Safety for riders and bucking horses is a pickup man's main concern. It takes courage and excellent riding ability to be a PRCA pickup man. Any bareback or saddle bronc rider will tell you the ride isn't over when the required eight seconds have elapsed. Pickup men ride alongside high-kicking bucking horses and assist the contestants safely to the ground. Pickup men also remove the soft flankstrap from the horse and herd it safely out of the arena. Pickup men always have a deep understanding of rodeo livestock, and are respected by contestants as true cowboys.