Safer learning
The Walters
help rodeo enthusiasts prepare for bull riding
By Amy Kyllo
STAFF WRITER
PINE ISLAND — The Walters are creating space for aspiring bull riders to more safely learn the sport.
“Growing up, I’d have loved a place that I could go, like what we’re trying to do, to go out and learn,” said Joshua Walters. “When (we) get some kids out there that have never seen it or been around it, they light up and just have a good time. ... That’s kind of what it’s about.”
Joshua and his wife, Hannah, started the Back 40 Arena near Pine Island, where they informally help bull riders.
Though they welcome everyone, Hannah said their focus is new riders and riders coming back from an injury.
“He really wanted a place that beginners could come and focus on their skills and their proper technique (and) proper safety,” Hannah said.
Joshua was a bull rider on the circuit from 2016 into the beginning of 2019, doing 20-30 rodeos a year.
In their years of bucking bulls at their arena, they have never had a bull-related injury.
“All the bulls we have now are handpicked to be docile on the ground, and also when the riders come off,” Hannah said.
The Walters have four bucking bulls: Superstar, Tim, Steve and Muley. Each bull has a different level of difficulty for riders. Superstar is the bull for beginners while Muley has never been ridden for 8 seconds on their property.
“Having them be docile really lessens (the risk),” Hannah said. “They can focus on their technique, instead of having to worry about (getting seriously injured).”
Superstar, she said,is bad at bucking, but friendly with riders when they fall off in front of him.
“He bops them on the back of the helmet with his mouth and then just backs up and walks away,” Hannah said.
Muley, who is their best bull, enjoys bucking.
“If the rider stays on for more than 4 seconds …he will run to the gate kicking up dirt, bellowing to high heaven,” she said.
The Walters’ rodeo journey and love story started in 2016.
Joshua saw bull riding on TV and was interested in it, but his parents did not allow him to do it until he turned 18. When he came of age, Joshua found two bull riding clinics.
Around the same time, Hannah noticed his profile on Facebook because they had one mutual friend and decided to message him. Their first meeting was at a March rodeo in Rochester.
Hannah said she was running on several days without sleep and hit the giggly stage where everything felt funny. She said she told him afterwards she would not be offended if he never spoke to her again.
“As we’re walking to the truck, I get a text that says, ‘I’m talking to you. Have a good night, please drive safely, and get some sleep,’” Hannah said.
They were engaged at the rodeo in Rochester that July and, in November, were married.
Hannah said she has been able to attend all but a handful of Joshua’s rodeos. Joshua was named the rookie of the year by Great Frontier Bull Riding and went to the Central Bull Riders Association bull riding finals three years.
“The biggest thing that I had going for me is that I ... tried a lot ... giving it 100%,” Joshua said. “(Versus) not just giving up, (and) falling off the bull.”
In February 2019, Joshua was one of 40 riders and 40 bulls to be flown to Saudi Arabia to display the sport there. During the COVID pandemic, the two built the arena with plans to become bull contractors after Joshua quit riding.
During the warm months, the Walters regularly have practice pens where they have a few friends come out and buck bulls.
“It’s a lot of fun to see when you get people out there that generally want to know more about it, ... whether they’re riding or just learning what goes on behind the scenes,” Joshua said.
This year, they are working on again updating and redoing their arena system. Once complete, Hannah said they hope to get back to bucking bulls once a week.
Each bull is bucked twice during a practice pen. The Walters video each ride so the rider can improve. Hannah said they will not put a rider on a bull they are not ready for.
“Sometimes, we’ll bump them down to Superstar or a lower-caliber bull so they can really, really focus on what they need to work on,” she said.
Joshua said the mental aspect of bull riding is one of the biggest parts.
“There’s a lot of people out there that make it overly complicated and try and add in all kinds of unnecessary stuff,” Joshua said. “Especially for beginners trying to get started, it doesn’t set them up for success, because (they are) worried about too many different things.”
Hannah admits their bulls are not the highest quality.
“We want them to be good enough for the riders, but we don’t really care how they perform,” Hannah said. “We are more worried about, ‘Hey, we’re going to pair this rider with this bull, because that’s kind of his level.’”
Hannah said this is a difference from some other places where riders can ride bulls.
“They’re throwing the riders on their youngstock to see what that stock will do ... it’s not really for your practice,” Hannah said.
