Miniature bull riding

Last updated

Miniature bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a youth rider getting on a miniature bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider. It is bull riding on a smaller scale, as both the bull and the rider are smaller than in professional rodeo. All competitors are under age 18.

Contents

Adult bull riding has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports": [1] it requires riders to stay atop a bucking bull for eight seconds with only the use of a rope tied behind the bull's forelegs. Touching the bull or himself with his free hand, or getting bucked off prior to the eight-second mark, results in a no-score ride. Two judges score the rider based on his ability up to 25 points each for up to a total of 50 points. Another two judges score the bull on his bucking performance for up to 25 points each for a total of up to 50 points.

Miniature bull riding has been called the "logical step" between steer riding and junior bull riding for young athletes. [2] Although the bulls are smaller than is typical for bull riding, they are still half a ton in weight, which can result in injuries to riders such as broken bones. However, the parents and riders involved in the sport accept the risks. [3]

Comparison to other events

Children interested in pursuing bull riding have traditionally been started riding sheep, called mutton busting, prior to moving to bulls or steers. According to 12-year-old rider Caleb Griego, "staying on a sheep is more about squeezing with your legs and leaning to the front. Riding a bull takes a lot more technique. You gotta focus on keeping your legs down and staying over the front [of the bull]." One of his friends added that "it’s harder to ride a sheep because it has no kick to set you back up on the rope". [3]

Some participants in the industry believe that miniature bull riding will revolutionize bull riding given that they are more effective preparation for traditional bull riding than alternatives like steer riding. Compared to steers, miniature bulls are broader, stronger and buck more, making them more akin to full-size bulls. The use of miniature bull riding as part of bull riding training for children "just may be a way to get on top in competitive bull riding". [4]

Miniature Bull Riding Association

The Miniature Bull Riders Association (MBR) was created in 2010 as a small stock contractor and now has its own finals event in Las Vegas, Nevada at the same place and time as the adult finals, the National Finals Rodeo. [3] More than 50 riders from ages 6 to 14 compete in circuit events across the United States. In 2011, two-time Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion bull rider Chris Shivers became part owner of the MBR to help develop future PBR riders. As of February 28, 2015, the PBR became the presenting sponsor of the MBR. Shivers and former PBR bull rider Mike White both have had sons competing on this tour. [5] [6]

Tuff-N-Nuff Rodeo Association

Another organization, Tuff-N-Nuff Miniature Rodeo Association, brought miniature bull riding to the National Western Stock Show for the first time in January 2014. Johnny Hopkins, a retired professional bull rider who owns the association, used a scaled-down version of his circuit. [7] The Miniature Rodeo Association is now the largest association in the world, and holds multiple divisions for competitors based on age: tiny tots, 4 and under; pee wees, 5- and 6-year-olds; juniors, 7 to 10 years old; seniors, 11 to 14 years old; super seniors, 15 to 19 years old; and open, which is any age. "Putting them on their first bull or their first bucking horse, no matter what age they are, we have the livestock for getting them off to a good start," Johnny Hopkins said. "And we pride ourselves on that. We build their confidence one ride at a time." [8] Tuff-N-Nuff now owns about 70 head of cattle, one of the largest herds in the industry. Hopkins deliberately purchased bulls that did not buck as much, and were therefore less attractive to most contractors, as he felt that "if they purchased bulls that the kids could ride and learn on and build their confidence, they would get along so much better than if the kids were bucked off all the time". The Hopkins also added other types of miniature events. In 2015, they added the Miniature Rodeo World Tour. The organization, its events, and tour continue to evolve. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull riding</span> Rodeo sport

Bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodacious (bull)</span> American bucking bull (1988-2000)

Bodacious #J-31 was an American bucking bull. He was known throughout the rodeo world as "the world's most dangerous bull". He was also known as "the greatest bull ever to buck". During his rodeo career, he was the 1994 and 1995 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year, as well as the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull. He and Bruiser are the only bulls who have won bucking bull world championship titles in both organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Murray</span> American rodeo cowboy

Ty Monroe Murray, is an American former professional rodeo cowboy. He competed in the three "roughstock" events; bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. He won nine world championships in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA); seven in all-around and two in bull riding. He was also one of the co-founders and a board adviser of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). From 2005 to 2020, he was also a regular color commentator for several televised PBR events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuff Hedeman</span> American bull rider

