The History of Professional Bull Riding

Professional bull riding is not a popular sport in many areas of the United States. People in many states in the South and West, however, thoroughly enjoy the sport. Bull riding has a very long history, and was one of the first sports ever to take place in the United States.

  1. Early History

    • Bull riding can be traced back to the early 1700s, when Spanish ranchers governed the southwestern portion of the North American continent. Spanish ranchers influenced many cowboys, and these cowboys adopted from them what has become the modern sport of bull riding. At the ends of long cattle drives, cowboys would often hold contests in order to see who was best at both riding and roping. These contests eventually gave birth to bull riding as we know it today.

    Initial Organized Rodeo

    • Eventually, onlookers would pay a fee to watch cowboys compete. Many cowboys would pay money to compete in hopes of winning the prize pool. Frontier towns all across the West began to endorse their community rodeo, and the rodeo soon became one the year's most awaited events.

    Developed Organized Rodeo

    • As the traditional Western lifestyle dwindled to an end in the late 1800s, the popularity of rodeo grew immensely. No longer was the sport confined to the West, but it was known all over the country. Many cowboys realized that they could make a living simply off of rodeo, and quickly came organized rules and regulations that would create a national standard for the sport.

    Riders' Strike

    • Organized rodeo, however, still had its flaws. Oftentimes, prizes were small, judging was inconsistent, and safety was no concern of promoters. However, in 1936, a group of about 60 became angry with their promoter, W.T. Johnson. Johnson refused to advertise, and he did not put the cowboys' entry fees toward the prize. The cowboys refused to compete and walked out, forcing Johnson to compromise and offer better pay and above all, fairness.

    Rodeo Today

    • Professional bull riding continues to grow as a spectator sport to this day. Many high schools and colleges have competitive rodeo teams. The Rodeo Cowboys Association became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 1975. It is the biggest professional rodeo group in the United States. As seen on major television networks such as ESPN and Spike TV, the PRCA has become a legitimate sports organization over the past few decades.