The #1 Fundamental Move in Bull Riding: Get to the Front
The #1 Fundamental Move in Bull Riding: Get to the Front
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If you’re asking, “What’s the most important move to successfully ride a bull?” the answer is simple: get to the front. Whether you're on a beginner steer or the rankest PBR bull, getting to the front is non-negotiable. But how do you consistently improve that skill? The answer: drills, drills, and more drills.
Why Drilling the Basics Matters
Let me take you back to my wrestling days. I started wrestling at five years old and competed all the way through high school. After nearly a decade on the mat, I was shocked when, as a freshman, we spent two straight weeks drilling the half nelson the very first move you learn. buckrite bucking machine
It felt ridiculous at the time. But now, as a wrestling coach and father of a young wrestler, I understand why. Repetition builds muscle memory. When you don’t have to think when your body just reacts you’re in control. And that principle applies directly to bull riding. buckrite
How Bull Riding and Wrestling Are Alike
In wrestling, you can drill moves with a cooperative partner. In bull riding? Not so much. Bulls don’t “go easy,” and most riders don’t have a yard full of practice bulls. So how do you build the skills and confidence you need?
DIY Bull Riding Training: How I Got Started
When I started riding in junior high, I lived right in the middle of town no horses, no bulls, not even a 4H steer. But I was determined. So I improvised.
I watched Mesquite Championship Rodeo on TNN (back when it existed) and recorded every episode on VHS. Later, PBR events were broadcast on that channel too, which gave me even more footage to study. I built a makeshift practice setup: a 55-gallon barrel with carpet on top, right in the middle of my dad’s living room. bull fighting vest
And then I went to work. I must’ve “ridden” thousands of bulls in that living room. So many, I wore out the carpet. My dad still jokes about it. But here’s the thing it worked. That stationary barrel taught me more about bull riding than falling off real bulls ever could have at that stage.
Build Confidence Before You Ride Live Bulls
Confidence matters. Getting bucked off constantly as a beginner kills morale. It’s the same in youth sports I see kids quitting because they’re thrown into games before learning the basics. Skill and confidence come from practice.
A stationary barrel costs next to nothing, and it lets you practice without bulls, without bullfighters, without anyone. It sharpens your form and mental focus, the most important part of bull riding. Like they say:
“Bull riding is 90% mental, 10% physical.”
The Six-Inch Drill: Mastering the Fundamentals
So what should you actually do on the barrel? My go-to is the Six-Inch Drill.
Here’s how it works:
- Limit all movement to six inches.
- Focus on perfect form—this is your chance to build good habits.
- Use your legs, not your riding hand, to stay forward and drive movement.
- Keep your chest out and shoulders square, never slouched or leaning back.
Even though the barrel doesn’t move, you do. Imagine how you’d ride a bull that jumps out and stops you wouldn’t fling yourself forward. This drill helps you ride with control, precision, and purpose. roping sled dummy
How Long Should You Train?
Yes, it can get boring. That’s why I kept the barrel in the living room I’d hop on while watching rodeos. Sometimes I trained for hours. Sometimes just 15 minutes. But I did it every single day.
Repetition matters. Even pro athletes practice the basics. NFL players do ghost routes. Bull riders? We need to work drills, too.
Record. Review. Improve.
Film yourself. Then go to https://rodeoonlinestore.com
Final Thoughts: Want It Bad Enough
If you want to be a great bull rider, you have to put in the work. Excuses don’t ride bulls you do. You don’t need money or bulls in your backyard. Just a barrel and a will to succeed. buckrite for sale Report this page