Human
More Than Eight Seconds: Building the Future of Women's Bull Riding
• Jorden Halvorsen
More Than Eight Seconds: Building the Future of Women's Bull Riding
For decades, bull riding has been known as one of the toughest sports on earth. It's a sport built on grit, determination, and a willingness to get back up after every setback. While the spotlight has traditionally focused on the men's side of the arena, women have been proving for years that they belong in the bucking chutes—not because they're trying to make a statement, but because they genuinely love the sport.
Women's bull riding isn't new. It's simply entering a new chapter.
As someone who has spent years chasing this dream—and has been fortunate enough to win world titles before stepping into the role of growing the sport—I don't believe women's bull riding needs to become men's bull riding. I believe it deserves its own lane.
For years, female bull riders have found themselves caught between two extremes. There weren't enough opportunities to compete, and when those opportunities did exist, the stock wasn't always selected with the progression of women's competition in mind.
Creating opportunities isn't just about adding women's events to a schedule. It's about creating a place where athletes can grow. That starts with the right caliber of stock.
Not easy bulls. Not the rankest bulls in the country. The right bulls.
Bulls that reward good riding. Bulls that challenge competitors to improve. Bulls that separate great rides from average ones while allowing athletes to build confidence, consistency, and longevity. Every successful sport has a developmental pathway, and women's bull riding deserves the same.
Across the country, women of all ages are climbing aboard some of the best bucking bulls available—not because they're trying to prove they can, but because this is the sport they chose. Behind every ride are countless early mornings, long drives, practice sessions, injuries, sacrifices, and an unwavering commitment to getting better.
The courage this sport demands isn't measured by winning alone. It's measured by showing up after a hard wreck, putting in the work when no one is watching, and climbing back into the chute knowing exactly what the sport asks of you.
What many people don't see are the other 167 hours of the week. The workouts. The recovery. The miles on the road. The soreness. The mental preparation. The countless decisions that happen long before the gate ever opens.
Bull riding isn't just eight seconds on a Friday night. It's a lifestyle that demands consistency, discipline, and taking care of your body so you can be ready to do it all again.
That's something I've learned firsthand throughout my career. Staying healthy enough to compete consistently takes just as much work as learning how to ride. Recovery isn't a luxury—it's part of the job.
For me, companies like OptiWize have become part of that process. Every practice, every workout, every ride, and every impact add up over the course of a season. Taking care of my body isn't about finding shortcuts; it's about giving myself the best opportunity to show up ready—for the next practice, the next event, and the next opportunity.
As the level of competition continues to rise, so does the professionalism surrounding the sport. Today's athletes are investing more than ever in training, nutrition, recovery, and preparation because they understand that success is built just as much outside the arena as it is inside it.
That growth is happening because athletes continue to perform, fans continue to support, and companies, like OptiWize, are choosing to invest in the future of women's bull riding. Organizations are creating more events. Sponsors are increasing payouts. Producers are giving women bigger stages to compete on. Every one of those opportunities creates another stepping stone for the next generation.
Young girls who once believed bull riding wasn't an option are now growing up watching women compete at a high level. They don't just see possibility—they see a path.
We're not asking for a seat at someone else's table anymore. We're building our own.
One built on opportunity. On athlete development. On the belief that women's bull riding deserves a future that's sustainable, competitive, and respected in its own right.
Because the future of women's bull riding isn't measured by how closely it mirrors anyone else's. It's measured by the athletes it develops. The opportunities it creates. The communities it builds. And the young rider standing outside the arena fence today, watching, believing that one day she'll nod her head and chase the same dream.
At the end of the day, women's bull riding has always been about more than eight seconds. It's about resilience. It's about chasing a dream that few people truly understand. And it's about building something that will be here long after our own riding careers are over.
