The Pendleton Round Up. Let'er Buck. Bronco riding

Every year, during the second full week of September, the people of Pendleton and surrounding areas of eastern Oregon, give the world the Pendleton Round Up, one the major rodeos in the United States. Started in 1910, the Pendleton Round Up draws roughly 50,000 spectators each year. Run by well organized, dedicated volunteers, the planning for each each year begins as soon as the rodeo is complete. The entire Pendleton community closes down for Round Up week so that hundreds upon hundreds of volunteers of all ages can make this fantastic event happen. The Pendleton Round-Up is, naturally, a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and attracts the best of the best competitors who come to this "let'er buck" challenge. 

I very much enjoyed shooting this event.  The action is faster than the eye can follow, and each picture represents a milli second of frozen action.

From Wikipedia:  Each competitor climbs onto a horse, which is held in a small pipe or wooden enclosure called a bucking chute. When the rider is ready, the gate of the bucking chute is opened and the horse bursts out and begins to buck. The rider attempts to stay on the horse for eight seconds without touching the horse with his free hand. On the first jump out of the chute, the rider must "mark the horse out." This means he must have the heels of his boots in contact with the horse above the point of the shoulders before the horse's front legs hit the ground. A rider that manages to complete a ride is scored on a scale of 0-50 and the horse is also scored on a scale of 0-50. Scores in the 80s are very good, and in the 90s, are exceptional. A horse who bucks in a spectacular and effective manner will score more points than a horse who bucks in a straight line with no significant changes of direction.

Pendleton Round Up

Let'er buck

Pendleton Round Up

Pendleton Round Up

Pendleton Round Up

Let'er buck

Pendleton Round Up

Pendleton Round Up

Pendleton Round Up

Pendleton Round Up