A Tale of the Unsung Rodeo Heroes: Bullfighters

Aside from the squeals and cheers of the rodeo audience, there are, shall we say, spookier noises coming from the chutes. From the stands, you can see the rider mount himself on the bull, but if you’re on the dirt, it’s a different story. In the arena, you see the rodeo clown hiding in the barrel. The rider’s grip tightens around the rope. Then, with a quick nod from the cowboy, a loud SNAP! erupts through the arena and the chute opens. While all eyes are on the bull and rider, bullfighters are watching for a different reason. What does a bullfighter do and how does bullfighting work?

Traditionally, a rodeo will include a rodeo clown and a couple of bullfighters. Between the funny makeup and silly costumes, it may be hard to tell who’s playing which role from the stands. But the rodeo clown’s primary role is to entertain the audience through jokes or gags, while the bullfighter has to protect the rider from getting stomped on or hooked after he falls off the bull.

And no, these guys didn’t lose a bet or draw the short stick out of the bunch; they chose to do this. In fact, bullfighters have to go to school for it! While there, they learn the basics, then work five or six rodeos, during which a coach evaluates them before they get their license. That’s right — you need a license to be a bullfighter! After all, we can’t make just anyone responsible for saving our cowboys.

We recently got to sit down with Scott Ramsey, who has been a bullfighter for nearly 20 years. We asked him what he’s thinking when the chute opens, and his answer was a little bit baffling. “Don’t think. It’s all reaction. You have to anticipate the next jump of the bull. Think, Where he’s going to land when he gets bucked off?” And even for someone as experienced as Scott, it’s difficult to predict what those bulls are going to do.

We all know that anything can happen in a rodeo. For a rider, every second stands between him and victory. But for a bullfighter, those seconds stand between the rider walking away or facing serious injuries. When the rider hits the dirt, the bullfighters make sure the rider gets out of the arena as safely as possible. Sometimes this means the bullfighter has to get in between the rider and the bull, or “shoot the gap” in rodeo terms. (Yikes. Nose goes.) Another technique bullfighters use is called “stepping in there”, where they actually pick the bull’s head up to redirect the bull’s attention away from the rider. It may seem like the bullfighters are taunting the bulls, but in reality, they’re only distracting the bull long enough for the rider to get out of the ring.

“Bullfighters are the unsung heroes. People think that when you get hooked you’ve made a big save. But usually, when you get hooked, that’s because you weren’t in the right place at the right time. When they don’t know you’re there — that’s when you’ve done your job,” added Scott of his experiences.

Now you might be wondering, But who helps the bullfighter? Remember the rodeo clown and his barrel? Although rodeo clowns are the designated funny men, they will often try to help the bullfighters. Sometimes, a rodeo clown will throw his hat at the bull so it can focus on the barrel.

With all of this in mind, next time you see a bullfighter (or a rodeo clown), be sure to give them a high five and thank them for doing what they do. Because — let’s face it — we’re not doing that job!

Want to see what the Silver Spurs Rodeo is all about? Check our event schedule to see when our next rodeo is and when tickets go on sale. Between the action-packed rodeo events and the family-fun activities, you won’t want to miss the rodeo when it comes to town!