Bucking Animals
Bucking Caused by Rider and Strap
The wildly bucking horse is an icon of not only the rodeo, but of the American West. But why does a horse buck? There are two simple factors.
The first is instinct. A horse unaccustomed to having a rider on its back will try to buck it off.
The second is the flank strap: a sheepskin-lined strip of leather placed behind the horse's rib cage in the flank area. The strap enhances the bucking action, but does not hurt the animal. Rules strictly regulate the use of the strap, which must have a quick-release buckle. Sharp or cutting objects are never placed in the strap.
Veterinarians have testified that the flank strap causes no harm to the animals.
"I've never seen or heard of any damage caused by a flank strap and as for the argument that it covers the genitals, that's impossible," said Dr. Susan McCartney, a Reno, Nevada, veterinarian who specializes in large-animal care. Also, the horse's kidneys are protected by its ribs, and the flank strap does not injure internal organs.
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