RL: If you didn’t pursue rodeo, what other career
path would you might have taken
PB: I thought that out uite a bit and I sll don’t really have an
answer. I really love basketball and I was prey good at it in High
School but I don’t imagine coming out of Montana that I would
have been able to go on too far with that, but you never know.
If I had the chance, I probably would have tried to go to college
and play basketball. I’ve always had a love for that sport and
it’s a lot like rodeo where things have to work out the right way
in your favor for you to have a future in it. It’s hard to say what
would have become of it but I like to think that I could have at
least tried it out.
RL: When going to defend your championship at RodeoHouston
this year you stated that you treated it like it was all new, how
did that help you stay focused What is the pressure like trying
to defend a tle, especially at such a famed rodeo
PB: That tacc really did work. I had some big moments where I
had to come through, like in the Seminals, I wasn’t one of the
higher up guys with money won coming into it. I had to win or
place high in the Seminals to be able to move onto the Finals. I
was 87 points and I honestly can’t remember if I won it or placed
second in the Seminals. But when it came down to the nals,
I stubbed a toe and bucked o in the eight-man. I got a second
chance drawing back to the four-man, I had a bull that I had
ust
rode in San Antonio for 88.5 points that I was hoping to get on
again and I think that’s where I needed to relax and realize that I
have been and done this before and that it was no big deal. But
in other moments, treang it like it was all new did put a lile
pressure on me that I didn’t intend to have. It didn’t end up
going my way that day, I had a perfect opportunity to repeat but
ust kind of fell short.
RL: How many rodeos on average to you travel to
each year Which one is your favorite and why
PB: My actual rodeo count for the year has been right around
110-115 rodeos. I’m not posive on how many I aended with
turnouts, but I would say at least 100 every year if not a lile
more. My favorite rodeo, besides the Naonal Finals, would have
to be San Antonio. I’ve had a lot of success there. I really like the
way they put that rodeo together, with the size of it and all, and
the way they treat you there. Houston would be a close second,
but I’ve always loved San Antonio, it’s a huge opportunity to set
your season up right.
RL: What is the toughest bull you have ridden to date Is there
any bull you haven’t rode yet that you hope to this season
PB: This will be a prey popular answer: Bruiser of D&H Cale
Company. I got on him about three years ago at a small rodeo in
yoming. He wasn’t supposed to be bucked but I had a re-ride
and so they had to buck him. I rode him about seven seconds
and the way they marked him I would have been 2 or 3 points.
I know I can ride him so I’m ust waing for that me when I can
draw him again somewhere and get another shot at him.
RL: How was it winning not only the year-end but the average
tle as well at the 40th Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals
Is there a dierent feeling of winning when it’s in your
home state
PB: Denitely. reat Falls Circuit Finals is an awesome weekend,
they really do a great ob with that event. Being able to come o
the NFR and come right back in January to a nals in Montana
is set up exactly how I’d want it to be. inning it this year was a
bigger deal for me because I struggled so much on the back half
of the Naonal Finals Rodeo that I had some doubts in my mind
if I even knew how to do this anymore. oing into the Montana
Circuit Finals I rode a bull that I had been on a couple of mes,
he actually bucked me o at the NFR ust a few weeks prior, I
rode him the rst round and won the round, then rode the other
two. That was the rst me I rode all three there. It helped me
prove to myself that I sll got it and that I ust need to relax and
keep pushing forward. I was prey happy to be able to have
that opportunity.
RL: What advice do you have for aspiring Bull Riders who
want to make a career as a professional cowboy
PB: The most important thing a younger kid needs to know,
barring any unforeseen tragedies, is that they have me and
they need to take it easy when they’re younger. e all want to
go like the world’s on re when we turn eighteen, but you’re not
going to get into rodeos right away with ualicaons and it’s
going to be tough on them to ust ump in the stream. I’d like the
kids to know that they need to ease into things and take care of
themselves at a younger age and it will pay o later on.
g , 32 Rodeo LIFE
Photo by PRCA ProRodeo