There are a lot of young people that want to get into the world of bull riding. It’s a rewarding and quite frankly a fun life to live. However, one of the biggest issues that I see with the younger generation is that all they want to do is get on the rankest bulls and try to cover them. When you go to a practice pen, these kids keep asking for the rankest bull that is there. They brag to each other about the bulls they have been on and the one or two successes that they have had.
The problem with this mentality is that they will never get any better. This is because they refuse to get on little “jump kicker” bulls to focus on their fundamentals. You can’t learn anything if you’re lying in the dirt. Bull riding is a sport that takes time and dedication. In my life and over 30 years in this sport I have only seen 1 person get on their first bull and go for 8. And guess what? It was a one-time thing. He went the next few weeks getting bucked off everything he got on. This wasn’t because he didn’t get on the rankest bulls. It was because he was still getting on true practice bulls and focusing more on his fundamentals than making a ride. This entire mentality is really starting at the earliest stages. Junior associations are bringing stock that to be honest, these kids have no business getting on. Sure, everyone wants to see something buck like crazy but is it really helping them become better riders and prepare for the next step up? Absolutely not. The higher you go in the sport, the harder the bulls become. That’s just the nature of any sport. Without a good foundation and solid fundamentals these kids will live in the dirt. Those people that put in the work to actually learn to ride instead of just hold on for 8 seconds love seeing these kids show up to an event because they know they are going to beat them.
It all comes down to two major things, mindset and fundamentals. I guarantee if you talk to any of the guys that have gone on to win a world championship, not one of them will tell you that they just got on once a week. Every single one of them will tell you that it’s a full-time job to make sure that not only your fundamentals are solid, but that your body is in the right condition, and that your head is in the right place. True, bull riding is a lot of physical strength and conditioning. But the mental side plays a big part as well. When you climb in that chute, and everything disappears except for you and the bull, then you know you’re in the right place mentally. If anything else is able to creep into your head, well let’s just say I hope you have a safe landing when you hit the ground. For the guys that put the time in through the week, weights, stationary barrel drills, and who get on true practice bulls, then to you I say good luck in your careers you’re on the right path. For those of you who just get on over the weekend and doesn’t put the work in during the week, to you I say, keep making those guys that put in the work money. They appreciate it. Stop worrying about sponsors, they don’t want to put money into people who don’t win. If you’re riding for money, just quit now.
I’m not sitting here writing this post to put anybody down. But at the end of the day, bull riding always has winners and losers. I’ve won my fair share of events but on the flip side I’ve been bucked off even more. It’s the nature of the sport, you’re never going to ride them all. The best you can do is watch video of your rides, listen to people who actually know what they are talking about and take advice and constructive criticism. Quit crying when someone tries to help you get better. All of what I’m saying fits with juniors, high school, the PRCA and the PBR. You can’t get better if you’re in the dirt.
To help with this, the associations need to quit worrying about kids getting bucked off and actually start using contractors who bring appropriate stock for the level they are hosting events for. As a friend of mine Cody Custer says:
“Gentlemen, if you consider 6.5 seconds a satisfactory practice session, you’re not deceiving me, you’re deceiving yourselves. Ride with a time of 9.5 or 10.5 and we’ll concur on what constitutes a good practice session. Stop trying to fool yourselves. I’m not fooled” – Cody Custer, PRCA World Champion Bull Rider, 1992
The only way that the future of this sport is going to stay bright is if these kids start learning to actually ride while they are young. Yes, older guys can still learn and the same applies to them. I ride with a friend now who is 45 and only been riding 3 years. He’s put in the time, the work, the practice bulls, and hit up Cody Custer’s bull riding school a couple of times. He’s doing what it takes to win.
To those of you who are just starting out in this sport, remember, take the time to learn the fundamentals and master them. Get on true practice bulls. They are there for you to worry about getting your positioning right etc., not to learn how to hit the ground. Stop getting on the rankest bulls you can find for practice. You don’t learn anything that way. Go to a good and reputable bull riding school and PAY ATTENTION. I mean a school like Cody Custer’s Bull Riding Clinics, or Gary Lefew’s Bull Riding School. These places will help you actually get better and give you some tools to be successful. Personally, I did one of Cody’s schools and it was awesome. Even though I’ve been riding for decades, I still picked up some new information and tools to improve. Don’t ever think you’re too good to learn more, if you do, you’ve already lost. These are just my thoughts, and you may disagree and that’s fine. But for those of you who listen, and take my advice to actually improve, you’ll have a much better career.