RodeoGuy
London, ON
Male, 23
I live my life 8-seconds at a time as an adrenaline junkie that goes event to event, matching up against some of the rankest bulls in the world in an 8-second battle for supremacy.
The best advice I can give you is to connect with an experienced bull rider that's going to be at the event. They'll be able to help you with borrowing any equipment you don't have, and also ensuring the equipment you do have will do the task.
It's 2013, back in the day, a small rodeo usually meant jump-kickers and lopers in the bull riding pen, but now, the size of the rodeo doesn't speak to rankness of the pen. Hopefully your bull rider acquaintence will be able to give you a fair assessment of the bull you draw, and help you make the right decision on whether you are going to go ahead with this effort.
If you know anyone (bull rider acquaintance) with a drop-barrel, I'd recommend getting on it. If you have the supplies and space to build a traditional bucking barrel (4 posts, 4 ropes, barrel drum), that would be an ok substitute to sit on and start working on balance, reaction and seat. Sit up as close to on top of your hand as you can, bow your chest out, tuck your chin in, look to the middle of where the bull's shoulders would be, grip with your legs, and lock your toes out. As the barrel tips up, push your upper body forward. As the barrel tips back, lean back, but keep your chin tucked and chest out. Your free arm should remain in front of you and smooth.
Get as much advice before you get on in the chute and commit it to memory... it will be a blank when they start pulling your rope.
Have at 'er!
That's a good age to start!
8-seconds. Bulls don't discriminate!
Predominantly, Bull Contractors are simply paid by the gate. They want to raise the best buckers, because the better they do, the more events they get invited to, and then get 3-4 times as much if they are selected for the Finals. As Bull Riders either do the selection or influence the selection, every "out" is a scouting day. Sometimes there will be bonuses, but those are special events or opportunities.
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In this day and age, the size of the rodeo doesn't always equate to the calibre of the bulls.
You're going to try and find "open rodeos" as a good starting ground, which are hard to find. Buck-out bull ridings are good as well. Really, unless you know someone in your area, the only way to do so is to start googling...
You could try to find some riders close to you and travel with them to an event or two. You could borrow equipment and try to ride a mount-out or exhibition, but I'd recommend finding a school somewhere and travelling to it. There's no better way to learn, in my opinion.
In regular rodeo and bull riding, no. Bull Riders pay to compete, and if they don't place high enough to earn winnings, they are sent home empty handed. That's why Bull Riders are seen riding through the pain often. In the PBR BFTS Series, there are injury exemptions. Basically the field of riders is set after the World Finals, they ride for a number of events, and the bottom few are removed and replaced with those from the Touring Pro Division "The Cut". Depending on rankings, titles, and opportunities; riders are awarded an exemption from being cut, and their place is held until they're healthy, or run out of exemptions. They may take a week off, but that may play into a gamble of either their position at the bottom, or a position at the top.
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