Professional Bull Rider

Why do bulls have nose rings?

Asked by Theo over 13 years ago

Farmers use them for leading and handling livestock. Bucking Bulls don't have them for their safety and cowboy's safety. Bucking Bulls are kept with other Bucking Bulls, as opposed to a breeding bull which will be mostly separate from others at a farm. Also, Bucking Bulls are handled by using panel-control systems, shuffling them pen-to-pen, as they are bred to be aggressive, and are aggressive in nature. Even if a Bucking Bull were to have a ring, they wouldn't let you lead them with it... they are not handled in that fashion. A bull with a nose ring is "old school" in our Industry. They used to back in the day because bulls were raised for breeding, and then if there were one that was unruly, it eventually would be tried out for rodeo. So, early in it's bull life, it would have a leading ring put in it's nose. Now, a Bucking Bull is born into the skill set, tested to see natural abilities at a young age, and naturally won't you lead them...

how long is a perfect ride when riding a bull?

Asked by jerry over 13 years ago

Perfect is based on performance, it is a requirement to ride for 8-seconds from the time the bull's shoulder leaves the chute or front feet hit the ground outside of the chute, depending on the rulebook, to 8-seconds. The rider may not may contact with their freehand with themselves or the bull, and at 8-seconds their hand must remain in the rope without their feet hitting the ground. The perfection is based on the scoring system. Half of the score is attributed to the bull's performance: how high they kick, how hard they spin, drop to the buck, power on the rider's arm, moves like belly-rolls (twisting in the air), direction changes; ultimately the overall degree of difficulty to the ride. The other half is based on the rider's performance: how controlled their body position is, how well they position their feet, reaction to the moves of the bulls, positioning and re-positioning of their feet; ultimately the overall style of the ride. A perfect score is 100. There is only one perfect score on record in Professional Rodeo or Bull Riding.

Hello, I'm a writer doing research for a novel that involves a bull rider. At the chute, how many people are working it and what do they do? And when you nod, is there someone who physically releases the gate to let the bull out?

Asked by Trish about 13 years ago

Often times there will be:

• The Bull Rider
• Another Bull Rider to pull the rider's rope
• the Flank man who sets the flank strap before the rider nods and then may hold the bull's tail so he doesn't "hip himself", ie. spin is back hip into the chute
• the latch guy who cracks the latch when the rider nods and holds the gate open a hair until the bull moves... then runs out of the way
• the rope guy who waits for the gate to crack and the latch guy to swing the gate towards him... he opens the gate all the way

when can i do it i want to ride

Asked by kailab over 13 years ago

Where do you live?  The best thing to do is find a rodeo school in your area. These are usually 2-day events and you learn a lot of ground work, and then get on some easier animals, and work your way up. 

I am a 52 year old Swedish citizen grew up with horses & rode almost every day for 11 years. One thing has come to my mind & I want to ride a bull before I am too old or am I too old already?

Asked by Mats Rosenquist almost 13 years ago

As long as you try it at a weekend school or clinic, you should be fine. I wouldn't recommend entering until you try it, that way you shouldn't be getting on something that will be trying to kill you the 1st time. 

Do you want the rowels to be loose when you put wire though the holes behind the rowel

Asked by Nicholas over 13 years ago

Yes, loose! The rowel isn't "locked", it's to be "loosely locked", and should be able to rock back and forth about a 1/4 turn.

Wasn't there a guy that was 30 years old when he started bull riding

Asked by javier almost 13 years ago

For sure there was... and there were guys in their 50's.
There are even Bull Riders in the 70's still riding in the Senior Pro Rodeo Association, and one guy in Australia who rides with the best of them.
As long as you're in decent enough shape and your body can take the rigours of the sport, you're game.