From practising on a spring loaded, 44-gallon drum in his backyard, to riding 800-kilogram bulls on the biggest rodeo circuit in the world, Jacob Carige is determined to become a champion of his sport.
Key points:
- Bull rider Jacob Carige is competing on the professional rodeo circuit in America
- He started out in the sport while living in Rockhampton, Central Queensland
- Australia is renowned as a breeding ground for champion bull riders
After moving to America last year, the 18-year-old former junior bull riding world champion can now call himself a professional cowboy.
“I went to college [for rodeo, in America] and studied mechanical engineering for a semester,” Mr Carige said.
“After a few college rodeos I got a few opportunities in a few pro rodeos and had a bit of success so I decided college wasn’t for me.”
Mr Carige went on to win the permit section in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the oldest and largest rodeo body in the world.
Hailing from the beef capital in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, Mr Carige said his next aim was to reach the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in his rookie year.
“So that’s the top 15 in the world at the end of the year,” he said.
“I’m excited for it. I’m pumped.”
The sport is widely considered one of the most dangerous in the world and involves staying on a bull, weighing up to 800 kilograms, for eight seconds, using only one hand while the bull tries its hardest to buck the rider off.
Thanks to its thrills and many spills, it has gained a huge following.
Bull riding starts as a barrel of fun
When Mr Carige is not wrestling an 800-kilogram beast for eight seconds, he is gaining plenty of attention for his dangerous deeds among his thousands of TikTok followers.
“I just do it [TikTok] to have a bit of fun,” said Mr Carige, who is now based in Stephenville, Texas.
“We’re in the car for long hours so we make some cool videos with some cool songs.”
But despite a growing legion of followers on social media, making “cool” videos was not Mr Carige’s dream.
The teenage sensation said he always wanted to become a professional bull rider from the moment his dad, Rod, built a bucking barrel in their backyard out of a 44-gallon drum and an old truck coil suspension spring.
“I was about eight-years-old and they used to have practise rides at the Great Western [Hotel] every Wednesday and Friday night,” Mr Carige said.
“I got bucked off my first ride but from then on that’s all I wanted to do.”
The makings of a world-class cowboy
Glen Young is the managing director of Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Australia and has seen his fair share of bull riding champions over the years.
From Ky Hamilton and Brady Fielder’s recent success on the world stage, to rodeo Hall of Famer Troy Dunn, Mr Young said bull riders from Down Under had the “DNA” to be successful in the ring.
“It’s a combination of things and it comes down to the individual,” he said.
“It’s their desire, determination and dedication, probably the three most important ingredients, then putting their life into it and doing the hard yards to get there.”
Mr Young said there was a new surge of Australian bull riders starting to make a name for themselves on the professional rodeo circuit.
“It’s good to see that eyes are on our Australian riders and there are opportunities that are going to be bigger and better than what we’ve had before,” he said.
“Jacob’s one of those kids and you can see he’s got the fire in there.
“I’ve been following his career and social media, especially since he’s been in the US, and I think we’re going to see his name up in lights very soon as well.”
Mr Carige said that “fire” and the bright lights of rodeo in America were inspiring him.
“It lights a fire in you, seeing everyone in the crowd cheering when you’re riding, and you want to ride good,” he said.
“It’s pretty cool. I love it, you know. I live for that feeling.”