Pickup Men

The pickup men are responsible for the safety of the cowboys who ride bareback and saddle broncs.

The job description sounds simple – help the cowboy off the bucking horse and to the ground. As soon as the buzzer sounds, the pickup men ride alongside the bucking horse. One positions his horse so the cowboy can grab his waist and safely transfer from the bucking horse. If the horse is a saddle bronc, the pickup man wraps the rein around his saddle horn to control the bronc. The other pickup man positions his horse on the opposite side to help maneuver the bucking horse into position.

A more dangerous rescue happens when a cowboy is tangled (hung up) in his equipment and the pickup men must free the cowboy to prevent injury to both him and the horse.