Professional Bull Rider

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 12 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

Where would i begin to start riding bulls for the first time, if i have no experience

Asked by Joe about 12 years ago

The best thing to do is to go to a rodeo school or clinic. They usually are 2 days long, and they give you the opportunity to learn the ground work, chute preparation and get on some easy stock to get into the swing of things.

Google "Rodeo School" and your State or Province to find the closest to you... it's a weekend you'll never forget!

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

Asked by Nicholas over 12 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'm a writer researching a book on rodeo. Would you be willing to talk w/ me on the phone sometime? msbellows at g mail. Thanks!

Asked by Scott Bellows almost 12 years ago

check your inbox ;)

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

Asked by javier over 11 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.

Why do bulls have nose rings?

Asked by Theo about 12 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...

What is the difference between amateur series bull ropes and pro series bull ropes?

Asked by bullrider about 12 years ago

Price. The Pro Series ropes have a bit more work put into the making of them, and usually have more stitching, or more expensive materials in them. For example, the amateur series come with a single laced block and single stitching across the handle, while the pro series has double stitching.