has come to an end until his flank strap is pulled.
But the buzzer is the call and the pickup men come, ready to help and get the cowboy and horse back out of the arena.
While the bucking horse events such as bareback and saddle bronc riding are where these men really shine, they are often on the edges of the arena ready to step in and rope a stray steer or help with a sudden incident. They are there when you need them and not a second too late. They are heroes of the rodeo.