Bull Riding - Tombstone

The Bull Riding event started as everyone stood while the ranchers wife rode around the arena on horseback with the US flag. A high school girl from Sierra Vista sang the national anthem.

After each rider had drawn a bull, they were introduced to the crowd. On Saturday they were all from the local area, after that the contest began.

The bulls are run into the chutes; the bull rider then loops his well rosined rope around the neck of the bull, after that he climbs onto the bulls back and settles himself down, well as well as you can settle down on the back of a bull! The riders wear spurs, but the rowels are blunted rather than pointed, well would you want to stick points into the side of a bull?

Once the bull turns his head to the front of the chute the gate is opened and the bull leaps out.

The rider uses one gloved hand to hold onto the rope and the other is kept high in the air to keep his balance. Each rider is trying to stay on the back of the bull for 8 seconds.

8 seconds doesn’t sound long, but……………

Once the rider falls off, and he does, then he has to keep out of the way of flying hooves and sharp horns.

Bull fighters distract the bull so the rider has chance to get out of the way and then direct the bull to the exit chute.

These bulls are huge and weigh about 2,000 lbs you definitely wouldn’t want to get stomped on by one of them.

Needless to say I don’t think we’ll be taking this up as a new hobby!

Have fun, we are!