THE BUCKJUMPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 151, 27 June 1924, Page 5

THE BUCKJUMPERS.

AUSTRALIAN DISQUALIFIED. BUSHMAN'S STOCK SADDLE. KNEE PASS AND CRUPPER. (By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 20. The Australian, "Snowy" Thompson, started off in fine style in the first round of tho buckjuinper riding contest for £1000, which he and a Canadian, Vandemere, and an American, Edward Pegland, arc participating at Wembley. Thompson made an easy journey, his mount galloping down the Stadium not indulging in bucking, but the others had a lively passage. Immediately afterwards cowboys who were .spectators protested that Thompson was riding with a crupper with an iron attachment to the saddle, which they declared absolutely prevents bucking. Thompson declined to ride again without a crupper, and so was automatically disqualified. The incident caused much excitement. The "Daily Express" says that Thompson was mounted on Headlight, one of the best broncos. He used a large Australian stock saddle with knee pads and crupper under tlie tail. ■When he found that the horse would not buck he dismounted and returned to the pens indignant. Ho said: ,: I can not help it if these horses of theirs won't buck. When ridden with a crupper our horses in Australia will buck. I was told I could use any saddle, and the ono I used won't stay on any horse's back without a crupper." Tex Austin, the Rodeo manager, said: "You cannot win money at the broncoburking competition unless the horse bucks. Xone of our horses will buck with the crupper. They cannot possibly do it. Thompson can ride the same horse with his saddle or any other with--1 out a crupper, and wouldn't stay on if he had both hands 'full of saddle.' The j Canadian and the American will ride the Uame horse with Thompson's saddle, so there is no complaint." Mr. Cochran, the promoter. Raid: "I don't want Thompson to feel there is anything against him. I am prepared to agree to two Australian judges in the arena during a further ride, or that the judging be left to an Englishman." The "Daily Herald" says that Tex Austin said the introduction of a crupper ' was not anticipated, or the clause would have been inserted against it. Ultimately Mr. Cochran offered fIOO if the three would ride again, using Thompson's saddle without a crupper, but the suggestion was not adopted. Thompson was offered a chance to ride without a crupper, but this he refused to do.— (Reuter.) Horsemen usually hold that a horse is not bucking properly unless he has his head between his knees, his tail jammed hard down, and his four feet bunched ' When a horse assumes this attitude Ik usually jumps end for end and not straight forward. The American rules for buekjump riding insist that the bridle hand only be used. The other hanc must be moved to show it is not hangim on, and the heels must be constantly moved too, to show that the rider is nol holding with his spurs. Obviously th( iron gadget referred to in the cable gram kept the Australian's horse iron jamming his tail down preliminary t< "going to market." Australians are noi always careful about keeping a horst from bucking for the other fellow. A Batlmrst burr either under the saddle or under the girth has been known t< cause the phenomenon.