Bullfighter: Riley Riddle

Eight seconds is the easy part to talk about. The hard part is what happens when the rider comes off wrong, the bull turns back, and a bullfighter has to choose a gap with no guarantee he’s walking out clean. That’s where Riley Riddle lives, and he joins us to explain what real preparation looks like in professional rodeo bullfighting. We get into the daily work most people never see: training five to six days a week, staying “old school” with weights and time in the dirt on practice bulls, and treating the gym as mental training as much as physical. Riley also calls out a trend he’s watching closely in bull riding and local rodeos, where some people want the photos and the TikToks more than the reps. He breaks down why that mindset does not just limit performance, it can put bullfighters in a bad spot when riders don’t commit and the arena gets unpredictable. Riley shares what 36 years in rodeo has taught him about professionalism, reputation, and being the same person at the day job, at the airport, and behind the chutes. We also talk rodeo content creation, how he actually gets filmed, why editing takes time, and how he chooses music that stays clean and watchable for every age. Then we go straight into the danger: a hospital trip, a horn to the head, and the kind of decision-making that keeps riders safe even when it costs you. If you care about rodeo fitness, bull riding safety, the realities of the rodeo lifestyle, and what it means to give 110% when it counts, you’ll get a lot from this one. Subscribe, share the episode with a rodeo friend, and leave a review with your take: is practice the real separator or is it something else? Instagram: @official_starch_rileyriddle https://www.instagram.com/official_starch_rileyriddle?igsh=MXd3Y3RzdGF0YTA5Yg== Shoutout to: Riley Riddle The Riddle Family Ag-Gear Store https://www.aggearstore.com/ For 15% Off Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health Send us Fan Mail