How to Become a Professional Bull Rider

Professional bull riding is one of the most dangerous occupations in America. To become a professional bull rider, you will need to practice bull riding, purchase good equipment and become a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Read on to learn how to become a professional bull rider.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Notary
• Bull-riding rope
• Bull-rider gloves
• Protective vest (recommended)
• Printer
• Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association contestant card

Practice Your Bull Riding Skills

1. Grip the bull with your knees and legs. You want to keep the lower half of your body in tight contact with the bull to stay seated as long as possible.
2. Practice keeping your upper body loose. You use your upper body as a counterbalance to the bull's bucking by leaning in the opposite direction.
3. Allow your free hand to wave high in the air. You will be disqualified in competition if your free hand touches the bull or yourself.

Gather Bull Riding Equipment

4. Think about buying a protective vest. Protective vests made of ballistic material are lightweight, but can help deflect many horn strikes. Vests are rather expensive, though.
5. Invest in a good pair of bull-riding gloves. As a professional bull rider, you will spend a lot of time holding fast to biting ropes. Choose gloves that feature slightly longer fingers, which can be pulled on more tightly to reduce the chance of getting caught up in the rope on dismount.
6. Pick a 9/16-inch-thick bull riding rope for a firm connection. Many professional bull riders prefer rope with three "sliders" (pieces of the rope that can loosen or tighten depending on the bull's movement).

Become a Member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

7. Visit the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association website (see Resources below). The PRCA is the governing body for the majority of professional rodeos in America, and you will need to be a member to compete in its rodeos.
8. Download and print out the "Permit Application" form found on the PRCA website. You will need to have the form notarized and include a membership fee when you send the form back to PRCA.
9. Sign up and compete in PRCA-approved rodeos to work on winning enough prize money to apply for a PRCA contestant membership card. Once you have reached a set amount of winnings, you can apply for the card by filling out the "contestant application" form and sending it in.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider attending a rodeo school that specializes in training you to be a bull rider. These experts can usually teach you techniques to increase your ride time and avoid serious injuries.