[luckycowgirl]

The busiest men in the arena during every performance, with the possible exception of the judges, are unsung heroes -- the pickup men.

They serve as the rescue squad for the cowboys in the bareback and saddle bronc competition in addition to ushering the calves, steers and ornery bulls from the arena after each contestant has his run. The only time they catch a break in the action is during the cowgirls barrel racing.

There's no prize money at stake for the rodeo pickup men. To the contestants, the two cowboys on the dependable, well-trained horses can be essential to survival. While their job appears, on the surface, to be fairly simple, it requires a wide array of real cowboy skills. They have to help bareback or saddle bronc riders safely to the ground. The fact that the bareback or saddle bronc is kicking wildly while unpredictably spinning and bucking with all its strength just adds a little challenge to the job.

For the cowboy who is inadvertently entangled in the rigging on his savagely thrashing mount, the pickup men are manna from heaven. It's the job of the two pickup men to quickly free the trapped contestant -- a job that requires a mixture of skill, determination, bravery and occasionally a dose of luck as well.

It's a job fraught with occupational hazards that requires years of practical livestock handling experience coupled with a heavy dose of rodeo knowledge. Many pickup men have been rodeo performers in the past and know first hand just what each participant is dealing with.

The job of the pickup men isn't over when the final saddle bronc rider has been eased to the ground. They remain in the arena skillfully driving the steers and calves to holding pens after each cowboy competes. Their final challenge of the program comes during the bull riding when they must haze the massive brutes from the arena after each contestant's ride.

[Bette]

they most certainly need skills, not only to help the contestant but not get tangled up in the mess themselves

[luckycowgirl]

Yes ma'am. And boy can they ride..