Maryland teen shatters racial stereotypes as first Junior World Bull Riding champion from state
The popular cowboy narrative often excludes Black people from the horseback riding American folklore. However, historians estimate that 1 in 4 cowboys were Black.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — No one would have guessed that the 2020 Junior World Bull Riding champion would hail from Prince George’s County. The county is known for producing top NBA talent. But now, 13-year-old Nicholas Jackson has put the area on center stage for bull riding, as the first champion from Maryland to hold the title, according to his family.
Jackson is a fifth-generation cowboy living in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. His granddad, great-granddad, and great-great granddad were all cowboys, passing down the family legacy of rural living and horse training in Maryland.
The popular cowboy narrative excludes Black people from the horseback riding American folklore that is glamorized in movies and books. However, historians estimate that one in four cowboys were Black, according to the Smithsonian Magazine. Nic’s success is helping to break down the racial barriers of what cowboys look like and where they come from.
Nic started riding mini bulls at the age of seven. As he got older, the bulls got bigger and his skill set continued to grow with the help of his dad, Corey Jackson. Corey and Nic have a special relationship, not only as father and son, but also as trainer and trainee. The two work together every day to sharpen Nic’s riding ability.
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/nicholas-jackson-maryland-cowboy-bull-rider-upper-marlboro/65-2ef8630c-196f-42d3-880b-fd8fc40988bd?
= new reply since forum marked as read
So maybe there is something extremely basic that escapes me in my utter ignorance.
But is there some point to riding a bull?
In my limited understanding, horses aren't born wanting to have people ride on their backs, and so there are behavioral techniques long used to adapt and habituate horses to having saddles and people put on them.
Outside of places where, say, water buffalo or oxen are used to draw plows, I can't really think - again in my possibly amazingly limited knowledge - of bulls being used for transportation, whether by riding them or having them pull a yoke.
Is bull riding adapted from some practical application, or is it just one of those "let's annoy the fuck out of a bull and see what he does" sports?
Rare wonderful find. 
