The Three Greatest PBR Bulls of All Time
Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) was founded in 1992 and has since become one of the most popular rodeo events in the world. While there are many facets to a successful bull riding event, one of the most important is the bull itself. A rider can be as skilled as they come, but if the bull they’re paired with doesn’t cooperate, their performance will suffer.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at three of the greatest bulls to ever grace a PBR arena. These bovine athletes have thrilled crowds and helped their riders earn big scores time and again. So without further ado, let’s get started!
Three Greatest PBR Bulls of All Time
Bodacious (#001)
Arguably the most famous bull in rodeo history, Bodacious was a student of legendary trainer Ted Nuce. He debuted in 1992 and quickly became known for his incredible strength and size—as well as his propensity for injuring riders. In fact, Bodacious was responsible for breaking eight bones in six different riders during his career. Despite his dangerous reputation, he was still incredibly popular with fans and is often cited as one of the main reasons why PBR became so successful in its early days.
Today, Bodacious is retired and lives on a ranch in Decatur, Texas, where he spends his days hanging out with his BFF Medieval Times—a former rival who he frequently bested in the arena.
Little Yellow Jacket (#335)
This feisty bovine earned his namesake thanks to his striking yellow coat and diminutive stature. At just 1,400 pounds, Little Yellow Jacket was significantly smaller than most bulls competing in PBR events. What he lacked in size, however, he more than made up for in ability—winning multiple World Champion Bull titles during his career. He was particularly known for his quick starts and explosive spins, which often caught riders off guard and led to them being bucked off early on in their rides.
Interestingly, Little Yellow Jacket’s sire was none other than Bodacious himself—making him one of the few bulls to ever best his father in competition. He retired from rodeo in 2004 and now lives on a ranch in Kansas where he enjoys spending time with his many offspring.
Bushwacker (#172)
Dubbed “The Legend” by PBR commentators, Bushwacker holds the record for the highest-scoring ride in PBR history—a whopping 95 points out of 100! He achieved this feat at the 2013 World Finals event in Las Vegas after carrying rider Jared lobecki for 8 seconds before tossing him to the ground. In total, Bushwacker had 41 rides during his career (an impressive number given how difficult it is to stay on a bull for even 8 seconds!) and boasted a 75% buck-off rate. He officially retired from competition in 2015 and now resides at Silverado Ranch where he enjoys leisurely strolls around the property and basking in his well-deserved fame.
Conclusion
These three bulls have left an indelible mark on professional bull riding thanks to their skill, strength, and popularity with fans. While there are many great bulls out there performing today, it’s hard to imagine that any of them will be able to surpass the legacy left behind by Bodacious, Little Yellow Jacket or Bushwacker—the three greatest pbr bulls of all time!