The Walters are becoming a limited liability company. At the end of this year or into next year, they hope to bring in bull contractors and have bull riding with jackpots.
help rodeo enthusiasts prepare for bull riding
By Amy Kyllo
STAFF WRITER
PINE ISLAND — The Walters are creating space for aspiring bull riders to more safely learn the sport.
“Growing up, I’d have loved a place that I could go, like what we’re trying to do, to go out and learn,” said Joshua Walters. “When (we) get some kids out there that have never seen it or been around it, they light up and just have a good time. ... That’s kind of what it’s about.”
Joshua and his wife, Hannah, started the Back 40 Arena near Pine Island, where they informally help bull riders.
Though they welcome everyone, Hannah said their focus is new riders and riders coming back from an injury.
“He really wanted a place that beginners could come and focus on their skills and their proper technique (and) proper safety,” Hannah said.
Joshua was a bull rider on the circuit from 2016 into the beginning of 2019, doing 20-30 rodeos a year.
In their years of bucking bulls at their arena, they have never had a bull-related injury.
“All the bulls we have now are handpicked to be docile on the ground, and also when the riders come off,” Hannah said.
The Walters have four bucking bulls: Superstar, Tim, Steve and Muley. Each bull has a different level of difficulty for riders. Superstar is the bull for beginners while Muley has never been ridden for 8 seconds on their property.
“Having them be docile really lessens (the risk),” Hannah said. “They can focus on their technique, instead of having to worry about (getting seriously injured).”
Superstar, she said,is bad at bucking, but friendly with riders when they fall off in front of him.
“He bops them on the back of the helmet with his mouth and then just backs up and walks away,” Hannah said.
Muley, who is their best bull, enjoys bucking.
“If the rider stays on for more than 4 seconds …he will run to the gate kicking up dirt, bellowing to high heaven,” she said.
The Walters’ rodeo journey and love story started in 2016.
Joshua saw bull riding on TV and was interested in it, but his parents did not allow him to do it until he turned 18. When he came of age, Joshua found two bull riding clinics.
Around the same time, Hannah noticed his profile on Facebook because they had one mutual friend and decided to message him. Their first meeting was at a March rodeo in Rochester.
Hannah said she was running on several days without sleep and hit the giggly stage where everything felt funny. She said she told him afterwards she would not be offended if he never spoke to her again.
“As we’re walking to the truck, I get a text that says, ‘I’m talking to you. Have a good night, please drive safely, and get some sleep,’” Hannah said.
They were engaged at the rodeo in Rochester that July and, in November, were married.
Hannah said she has been able to attend all but a handful of Joshua’s rodeos. Joshua was named the rookie of the year by Great Frontier Bull Riding and went to the Central Bull Riders Association bull riding finals three years.
“The biggest thing that I had going for me is that I ... tried a lot ... giving it 100%,” Joshua said. “(Versus) not just giving up, (and) falling off the bull.”
In February 2019, Joshua was one of 40 riders and 40 bulls to be flown to Saudi Arabia to display the sport there. During the COVID pandemic, the two built the arena with plans to become bull contractors after Joshua quit riding.
During the warm months, the Walters regularly have practice pens where they have a few friends come out and buck bulls.
“It’s a lot of fun to see when you get people out there that generally want to know more about it, ... whether they’re riding or just learning what goes on behind the scenes,” Joshua said.
This year, they are working on again updating and redoing their arena system. Once complete, Hannah said they hope to get back to bucking bulls once a week.
Each bull is bucked twice during a practice pen. The Walters video each ride so the rider can improve. Hannah said they will not put a rider on a bull they are not ready for.
“Sometimes, we’ll bump them down to Superstar or a lower-caliber bull so they can really, really focus on what they need to work on,” she said.
Joshua said the mental aspect of bull riding is one of the biggest parts.
“There’s a lot of people out there that make it overly complicated and try and add in all kinds of unnecessary stuff,” Joshua said. “Especially for beginners trying to get started, it doesn’t set them up for success, because (they are) worried about too many different things.”
Hannah admits their bulls are not the highest quality.
“We want them to be good enough for the riders, but we don’t really care how they perform,” Hannah said. “We are more worried about, ‘Hey, we’re going to pair this rider with this bull, because that’s kind of his level.’”
Hannah said this is a difference from some other places where riders can ride bulls.
“They’re throwing the riders on their youngstock to see what that stock will do ... it’s not really for your practice,” Hannah said.
The Walters are becoming a limited liability company. At the end of this year or into next year, they hope to bring in bull contractors and have bull riding with jackpots.
