Anyone here try bull riding? How’d you start?

7 comments

1. He was cute and I said yes. Most of the bars you will find your bull at generally have weird names, start at some place called “Secrets” or “The Electric Cowboy”.

2. Uhh, ya, don’t. Bull riding is hella dangerous as a sport and isn’t really something to do as a hobby or experience. It’s the only riding sport where the thing you are riding is actually wants to kill you.

3. Yep, did it as a bucket list item. There are courses you can take around the country, and many will accept total beginners. You don’t need any equipment besides cowboy boots.

   The one I went to, we started with “classroom” instruction where the instructor showed us some video and talked about various techniques, then we did some practice on a stationary barrel, then there was a barrel that could “buck” back and forth with springs.

   The farm we were at had a horse available, and we did some bareback riding to practice.

   The rancher that provided the bulls mostly brought intermediate bulls, but also a few beginners. Beginner bulls are generally extremely predictable and don’t get particularly crazy. You’ll wear a helmet, vest, boots, and a glove.

   I rode several times and can confidently say that I probably don’t have a future as a rodeo star.

   Overall it was fun, though the course I went to was focused more on intermediate riders than total beginners, so I didn’t get as much instruction or practice as I would have liked. I might give it a try again someday though.

4. The mechanical bulls with loads of padding around them can be fun. Aside from the injuries from real bull riding, I couldn’t do it. There was a friend I had who’s family owned a farm and I got to know all the animals she had on it. There was one bull that I knew there, his name was Dave. I just wouldn’t be cool with doing real bull riding with how they antagonize the bulls.

5. My brother did a little bull riding back in the day. Even did a course with Tuff Hedeman for wannabe bull riders. Probably one of the more stupid “sports” out there and is not based on anything useful like bronc riding or roping. I’d reccomend finding a place with a mechanical bull. Very similar……not near the danger.

6. I would start with a few years of therapy.. 🤣

7. Knew a kid in highschool who did it competitively and made GOOD money off it.

   He says it’s actually mostly leg muscle. You mostly hold on with your thighs and use your hand to keep from getting thrown backwards. I believe him too, little shit could break ribs with those things. Won a state wrestling title his senior year because he’d grab onto people with em and they’d tire themselves out trying to move around with him hooked on like a damn clam