You just gotta do what you can to stay on. Get a hold of him with your spurs. – Ryder Wright
HEBER CITY — Ryder Wright was the only cowboy to stay on the back of an ornery bull for the required eight seconds in the opening round of the Utah High School Rodeo Finals Wednesday morning.
But judges quickly ruled that the bull didn’t perform like it should, so they offered the Milford junior a re-ride.
Just as the announcer was suggesting Wright may want to keep the 40 points to stay in the running for a state title, the 17-year-old signaled that he’d give up the score for a shot at a better ride.
He made it about six seconds before the bull changed directions and tossed him into the dirt at the Wasatch County Fairgrounds.
“I don’t know,” he said softly when asked why he took the re-ride when no other cowboy managed to make the whistle. “I’m feeling pretty safe going to nationals right now. But I don’t know, I guess I’m not here to take second place.”
Wright, who leads the state in both bull riding and saddle broncs, faced the same scenario in last year’s bull riding competition, but he made a different choice.
“I didn’t take it last year,” he said of the re-ride. Wright went on to win not only the bull riding state title, but also the all-around cowboy title as he placed second in saddle bronc riding. The top four at the end of this week's competitions will represent Utah at the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Wright was visibly disappointed but said he felt confident taking the re-ride option because he’s having such a great year.
“It happens,” he said of bad rides, tough days. There is only one way to get over it, he said, and that’s to climb back on and ride again.
“Practice your way out of it, I guess,” he said. “Just keep your head clear. It happens to everybody.”
Wright understands the realities of rodeo as well as any of the teens competing in this year’s state finals. His father is two-time national saddle bronc champion Cody Wright, and three of his uncles have also won national titles. In fact, last year at the National Finals Rodeo, the Wright family did what no other family in history has done in the sport and that’s qualify four of the brothers for the 15 slots available to saddle bronc riders at the NFR.
It was during a dismount that Cody Wright dislocated his shoulder, an injury that has limited the amount of time he can compete this spring.
“I don’t think I’ve missed any of the high school rodeos this year,” said Cody smiling. “I usually get to a lot of them because April and May are slower times for us. I am home all week to help them practice. They might have to go to rodeos by themselves, but at least I get to help them practice, and I think that’s the most important thing anyway.” Cody Wright said he always cringes when any of his four boys starts riding bulls.
“It gets better the older they get,” he said. “At first, I think because I’ve done it, I think ‘Oh… (shivers). You guys just don’t even know what you’re in for.' …They’re big strong, powerful animals.”
And unpredictable.
Ryder said that biggest difference between saddle bronc riding and bull riding is the technique involved in riding bucking horses.
“When you ride broncs, there is a lot more stuff you’ve got to do,” he said. “You’ve got to stay back and lift and spur. But once you get the hang of bronc riding, it’s a little bit more muscle memory. It’s a little simpler than riding bulls.”
What’s required of bull riding?
“You just gotta do what you can to stay on,” he said without cracking a smile. “Get a hold of him with your spurs.”
Cody, who along with his brothers and oldest son Rusty, help coach Ryder on all things rodeo, said his advice is pretty straight forward when it comes to riding bulls. “Looks to me like bear down and try hard,” he said laughing. “Keep one foot on one side, one foot on the other side, and your mind in the middle.”
Cody Wright said most all of the Wrights have at least tried bull riding, but few have had as much success as Ryder has had the last two years. In fact, Rusty Wright, who won a state and national title last year, was nearly always hurt when it came time to bull ride for championships when he was in high school.
In fact, it’s the potential for injuries that deters most cowboys. “I chose (bronc riding) because I had a family,” he said. “I figured my career would be longer. I thought it was a little bit safer. You know, with bull riding, they say it’s not if you get hurt but when and how bad.”
Ryder said he doesn’t feel like he has to live up to the standard of success set by his dad, uncles and older brother. If he feels any pressure, it’s a burden he puts on his own back. “It’s what I want to do, and what I want to accomplish,” he said. “(My dad) isn’t forcing us to do anything. He’s just there to support us. We’ve got the best coaches around.” Cody Wright, who has four boys and one daughter, said watching his boys compete brings him more joy than being in the sport himself.
“I love to come and watch him,” Cody said, the grin returning to his face and his blue eyes shining. “I’d sooner be here than out there. …This doesn’t pay the bills, so I have to go.”
He said he supported his son’s decision to give up the only qualified ride of the morning performance.
“Looking back, sure I wish he’d have been able to keep the 40 (points),” Cody Wright said. “But I’m glad he wants to win first. I don’t think you should ever look back when you’re trying to be a winner.”
Twitter: adonsports EMAIL: adonaldson@deseretnews.com