Why Do Bulls Buck With Flank Straps?

Uncover Why Do Bulls Buck With Flank Straps? the real reason bulls are sold with a leash behind them! Debunking myths with science, expert insights, rodeo case studies, and the true role of bovine instinct. Learn the facts here.

A huge bull bursts from the saddle, the rider clinging on, moving in seemingly impossible poses. Wrapped snugly behind his midsection? A back strap. This simple piece of rope or soft leather has sparked heated debate. Critics claim it causes pain, forcing the bull to stop. Rodeo professionals defend it as a harmless signal. So, why do bulls buck with flank straps? The answer lies not in cruelty, but in instinct, irritability, and centuries-old behavior, enhanced by selective breeding. Let’s dive into the science and reality behind rodeo’s most misunderstood tool.

Understanding the Bull: Built to Buck

Before dissecting the strap, understand the animal:

Evolutionary Defenses: Bulls are powerful predators. Their primary defense against predators, such as mountain lions, is to target their vulnerable flanks and hindquarters. A sudden, violent movement to dislodge an attacker. This instinct is hardwired.
Selective Breeding: Rodeo stock contractors did not develop the bucking instinct. They identified it and honed it. For generations, bulls that exhibit exceptional bucking ability have been specifically bred. Today’s bucking bulls are athletes, genetically predisposed to bursting from the cradle. Studies estimate that about 40 percent of a bull’s bucking performance is genetic.
High Spirits and Territoriality: These bulls are not farm animals. They naturally have a high level of excitement (“spirit”) and a strong sense of territory. Being trapped in an injury and the presence of a rider triggers a powerful fight-or-flight response – and flight into the arena is not an option.

The Flank Strap: Irritation, Not Injury

Now, the flank strap itself:

Material and Placement: Modern flank straps are usually made of soft sheepskin leather or padded rope. They are placed well behind the rib cage on the loose skin folds, near the flank – not around the genitals. This placement is important.
“Tickling,” not torturing: The strap is easily secured, but not so tight as to cause pain or injury. The goal is to create an irritation, like a fly constantly buzzing over a sensitive spot. It is a tingle, a constant tickle.
Triggering instincts: This irritation, combined with the innate defensiveness of the flank area and the bull’s already high state of arousal (from confinement and rider), triggers this deep-seated evolutionary booking reflex. It is a natural response to irritation at a vulnerable zone, amplified by genetics and adrenaline.

Debunking the Pain Myth: Evidence & Expertise

Biomechanical Evidence: Dr. Peggy Larson, a former bareback rider turned veterinarian and pathologist, has studied rodeo injuries extensively. Her research, including necropsies on retired bucking stock, shows no evidence of contusions, tissue damage, or internal injury when used consistently and correctly. The strap simply does not generate enough force to cause damage through thick hide and muscle.
Veterinary Supervision: Reputable rodeos (such as those sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association – PRCA) mandate veterinary presence. Dr. James Hall, a large animal veterinarian with PRCA events for 25+ years, says: “I have examined thousands of bulls after a performance. Flank strap injuries inflicted by professional stock handlers are almost non-existent. Strap.”
Behavioral Observation: Observe the bull after a ride. Once the rider is dismounted or thrown, the bull will usually stop bucking immediately, often before the back strap is loose enough to fall off. If the strap was causing significant pain, bucking will continue until it is completely removed.
The “popcorn” effect: Bulls will often buck spectacularly in the holding pen, often out of excitement or provocation, without a leash. This instinctive behavior (“popping” or “popcorning”) further demonstrates that instinct is fundamental. The leash is a focused catalyst within the specific context of riding.

Case Study: The PBR’s “No Flank Strap” Experiment

In 2000, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) conducted a revealing experiment, seeking transparency. They held several events without a leash. The results were telling:

Bulls Still Bucked: Every bull bucked. This conclusively demonstrated that the underlying behavior existed independently of the leash.
Less predictable and intense: However, bucking patterns were often less predictable and explosive. Bulls could spin, run, or make a big leap rather than the sustained, high-intensity bucking sequences seen with the leash.
Increased danger to cowboys: The unpredictable movements made it considerably more difficult for cowboys to safely dismount or for bullfighters to protect them, ironically increasing the risk of injury.
Conclusion: The experiment confirmed the role of the flank strap: not to create a bucking, but to focus and accelerate a genetically selected instinct into a predictable, high-energy performance within an 8-second riding window. Its proper use increased both safety and spectacle.

Addressing Concerns & Ensuring Welfare

The criticism, often led by organizations like PETA, is driven by genuine concern for animal welfare. Responsible Rodeo shares this concern:

Misuse is unacceptable: Like any tool, flank straps can be misused. Overtightening or using inappropriate materials is cruel and is strictly prohibited by all major rodeo associations. Violations result in stiff fines and suspensions.
Strict regulations: The PRCA and PBR have detailed rules regarding flank strap composition (soft materials only), application (only by experienced handlers, placement checked), and monitoring. Veterinarians have the authority to disqualify animals if welfare is compromised.
Focus on stock health: Bucking bulls are valuable athletes. Contractors invest heavily in their nutrition, veterinary care, conditioning, and retirement. A healthy, well-treated bull performs better and has a longer career. The injury rate for bulls in professional rodeo is significantly low, estimated at less than 0.05% per animal per performance, significantly lower than many equestrian sports.

Original Insight: The “Focused Irritation” Feedback Loop

Beyond simply stimulating instinct, the flank strap can create a subtle performance feedback loop for elite bulls:

Irritation triggers the initial explosive buck.
The bull senses the rider’s weight shift during bucking.
This weight shift, combined with the ongoing leash irritation, becomes an additional stimulus.
The bull will naturally take the buck more difficultly or adjust its pattern to eliminate the shared distractions (leash + rider).
Successfully removing the rider (often within seconds) immediately removes a key stimulus. The bull’s attention is then diverted, and the bucking is quickly stopped once the leash is removed.

Instinct Amplified, Not Created For Why Do Bulls Buck With Flank Straps?

The Flank strap does not force bulls to buck against their will through pain. Bulls buck because it is in their DNA, enhanced by selective breeding of the species. The flankstrap acts as a targeted, distracting stimulus on a sensitive area, triggering and focusing this powerful, innate defensive reflex in the high-stakes context of riding. Scientific evidence, veterinary supervision, and direct observation consistently refute claims of significant injury caused by properly applied modern flank straps. While vigilance against misuse is essential, understanding why reveals a tool designed to incorporate instinct, selective breeding, and natural behavior into the glorious, time-honored competition that is professional bull riding. The next time you see a bull bursting out of a chat, remember: you’re witnessing millennia of evolution and decades of breeding, centered by a simple leash – a testament to raw, untamed power answering an ancient call, not manufactured torture.