SADDLE BRONC RIDER

 VISUALIZING:  The rhythm of the horse and my ability to match that rhythm is what I like to visualize.  I tend to find a horse will buck on average 3 times in 2 seconds (some faster, some slower, but this is the timing I use for practice).  In addition, I sense the saddle rocks (more like jumps) back and up into me one third of the cycle, and falls forward and away for the other two thirds.  I'd recommend trying to perfect your form first at a very slow precise pace (go through the full range of motion and get your technique dialed in), then speed it up little by little and focus on where your form fails first (mine still does).  I try to remedy this with lots of precise practice untill I find I can maintain good form through at least fifteen cycles at a rate of 1.5 per second, that's like cycling your legs somewhere between a jog and a sprint (while maintaining good form).

TRAINING ON FOOT:  I like to keep my lower legs familiar with spurring when just walking around (I can do this anywhere).  I stand on one foot, or step around and kick my free foot forward with my toe pointed out and down (just like I were spurring that horse in the shoulder).  I pause and take a peek at how far out my toe is pointed - nope that aint gonna cut it, I want that toe pointed straight out away from the horse (or in this instance to the absolute left and right sides of my body).  To get my range of motion up I plant my foot on the ground and force it out in a NON-PAINFUL way.  Now I either walk around and alternate kicking that foot up above the imaginary horses shoulder and "grabbing ahold" with my spurs, or stand in place and do one foot at a time.  With practice a person should be able to snap that foot out there with those toes pointed perfectly out and slightly down, and those imaginary spurs set swiftly, tightly, and precisely above the shoulder.  That is what my feet should do right before those front hooves hit the ground every time.

TRAINING IN THE SADDLE:  I'll find a place with enough room to sit back in my saddle and go through spurring strokes (you'll see the other riders doing this behind the chutes).  I set my boots in the stirrups with my legs straight out in front of me (toes pointed , leaned back slightly, pressure in the stirrups, and squeezing on the swells), and pretend to set my spurs above the horses shoulder to check the length of the stirrups.  I like to set my stirrups so I get no pressure from the cantle when I relax, and some pressure when I squeeze and push a little, but not enough to push me up the cantle (I'll make adjustments to the stirrups if necessary).  If doing the right leg I'll squeeze the swells with my thighs and rock back and to my left side so just that corner of the saddle is on the ground and the left swell is resting on my left leg (which is on the ground as well).  I start with the spur set up over the imaginary horse shouler and cycle that leg through the spurring motion keeping my toes pointed out, pressure on the stirrup, and pressure squeezing the swells.  If I find my thigh moving down away form the swell about mid stroke I tighten up my front bind strap.  On the other note, if my thigh is getting pushed up and over the swell at all I'll loosen the front bind strap.  My front bind straps always stay the same on both sides so any adjustment I make to one, so the other.  I go through the full stroke all the way to the back of the saddle and cycle through complete strokes picturing using my legs to pull my hips down into the saddle where I can really get my thighs under the swells and set my spurs above the shoulders again.  I'll do it as many times as it takes to make sure I've got my technique right, and my saddle set how I feel comfortable.  I do this at home, and behind the chutes to keep my mind where it should be.

TRAINING ON A BARREL:  If you have a barrel about 55 Gal capacity or similar these are pretty good for going through the motions and familiarizing yourself with the feel of spurring and squeezing the swells of the saddle (just remember to block the sides if you can't balance the barrell - that is unless you want to practice your get-offs (joking).  If you don't have a 55 gal barrel you can always just throw a bale of hay on it's side and toss your saddle on that to get you started.  In addition, you can tie your hack rein around a weight, or a weighted bucket, anything to give you something to get the feeling of lifting (not pulling) on the rein while going through the motions.  P.S. - this is all done with your spurs OFF.

     Chute position settle in just like you would in the chutes legs hanging straight down along side toes pointing forward.  Rock your hips back slightly and tighten your lower ab muscles.  Squeeze you knees under the swells, but keep your spurs out of the horse (I know barrell, bail of hay, etc.)  Your shoulders should be square to the saddle, swells, etc. and leaned back behind your hips.  Chin tucked slightly eyes on the center of the swells or even the hole between the swells and the seat (your eyes stay right here for a good ride).  Rein Hand extended out over the center of the swells, elbow slightly bent.  Free hand in the swearing testimony/plege of allegiance position elbow directly out - armpit at a 90 deg angle, elbow at a 90 deg angle.

     First position keeping the position you set in the chute extend your feet forward keeping your grip on the swells (the squeezing of the knees), whe you get to the end of the leg extension point your toes out (the pressure in the swells will drift to the inside of your thighs, but keep that pressure, don't let go of the swells), and CLAMP down with your heels as high in front of you and as tight as you can manage - STOP AND HOLD. 

You will have to hold this position through one or two (maybe even more) bucks getting out of the chute.  Be sure you are squeezing with your heels (toes pointed out) and squeezing the swells with your thighs (squeeze this posion tight and hold-do it as a work out),  In additon, you should be lifting the rein with your hand straight over the middle of the swells or even slighty more across your body, and holding that position.  Keep track of those shoulders, don't let them get too out of square.

     Second Position  drag your heels back keeping equal pressure in your thighs squeezing the swells and equal pressure in your heels.  You'll notice as you drag back the spurring motion your thighs will roll the pressure of the sweels toward the front part of your thigh again (note the red shade in the picture) - just keep squeezing with equal pressure on both sides.  You should drag your heels back with your toes pointed out the whole time untill you are squeezing and pulling your heels as close to your butt as you can manage.  STOP AND HOLD.  Body still in same position:  Hips rolled back, abs tight, shoulders square, chin tucked, eyes looking in the hole in the saddle, rein hand extended out in front holding the hack rein in centerline with the horse and your body, free hand swearing testimony that you promise to ride as hard as you can.

     Transition back to first position Now extend your feet to the first position heels out of the horse (barrel, bail, whatever) and no pressure in your heels untill you are fully extended again.  squeezing the swells the whole time

     You never stop squeezing the swells, so get used to the constant pressure while going through the motions.  I know a few riders that use thighmasters - I'm serious, they'll even admit it.  I won't go as far as admitting using one of those myself, but I do squeeze a ball between my knees (cmon - you know what I meant), then I'll pick it up (tightening the abs) and squeeze with my heels for execise every day or two.

TRAINING ON A MECHANICAL: