Confine the horse in the bucking chute so that it cannot escape while the bucking strap, which is fleece lined, is being placed on it.
Place the bucking strap in such a position that it girdles the horse's flank, encircling the torso as a saddle would but further back on the torso, nearer the hips. The bucking strap should sit just in front of the horse's stifle, at the top of the hind legs and run over the very back of the horse's barrel, just in front of the rump.
Secure the bucking strap loosely and have a person standing above and just outside the chute hold onto the end of the strap. Leave the bucking strap loose until the cowboy is mounted and the chute is ready to open.
Open the chute's gate. The horse will typically jump sideways out of the chute and take off. As the horse takes off, the person holding onto the bucking strap will continue to hold it, letting the horse's forward momentum tighten the strap around its loin before letting go.
Remove the bucking strap as soon as the cowboy is either bucked off or jumps off of the bucking horse. Another cowboy, already standing in the arena, called a pick-up man will ride up beside the bucking horse and release the bucking strap so that the horse stops bucking.