In what’s hoped to be an eight-second ride, the rider holds a flat braided rope in his glove hand while placing his free hand up in the air. Once the rider nods, the gate opens and the bull is unleashed. Each bull has a different style of bucking – some spin, others circle and some throw in jumps, kicks or drift sideways mid-air. As the cowboy waves his free hand to counter the bulls gyration and maintain his balance, he also has to avoid touching the bull or else he will earn a no-score. The cowboys control and the bulls bucking perfomance each account for half the total score.