Bull Riding is known as the “toughest sport on dirt;” it requires balance, strength, and a great deal of courage in order to succeed. The objective of the sport is to stay on the bull as long as physically possible. Most people wonder why anyone would want to risk their lives just to ride on a bull. Maybe it’s for the adrenaline rush or for the feeling of conquering the gigantic animal. Who knows, but the sport contains many rules and details that make it the sport that it is.
For starters, the rider is required to stay on the bull for at least eight seconds in order to receive a valid score. Eight seconds may sound unassuming, but with a 2000 pound animal trying to throw you off, it can feel like a lifetime. The scoring is based on a 100 point scale—50 points for the rider and 50 points for the bull. The rider is assessed by their ability to stay on the bull with control and balance. The bull is scored based on its aggressiveness—a harder bull translates to a higher score. An average score is usually within the 70s, and an outstanding score is usually in the 90s. However, a perfect score is considered nearly impossible and has only been achieved once in rodeo history.
Bull riding competitions are usually held in arenas and fairgrounds across the country. The competition that is considered the most prestigious is the PBR World Finals. Recently, John Crimber was crowned the 2026 PBR World Champion. He became one of the youngest PBR champions in history, achieving a spectacular score of 91.35. Crimber rode away with a grand prize of 1 million dollars for his hard work.
Bull riding continues to be a growing sport across America for its thrilling and dangerous nature. It will continue to thrive for many years to come, so if you are switching channels on the TV and you see bull riding, it is definitely worth watching.