Section 2: Equipment
Riding events
- Bareback rigging (R9.4.1): riding is done with one-handed rigging. Standard rigging is leather, not more than 10 inches (25 cm) wide at the hand-hold and not over 6 inches (15 cm) wide at the "D" ring (R9.4.1.1). No fiberglass or metal is allowed in riggings or hand-holds apart from the "D" rings, flat-head rivets, screws and "t" nuts (R9.4.1.3). Cinches are mohair or neoprene, at least 8 inches (20 cm) wide at the center, and latigos are leather only (R9.4.1.4). No quick trips are allowed (R9.4.1.5).
- Bareback pad (R9.4.2): the required pad completely covers the underside of the rigging and extends a full 2 inches (5 cm) behind it. It is leather-covered on both sides over a high-density foam pad at least 3/4 inch (about 1.9 cm) thick. A leather piece at least 3/16 inch thick and 4 inches (10 cm) square is also attached (R9.4.2.1, R9.4.2.2).
- Rider's glove (R9.4.4): a plain glove with no flaps, rolls or wedges.
- Saddle (R9.5.1): saddle bronc riding is done with a PRCA-specification saddle built on a PRCA-approved tree. The "D" ring may not exceed 5-3/4 inches (14.6 cm) outside width, the swell undercut is no more than 3 inches, and the gullet is not less than 4 inches wide at the center of the fork (R9.5.1.1–R9.5.1.3). Bronc saddle cinches are mohair, at least 8 inches wide at the center, with leather latigos (R9.5.1.5).
- Halter and rein (R9.5.2, R9.5.3): the stock contractor furnishes a standard halter with adjustable noseband, and the rider uses it, subject to the judges' approval. The riding rein is attached to the bottom of the halter noseband unless the contestant and contractor agree otherwise.
- Bull rope (R9.6.1): bull riding is done with one hand and a loose rope, with or without a hand-hold. The rope must have a bell, which sits under the bull's belly when the rider leaves (R9.6.1.3). No knots or hitches may prevent the rope from falling off the bull (R9.6.1.2), and no hooks or posts are allowed (R9.6.1.4).
- Spurs (R9.4.8): spur rowels must have five or more points. Bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders may not ride with sharp or locked rowels (R9.4.7, R9.5.5, R9.6.6).
- Horse: bareback and saddle bronc riders compete on bucking horses supplied by the stock contractor.
Timed events
- Rope: in tie-down roping each contestant carries up to two ropes. Neck ropes on the stock are tied with string, with no metal snaps, elastics or hardware (R10.3.17). In team roping each contestant is allowed to carry only one rope (R10.8.1).
- Horse: timed-event contestants rope and work from horseback. In steer wrestling the contestant furnishes their own hazer and horses (R10.7.4).
- Barrier: the barrier in timed events is a side-pull barrier with a pulley and neck rope, with the barrier flag on the barrier (R10.1.1.3, R10.1.1.4).