Richard Neale "Tuff" Hedeman is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. He won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull riding world championship three times, as well as the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) world championship. He also won the 1993 world championship for the now-defunct Bull Riders Only (BRO) organization. He is also one of the co-founders of the PBR and is known for having been one of rodeo icon Lane Frost's closest friends. He and the infamous bucking bull, Bodacious, had a few historic clashes. He later served as the President of the PBR and then the President and Ambassador of Championship Bull Riding (CBR). In 2018, he formed his own bull riding organization: the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour (THBRT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional Bull Riders</span> International professional bull riding organization

The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) is an international professional bull riding organization headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. It is the largest bull riding league in the world, sanctioning hundreds of events every year in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. Over 800 bull riders from said countries, as well as others hold PBR memberships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Yellow Jacket</span> American bucking bull (1996-2011)

Little Yellow Jacket #P761 was an American bucking bull. He was a three-time Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull, winning the title in consecutive years from 2002 through 2004. At the time, his three titles made him unmatched by any bull in the history of the PBR. In 2006, he was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame for his accomplishments. He was the son of #77 Yellow Jacket and the grandson of #LH600 Wrangler Rivets. Little Yellow Jacket's three-time World Champion Bull record has since been matched by #13/6 Bushwacker, who received his third title in 2014, his year of retirement and Bruiser from 2016 to 2018. When Bruiser won his third title in 2018, he tied Little Yellow Jacket's record of three consecutive titles. Little Yellow Jacket was sometimes referred to as the "Michael Jordan of professional bull riding" and had his own line of merchandise. It was said he was the greatest bull in the PBR when he was selected to receive the inaugural Brand of Honor. In 2022, he was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame. In Little Yellow Jacket's day he had the largest following of any PBR bull. Later, Bushwacker was deemed to surpass Little Yellow Jacket as the best PBR bucking bull of all time.

Bruiser #32Y was an American bucking bull. He is the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull for 2016, 2017, and 2018. He is one of only two bucking bulls to win the title in three consecutive years. He is also the 2017 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year. Bruiser and Bodacious are the only bulls to win both titles and they also did it in the same year: Bruiser did it in 2017 and Bodacious in 1995. Bruiser is the PRCA Reserve Bucking Bull of the Year in 2015. Bruiser tied for the PBR title in 2016 with two other bulls, and the tiebreaker went to him. Bruiser won the 2017 PBR title in a close race against Pearl Harbor. Bruiser won the title outright in 2018. Bruiser is also the American Bucking Bull (ABBI) Classic Final winner in 2015. He also won several other notable titles. SweetPro's Bruiser was retired from competition in 2021 at the age of ten. He died at age 11 on May 17, 2022.

Bushwacker #13/6 was an American bucking bull. He competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit and was a three-time PBR World Champion Bull, winning the title in 2011, 2013, and 2014. His three titles match the record established a decade earlier by Little Yellow Jacket from 2002 to 2004. He was awarded the PBR Brand of Honor in 2016. He has been referred to as the "Michael Jordan of Bulls." In 2014, PBR co-founder and Director of Livestock Cody Lambert compared Bushwacker to the likes of Secretariat and Seabiscuit. He was inducted into the Class of 2020 in the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dillinger (bull)</span> American bucking bull (1995-2004)

Dillinger #81 (1995-2004) was an American bucking bull owned by the Herrington Cattle Company. He won the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull title in 2000 and 2001. He was bestowed the PBR Brand of Honor in 2012, the second bull to receive the honor after Little Yellow Jacket won the inaugural award in 2011. Today, he is ranked first in the ProBullStats historical ranking of bucking bulls in the sport of bull riding.

Chicken on a Chain #CC was an American bucking bull. He competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit and won the 2007 PBR World Champion Bull title. In 2015, he was awarded the PBR Brand of Honor. He bucked for seven years, a total of 127 times; 33 of those times he was ridden at all levels. Chicken on a Chain finished his career with 130 outs. He holds a career average of 45 points per out and "arguably became the most popular bucking bull in PBR history". At the time he was active he was the only bucking bull in PBR history with more than 100 outs and an average career score of 45 or higher. Today, Chicken on a Chain is still considered one of the most popular bucking bulls. An article published on the PBR website on December 15, 2016, put him on the list "PBR Tough 10: Baddest Buckers."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Wolf (bull)</span> American bucking bull (1988-2006)

Red Wolf #112 was an American bucking bull. He won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bull of the Year title in 1996 as well as other honors throughout his career. He bucked until 2000 when he was 12 years old, considered an old age for a bull to buck, and he did it at a very high level. He bucked more than 100 times at all levels, which very few bulls manage. In 2013, he was inducted into the Professional Bull Riders' Brand of Honor. He was also known for the accidental death of bull rider Brent Thurman.

