You probably haven’t seen too many professional bull riders wandering through the tall brush on the back of the bull. That may lead you to wonder why they are wearing bull riding chaps. Do those leather leg guards really have a purpose?
It turns out that they have three different purposes. We can think of them as the three P’s of bull riding boys. They are benefit, beauty and protection.
Benefit: A rider can have a sponsor’s logo on those chaps. They are the main places of advertising. You can think of those guys as little left-leg and right-leg billboards waiting for a paid advertisement. NASCAR drivers have full jumpsuits and their cars to carry sponsorship ads, bull riders have their chaps. The desire to earn a few extra bucks is a big reason why you see so many guys wearing chaps to ride bulls.
The next time you see a major bull riding event, pay attention to the riders’ chaps. You’re bound to see a handful of them that look more like they’re wearing a bumper sticker and sticker collection than chaps due to the wide array of advertisements placed on the gear.
Beauty: Granted, those rough and tumble machos of the bull riding world may object to being characterized as “pretty,” but one of the main reasons bull riders wear chaps is to look cool. Bull riding chaps are part of an overall costume. Riders know they are entertaining a crowd and are willing and ready to build and wear a flashy costume to help get the job done.
You wouldn’t necessarily want to say it to these tough guys’ faces, but they’re just as vain as anyone else who makes a living in the light of the camera or in the public eye. Riders strive to dress well, and part of the ideal costume often includes a pair of attractive chaps.
Protection: That’s right, there is a slightly more pragmatic justification for chaps in the riding world. They are made of thick leather and cover the legs, which can provide an element of protection against the horns of an angry bull or the hooves of a large animal. Caps fall well below Kevlar on the protection scale level, but do have utility in terms of rider safety.
Most cyclists will tell you that this is the main reason for cracks. However, those same guys who seem so concerned about the well-being of their legs are often the same ones who prefer to wear their designer caps during competition instead of a crash helmet. That should give you an idea of where safety ranks on your list of reasons to ride bulls.
Now you know why those colorful leather bull riding chaps are a ubiquitous part of the sport. They provide an outlet for a few extra bucks, add to the “look” of the rider, and offer a modicum of protection against some pretty nasty injuries.
If you’re considering a career in the world of bull riding, you should probably put at least a couple of chaps on your gear list. In fact, some of the larger professional organizations actually consider chaps a requirement for all participants.