Dustin Martinez: Professional Bull Rider

After about 4 years old, I spent the majority of my young life traveling back and forth between Oklahoma and New Mexico as a result of divorced parents.  Growing up around and constantly being surrounded by the outdoors, animals, and other cowboys at both homes, it has all been a part of who I am ever since I can remember.  Horseback at the age of 3, rode my first sheep,  “ mutton bustin’ ” not long after, and the rest has all made me who I am today. I am now back in New Mexico helping with the family ranch, and still convinced that with this way of life comes many of life’s great things.  From the horses I work with, to the wildlife that helps us survive out here, I am constantly surrounded by life and creation.  This way of life never seems to  leave a person, sure as it never left me. A fifth generation cowboy and second generation bull rider, I continued on with my passion of riding wild animals and am now a professional bull rider, currently ranked in the world.  When I’m not traveling to and competing in events I spend the majority of my time working with horses, this ranging from: training, riding, farrier work, to giving riding lessons.  Bull riding, however, is the main focus in my life at the moment.  It is something I have trained at since I was a child, very similar to an Olympic athlete, and I don’t plan on letting up.