Professional Bull Rider

I ride and everyone says i am to tall and lanky, i am 6'2 and around 180lbs! what do you think?

Asked by Dakota about 13 years ago

As long as you're in shape, you should be alright. There've been some tall riders... Terry Don West (5' 9"), Tuff Hedemen (5' 11")... But they're few and far between as it's about the centre of gravity... 

But as Sankey says, "Opinions vary but the reality is that champions come in all heights. Besides, you can’t change your height so learn to ride with the techniques and skills that allow you to maximize the things you can do well and to stay away from the things that are your weakness."

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...

when can i do it i want to ride

Asked by kailab about 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. 

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 almost 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

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.

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. 

What are the top 5 injuries in bull riding?

Asked by Mark Herry over 12 years ago

Knee, shoulder, head... 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/10/05/us-rodeo-injuries-idUSKIM56572320071005

Thank you Mark for your great questions. I can only answer so far, but I would recommend you contact the PBR Media Relations Department and the Justin Sports Medicine Team for more detailed information if necessary.