Is it possible to ride a bull

Bulls are more dangerous than many other animals including horses and donkeys because they have higher levels of aggression, are stronger, have dangerous horns and hooves, and have a considerable mass. In a paper in the Journal of Agromedicine from , it was postulated that bulls were responsible for more deaths than any other farm animal, except from horses.

Bulls present a danger to riders, and can cause serious injuries in the following ways:. Even if the bull is friendly, there are a few steps most bull riding professionals will walk you through. Just like riding a horse, riding a bull can be made much safer by wearing safety gear. As a bare minimum, a professional will make sure you are wearing a riding hat and a body protector to protect you in case you come off. Bulls are more likely to become angry than an ox, a horse, or a donkey.

A professional will walk you through how to approach the bull. Although the basic idea is the same, riding a horse is a different experience from riding a bull. Bulls are slow, steady rides compared to horses which are quick and agile, and bulls require more patience and training for them to accept a rider than horses, which are more used to people on their backs.

In some cultures mostly in India and Asia riding a bull or cow is commonplace, and bulls, cows, and oxen are frequently used to transport people and goods.

In Spain, the United States, and Mexico however, there is an entirely different way to ride a bull, which is a lot more dangerous. Bull-riding as a sport first came about in modern-day Mexico as far back as the s, where it was known as charreada. But unlike the other roughstock events, bull riders are not required to mark out their animals. While spurring a bull can add to the cowboy's score, riders are commonly judged on their ability to stay aboard the twisting, bucking ton of muscle and rage.

Balance, flexibility, coordination, quick reflexes and a good mental attitude are the stuff good bull riders are made of. To stay aboard the bull, a rider uses a flat braided rope, which is wrapped around the barrel of the bull's chest just behind the front legs and over its withers. One end of the bull rope, called the tail, is threaded through a loop on the other end and tightened around the bull.

The rider then wraps the tail around his hand, sometimes weaving it through his fingers to further secure his grip. And no one has come close to joining him since he rode Wolfman back in In general, bulls have more raw power — and a totally different style of movement — when compared to bucking horses.

Judges also look for constant control and rhythm in the rider as he tries to match his movements with the bull. For points to be awarded, the rider must stay mounted to the bull for a minimum of eight seconds, and he is scored only for his actions during those eight seconds.