Australian Rodeo - Livestock

Livestock

Some of the outstanding early buckjumpers were "Bobs", “Rocky Ned” and later the grey mare, “Curio”. “Rocky Ned” was known as the “four-legged fury” and became somewhat a legend with several riders including Jack Reilly, Gordon Attwater and Lyn Smith claiming to be the first or only one to ride him. Gordon Attwater is the one rider who has an undisputed claim to success, when he rode “Rocky Ned” in 1929 at Grafton, New South Wales. Attwater suffered for several days afterwards, though. At 27 years of age, “Rocky Ned” was still Australia’s most famous buckjumper. He was bucked at the Thorpe McConville shows from 1934 to 1940 and was unridden during this time.

During the early days of bushmen's carnivals the local committees owned their own buckjumpers (broncos) which were agisted by local graziers. Local residents also supplemented these mobs with rogue buckjumpers that were difficult to ride. The cattle, bullocks, steers and calves were and still are owned by local graziers that lend them for the campdrafting and rodeo events. Nowadays stock contractors supply both associations with buckjumpers, bulls, dogging steers and calves for the roping events. Contract stock has produced a more uniform range of bucking stock which are also quieter to handle.

Chainsaw was one of Australia's most famous bucking bulls. Only nine contestants scored on him and he won the Australian national title of Bull of the Year a world record eight times during 1987 to 1994.

There are strict standards for the selection, care and treatment of rodeo livestock, arenas, plus equipment requirements and specifications.