Texas Rodeo Bull Riding Scores: Point Formats and Extra Points

March 8, 2022

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on how judging works within various bull riding rodeo events. While many are aware of the simple themes these events involve, such as staying atop a bucking bull for a period of time, fewer are aware of how these events are actually scored and how winners are determined.

At A Cut Above Buckles, we happily provide cowboys and many others with quality belt buckles for clients throughout Texas and nearby areas, including custom rodeo belt buckles that come in several different styles. Part one of our series went over the judges and a couple simple themes for these events -- today's part two will look at some of the simple rules at play, plus how extra points can be awarded.

Stock Points

As we noted in part one, scoring for bull riding events is based not only on the rider's performance, but also on the difficulty of the bull. This latter area is referred to as "stock points," which are tallied and announced after the ride. Bulls are given a rating from 1 to 100, with the higher numbers corresponding to more dangerous bulls. A bull that rates at 95 is generally considered "rough," whereas one that rates at 50 would be considered relatively easy.

For instance, if the bull in question just runs and kicks in a straight line, with no spinning or bucking, it would score low on the stock point scale. But if the same bull bucks and twists unpredictably, it would score much higher.

Control and Rhythm

Once again, despite noting it in part one, here's a reminder: The simple amount of time the rider spends on the bull is a factor for scoring, but not the only one. In addition, judges will be looking for themes like constant control and rhythm, as well as proper hand position and spurring.

Extra Points

In addition, there are certain ways riders may gain extra points during their ride. For instance, if the rider spurs the bull to encourage bigger bucks during their ride, they may be given extra points. Alternatively, if the rider manages to hang on for an additional eight seconds after the required time has expired, they will receive bonus points.

Re-Ride

In some cases, if a rider's score comes out very low due primarily to poor bull performance -- such as if the bull stumbles or runs into a fence -- the judges may offer the rider a "re-ride." This means the rider gets to try again on another bull, with the hope of scoring higher and offsetting the low score from their first attempt.

The rider will have to give up his original score here, but this is usually just fine given that the score was low. They will then wait until all other riders have completed their rides, and the event will then be judged as a whole.

We hope this two-part series provides a little more insight into how scoring works during bull riding rodeo events. Be sure to check out A Cut Above Buckles for all your buckle needs in Texas and other areas!

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