Bones #05 was an American bucking bull. He competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit and was the PBR World Champion Bull in 2008 and 2010. In 2014, he was inducted into the PBR Brand of Honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar (bull)</span> American bucking bull

Oscar #16 was an American bucking bull. He competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit. In 1979, he was one of the inaugural inductees into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. To date, only eight bulls have been inducted, which is the highest honor a bucking bull can receive in the PRCA. The California Rodeo Salinas inducted Oscar into its hall of fame in 2013. In 2018, the Bull Riding Hall of Fame inducted Oscar. In over 300 attempts, only eight bull riders made qualified rides of the requisite eight seconds on Oscar. Eight-time world champion bull rider Don Gay made the highest-scored ride on him at the time, earning 97 points, just three points short of a perfect score. Oscar's owners retired him in 1979 as a living exhibit to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He remained at the hall until his death in 1983.

Bruiser #32Y was an American bucking bull. He is the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull for 2016, 2017, and 2018. He is one of only two bucking bulls to win the title in three consecutive years. He is also the 2017 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Bucking Bull of the Year. Bruiser and Bodacious are the only bulls to win both titles and they also did it in the same year: Bruiser did it in 2017 and Bodacious in 1995. Bruiser is the PRCA Reserve Bucking Bull of the Year in 2015. Bruiser tied for the PBR title in 2016 with two other bulls, and the tiebreaker went to him. Bruiser won the 2017 PBR title in a close race against Pearl Harbor. Bruiser won the title outright in 2018. Bruiser is also the American Bucking Bull (ABBI) Classic Final winner in 2015. He also won several other notable titles. SweetPro's Bruiser was retired from competition in 2021 at the age of ten. He died at age 11 on May 17, 2022.

Code Blue #644 was an American bucking bull. He competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit and was the 2009 PBR World Champion bull, as well as the 2009 PBR Bull of the World Finals. He won both titles in his first year on the PBR's elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) tour. He finished the 2009 season unridden with a bull score average over 46 points out of a maximum of 50, considered an exceptional score in bull riding. According to many notable sources and his career statistics, Code Blue had enormous potential, but a serious injury in the 2010 season cut his career short and his owners were forced to retire him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepherd Hills Tested</span> American bucking bull (2008-2017)

Shepherd Hills Tested #20U was an American bucking bull. He was the 2013 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bull of the Year. Tested bucked on the PRCA and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuits from 2011-2014. His first title was the 2012 American Bucking Bull (ABBI) Classic World Champion. He went on to win the 2012 PRCA Bull of the Finals title at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) later that same year. In 2013, he won the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year title and was also the PBR Reserve World Champion Bull. In his last year bucking, he repeated as the 2014 PBR Reserve World Champion Bull. In 84 times out of the bucking chute over a four years period, Tested only allowed cowboys four qualified rides, two rides by two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney and two rides by Kasey Hayes. His owners retired him after the 2014 season. He died from injuries sustained in an accident on April 14, 2017.

James William Harris, known as J.W. Harris is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He competed on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Championship Bull Riding (CBR), and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuits. He won the PRCA bull riding world championship four times at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Harris is the first bull rider since Don Gay to win four PRCA bull riding world titles. He is also the first since Gay to win three of them consecutively. Harris was also the 2014 PBR Rookie of the Year.

Jess Lockwood is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. He competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit from 2015 to 2024. He was the PBR Rookie of the Year in 2016. On November 5, 2017, he became the youngest PBR World Champion. He won his second PBR world championship on November 10, 2019; becoming the youngest bull rider to win two PBR world championships. As of 2025, he competes full-time in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

Spotted Demon #35 is an American retired bucking bull. In his career, he competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuits. He was the 2018 PRCA Bull of the Year, as well as the 2018 Bull of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

References

  1. ↑ "Facing the Bull: The Most Dangerous Eight Seconds in Sports". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ Susan Bedford (September 2010). "Why Mini Bulls matter". American Bucking Bull.
  3. 1 2 3 "Miniature bull riding draws small riders, bigger crowds [with video]". The Santa Fe New Mexican. June 24, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Miniature Bulls — Horizon TV - okhorizon.com". www.okhorizon.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  5. ↑ "PBR becomes official sponsors of the Miniature Bull Riders Association". www.pbr.com. Professional Bull Riders. February 25, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Chris Shivers Miniature Bull Riders Finals". The Roughstock Gazette. October 31, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Miniature bull riding debuts at stock show – The Denver Post". January 11, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  8. ↑ "20 years of riding Tuff | News, Sports, Jobs - Messenger News". www.messengernews.net. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  9. ↑ "About Tuff-N-Nuff Miniature Rodeo Association". Tuff-N-Nuff. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.