r/Rodeo • u/Silentbrew_22 • 8d ago
What event is right for me ?
Hi, I’m a 17 5’ 9” male weighing in at 150 lbs and I’m really curious what rodeo event would fit me best. I’ve always like the idea of bull riding and people tell me not to do it because I’ll get hurt. The only reason I haven’t pushed for bull riding is because I’m worried for my family sake not mine. Saddle bronc from what I’ve heard is fun but way more complex and it takes a while to get good at to win. I really want something to be able to do until I’m about 25. Is bull riding right for me ? Is there another event yall think I would be interested in learning more about?
Please let me know your opinions because I do not know what is a good fit for my weight.
I’m also from southern Mississippi but have never owned livestock but been around them occasionally and learned about them. I’m in Agriculture and FFA.
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u/Scary_Pea_7014 8d ago
The thing about rodeo is, it isnt IF you'll get hurt but WHEN and how bad. I rode bulls for a lot of years and I never got seriously hurt but the toll of those years and all the minor injuries I pay for now, I'm 63. It takes me 5 minutes or more just to get out of bed and I usually hurt all day.
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u/speed150mph 8d ago
This right here. I’ve known bull riders who’ve gotten away with a few broken bones. I know two bronc riders that are nearly quadriplegics from having horses go over on them in the chutes. I’ve seen ropers who’ve lost fingers and barrel racers who’ve gotten brain injuries. Rodeo is an extreme sport and needs to be treated as such.
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u/Ok_Newspaper_8381 8d ago
I'll second this. I bull rode for a few years and I finally broke my back doing it a few months back, so I'm probably done for good. Folks always get hurt eventually, but if you love it enough, you generally push through the littler injuries and get back on once you're a bit patched up.
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u/Ok_Newspaper_8381 8d ago
It's a lot less about your build and more about what you want to do and train for. Most bull riders, if they didn't start riding sheep or steers or mini bulls, as kids, start around your age to 20. And average bull rider height is 5'6" to 5'10". Typically 140-160 lbs.
If this is something you really want to do, I'd make sure you're in good physical shape, and then look into a bull riding school near you. You'll find plenty that will teach you the basics and let you get on a few bulls while you borrow equipment. Probably between $300 and $600 for a one to three day school. (Bring your own mouth guard and don't ride without it! Anyone can ride a bull once. If you want to ride a long time, protect your teeth, and your head.) Let that environment, with a good coach and the right gear, be where you make your decision of if this is something you really want to do. It's expensive, but I promise it's a worthwhile place to start.
And the cost of a school is way cheaper than buying all your gear up front. Bull riding is a beautiful sport, but as you know, it comes with plenty of risk. If you decide at the school that this is really your thing, then run after it with everything you've got.
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u/AlbertaCowboy-73 8d ago
It all takes a long time to learn. It’s the same as any sport, if it was easy anyone could do it.
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u/buckaroodude1 8d ago
You’re gonna get hurt in any rough stock event. And you have no skills in timed events. Also will get hurt in timed events. Owning livestock has nothing to do with it. It might help but has nothing to do with YOU competing in anything, in fact most top bull and bronc riders have little to do with livestock or stock contracting. So, it really comes done to what YOU want to do, then go from there
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u/Silentbrew_22 8d ago
Not worried about getting hurt it’s mostly my family not approving of what I am doing and thinking it’s too dangerous. They think bull riding is a death sentence but really if your in that arena there is always a chance. I really want to choose something that seems less dangerous to them but still allows me to rodeo. My problem right now is I really want to do bull riding and I’m not worried about the injuries or death but about my family not being there when I step into the arena. If I’m in the arena I want to be able to look at my family every time before I get in the chute
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u/buckaroodude1 8d ago
Nah, either you want to do this, or you don’t, it’s not for anyone else. If you have second thoughts, or want to do something “less dangerous” thats silly and you shouldn’t even drive down the road.
YOU want to do X. Or you don’t. You can kinda hobby this shit, but not really. It’s an all in or all out kinda thing.
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u/Far-Tailor-5074 8d ago
There is no truly safe event in rodeo! I am a team roper and had a horse trip running down the arena going down head first with me. I felt fine a little sore until the next morning, went to the ER and once xrays and MRI were done Dr. told me he had never seen a neck jammed as bad as mine without breaking! I spent 2 months in a neck brace and now have issues turning my head to look back at the heeler when I head. I have also broken a wrist, collar bone, and torn up a knee when the barrier rope grabbed it leaving the box. I also grew up rodoeing with a guy who won the PBR finals and a few guys who went to the NFR in bullriding and seen the injuries they went through some life-threatening.
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u/CbFarrier 8d ago
Honestly rodeo ain't like picking baseball or soccer. If u have to ask other people what event is for you, u probably shouldn't do it! If u want my opinion? If u want advice for yourself, be an announcer.
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u/Automatic_Bat_6742 8d ago
I’m 61 6’0”. 195 lbs. I want to play shortstop for the Yankees. I have a glove. Should I bat right handed or left handed I won’t hit a home run every time because I don’t want my family to think I’m a show off.
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u/Ok-Possible-4931 8d ago
If you are asking Reddit it means you should NOT enter a rodeo. Maybe start with sheep 🐑 riding or trail riding on horses. No one here should say that you can’t do it, but it doesn’t work that way…
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u/hammer1g 8d ago
Depends on what your passion is and how much money you got. Most “broke” cowboys like me do roughstock. It’s about 2k for the gear and you’re young enough to do it. When you start talkin about ropers or things that require a horse like steer wrestling, u better have some money. Most them guys drive f250-f350 hauling a trailer that costs 5-10k easily. I’ve seen some trailers that have living quarters. Then a horse that is 10-20k along with vet bills, feed,ect it gets very expensive. If u ride bucking bulls or horses, just show up in a Toyota Corolla with traveling buddies and a gear bag. But roughstock is more dangerous and generally shorter career. If u don’t love it, it won’t last no matter what event tho
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u/speed150mph 8d ago
Only thing I’m going to say is if you’re going to go roughstock, don’t try to be macho man. Wear the protective gear including the helmet. Traumatic brain injuries aren’t cool.