The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) was created in 1992 when a group of 20 ambitious bull riders decided to flee the rodeo scene and bring more attention to professional bull riding. Headquartered in Pueblo, CO, the PBR expanded in 2006 and brought the brand to Canada. PBR Canada, based in Saskatoon, SK, is the home for all riders on the PBR Canada Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, the nation’s premiere series, and the Touring Pro Division developmental tour. THE RIDERS
The PBR’s cowboy athletes have to be physically strong, mentally tough and well conditioned to survive the week-in, week-out rigors of the Toughest Sport on Earth! Good physical and mental preparations are critical to success in the sport and also help mitigate the effects of inevitable injuries. While the prototypical bull rider is generally “smaller” in stature, he possesses inordinate strength in key muscle areas that are critical to bull riding success. Some bull riders rely heavily on this strength to power a ride, while others rely more heavily on balance and finesse. THE BULLS
The bulls of the PBR are finely-tuned athletes that compete with the same intensity and desire as the bull riders. Every bull that competes at the PBR level was bred and born to buck. A PBR bucking bull requires very little training and there is no negative stimulation used to get it to buck. The bull has the instinct and wants to buck. Today the top bucking bulls in the sport sell for more than $1 million, a true testament to the character, skill and ability it takes to be the world’s best. Bulls range from roughly 1,200 pounds to more than 2,000 pounds. Smaller bulls are generally faster, quicker and more likely to rely on finesse to throw the rider. Larger bulls are generally stronger and rely on power to toss riders from their backs. Regardless of physical characteristics, the greatest animal athletes in the PBR possess tremendous heart and desire. THE RULES
Top bulls are selected for each event and placed in a draw order. Riders are then matched against the bulls through a computer generated random draw. Once the bull is loaded into the bucking chute, the rider mounts the bull and secures his riding hand to the bull with a specially designed bull rope. The rope is pulled tight around the bull’s torso just behind the shoulders. There are no knots to secure the rope; it is held in place by the pressure that is applied through the rider’s grip alone. Once the ride begins, the rider is required to stay atop his bull for 8 seconds. The clock is started when the bull’s shoulder or hip crosses the plane of the bucking chute and is stopped when the rider’s hand comes out of the rope. The rider must ride with only one hand. If any part of the rider’s free arm comes in contact with the bull or their body, the rider is disqualified and the clock will stop. If the rider is bucked off or the clock is stopped for a disqualification prior to the 8 second buzzer, the rider receives no score.
