Who are pickup men in a rodeo?

Pickup men play a crucial role in rodeo events by being mounted cowboys who assist riders. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of the competitors while they are riding bucking animals, such as bulls or broncos. After a rider has completed their ride, the pickup men work to safely escort the riders off the animal, helping to prevent injury both to the rider and the animal. They are trained to understand the dynamics of the rodeo and work closely with the livestock, making their role vital in maintaining safety during the event.

The other choices, while important roles within a rodeo, pertain to different responsibilities that do not involve direct assistance to the competing riders in the same manner. Judges oversee the events to ensure rules and regulations are followed. Coaches focus on training and preparing the competitors, while timekeepers are responsible for tracking the duration of events but do not engage directly with the animals or assist riders post-ride.