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Barbara Read and Fred Schaad | all galleries >> Sports & Action >> Rodeos >> Williams Lake Stampede 2008 > Wild and Crazy for 8 Seconds
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June 2008 Fred Schaad

Wild and Crazy for 8 Seconds

Williams Lake, British Columbia

Instead of a saddle, a double-thick leather pad, called a rigging, is cinched on the bronc's back.
No stirrups or reins are used in the event. To qualify, the rider must mark the horse out of the
chute by keeping his spurs over the break of the shoulders until the first jump out of the chute is completed.
The bareback rider will be disqualified if he touches the animal or equipment with his free hand or
if he is bucked off before the eight-second ride is completed.

No other event in professional rodeo is as physically demanding as bareback riding.
Using only one hand, the cowboy must hold onto the leather handhold of the rigging which is
customized to snugly fit to the rider's grip.
The rider tries to spur the horse on each jump, reaching as far forward as he can with his feet and
then bringing his ankles up toward the rigging.
It's the bareback rider's arm that takes all the stress as it absorbs most of the horse's bucking power.
While his arm endures this incredible tension, his hand must remain intact within the rigging's
handhold for the full eight seconds. (CPRA)

Canon EOS-1D Mark III ,Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM ,Digital
1/2000s, f/2.8, ISO 250, -1/3 EV, 70mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment
Chris Spracklen14-May-2009 12:28
Unreal!
I can't begin to imagine being in this position, Fred!
Fabulous action shot.
My compliments and vote, my friend.
Guest 24-Sep-2008 07:43
amazing !
Giancarlo Guzzardi30-Aug-2008 09:19
incredible!... very nice shot this one, beautiful timing
yes, he is a good cowboy :-)
Dave Berry15-Aug-2008 05:39
Looks like a really long 8 seconds to me! Great shot! Voted
Paul L-R13-Aug-2008 21:25
Superb. I keep thinking your photo's can't get any better, Fred. How wrong I am. Compliments V
Naret Visesvongsa20-Jul-2008 07:37
Sharp and perfect timing for this action shot. V
andymacd15-Jul-2008 17:58
Wow! That is so sharp and so action packed. My mouth just flopped open! ~V~
Barry Ailetcher10-Jul-2008 04:05
nicecapture and if you have neveer done it you don'tknow what you missed I rode this event and bulls for around 15 years on and off