the term "buck-jumping", as a regular activity involving horses, was in use in australia by 1855. newspaper reports recorded public roughriding events that took place in victoria during the 1880s. these events included competitions for roughriding and bullock-throwing which was accomplished by riding up to bullock, grabbing its tail and throwing it off balance and then tying its legs. this competition arose from the stockman's skill in capturing feral or wild cattle.