Buck up!

Buck up!

New York, United States
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Climbing on the back of a 1,500 lbs (630 kg) madly bucking bull and clinging on for eight seconds as it tries to launch you into the air might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but for the competitors who performed at the Professional Bull Riders’ “Monster Energy Invitational” in New York this January, this is their life.

. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

Riders like these came from around the world to compete in the event, which kicks off the Professional Bull Riders' 'Built Ford Tough Series' - an eight month season of bull-riding competitions that tours around the United States and is marketed with big bulls, bigger talk and plenty of swagger. “PBR is bringing the pain, as the toughest cowboys and baddest bulls on the planet rock Madison Square Garden in January!” promised publicity. Hard man-showmanship spread through the arena too, as these four competitors lined up for introductions behind a strip of flame.

. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

The challenge the riders face is to stay on a bull like this one for eight seconds, holding on with just one hand to a rope tied around the animal’s chest. The bulls – which have names like “Bushwacker” “Asteroid” and “Smackdown” – are encouraged to buck even more by a strap tied around their belly, which PBR's president explained is loose enough to make the animal think it can kick it off, but tight enough that it won’t come off easily.

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Slideshow

Bulls are herded into Madison Square Garden in preparation for the Professional Bull Riders Invitational.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

Bulls are herded into Madison Square Garden in preparation for the Professional Bull Riders Invitational.

A bull chases handlers in the arena.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A bull chases handlers in the arena.

Spurs glinting, a handler helps secure a bull before a ride.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

Spurs glinting, a handler helps secure a bull before a ride.

A rider and his bull are released into the ring.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A rider and his bull are released into the ring.

A competitor with two of his fingers bandaged folds his arms as he watches part of the event.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A competitor with two of his fingers bandaged folds his arms as he watches part of the event.

One of the competitors rests and closes his eyes after a ride on a bull.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

One of the competitors rests and closes his eyes after a ride on a bull.

A rider grips the rope around the bull’s chest with one hand, as he flings his other arm wide. If a competitor touches the bull or himself with his free hand, or if he lets go of the bull rope, he gets disqualified and is not awarded any points for his ride.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A rider grips the rope around the bull’s chest with one hand, as he flings his other arm wide. If a competitor touches the bull or himself with his free hand, or if he lets go of the bull rope, he gets disqualified and is not awarded any points for his ride.

A competitor grins before the start of his ride. Some of the riders put on helmets before getting on the bull but others just use cowboy hats.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A competitor grins before the start of his ride. Some of the riders put on helmets before getting on the bull but others just use cowboy hats.

A bull chases a rodeo clown who helps keep the crowd entertained.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A bull chases a rodeo clown who helps keep the crowd entertained.

A young member of the audience adjusts her cowboy hat as she watches a rider on a bull.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A young member of the audience adjusts her cowboy hat as she watches a rider on a bull.

A rodeo clown jumps off stage during the show.
. New York, United States. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

A rodeo clown jumps off stage during the show.

“I had to stick my camera through the bars and lean back so I didn’t get kicked in the face.”
Ertic Thayer, Reuters Photographer

“Don’t even think about calling it a rodeo… this is BULL RIDING! This is PBR! THREE SNOT SPEWING, BONE CRUSHING, ADRENELINE SOAKED PERFORMANCES!”

This is how Madison Square Garden advertised the Professional Bull Riders show that it hosted this January, and the swagger didn’t stop there.

As I watched the show, the riders were shouting, pumping their fists, showing off to the crowd before they got on the bull.

It was all for good reason: they were doing something I couldn’t imagine trying myself. During the show the riders climb up on one of these huge, powerful animals in a sort of metal chute, and then are let out into the massive arena in Madison Square and have to hold on for eight seconds as it tries to buck them off. While I was watching them, eight seconds felt like a long time.

The riders came from all over the place, including the States, Australia, Brazil. The show felt like a real melting pot of bull riding culture. The crowd was really mixed too, with some people from Manhattan, some from the outer boroughs of New York, and some people who I think came in from more rural areas. It was a really interesting, different mix of people in New York.

I didn’t get to talk to the riders myself. They seemed pretty concentrated on what they were doing and I didn’t think it would be good to interrupt! But I did come very close to them while I was shooting the event. For part of the time, I was taking pictures from right inside the chute where they climbed on the bulls, and I had to stick my camera through the bars and lean back so I didn’t get kicked in the face.

The riders seemed like real characters, and they had to be tough. None of them exactly stepped right off where they were finished – they flew into the air. They were also are all pretty young, which seems to make sense. I imagine you don’t last all that long in this profession.

(Reporting by Eric Thayer; Writing by Hannah Vinter)

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