What all do I need to ride bulls?
The first and probably most important thing you'll need for getting started is a vest. These vests wont stop a bullet, but they will keep horns and feet from getting you seriously injured. The design of the vest allows it to take the blow and spread it. A horn or foot will do a lot more damage to one rib than an entire midsection. Instead of 2 broken ribs, you may have 5 bruised ribs. Saves a lot of time and lives! Vests can run from $150 to $350.
The one thing you can't ride without is your bull rope. This is what holds you down to the bull! You have a buddy pull the tail until it is tight on your hand. After that you wrap it around your hand once and squeeze. Most bull riders use rosin or saddle soap to make their ropes sticky. This makes it harder for their hand to fall out of the rope! Ropes can run for about $150 to $350 as well.
You're also going to need a good set of spurs! These are giving you a better grip to the bulls hide, which is also helping you stay on! These spurs right here are specifically designed to give the rider an advantage over the bull. With most bull riding spurs, their shanks are designed so the riders toes need to be North and South to get a hold with the rowels. That can be a problem for some riders. These are Crack At The Shank spurs. For those riders who don't do a great job of getting their toes out, you can adjust the desired degree of the shank. With these spurs, you can get a hold with your toes turned inward. Spurs can cost from about $30 to $250
Probably the least necessary piece of bull riding gear are the chaps. Some say they are handy incase a bull would step on their leg, the leather would keep their leg from being cut up. I personally think that chaps are mainly for show, and that's not a bad thing either! Being a flashy guy draws attention from the crowd, and that's what we ride for right?! To satisfy the crowd! Chaps can range in prices. It all depends on how fancy you are willing to get! Custom chaps can go for $350 to $1,400. But plain jane chaps can go for about $150 to $200.
Probably the most technically advanced and expensive piece of gear you may or may not need is a bull riding helmet. Helmets are changing the way we ride. Helmets are getting lighter, and stronger. This is the Invinci-bull riding helmet. This is the latest and greatest that stores have to offer. Weighing in at 2.5 pounds, makes this the lightest and strongest helmet on the market. Bull riding helmets are meant to keep the rider safe. With the advance in today's technology, we are cracking down on eliminating head injuries in all sports including bull riding. Some riders use hockey helmets, and they can go for $50 to $200. Legit bull riding helmets go for roughly $300 to $850.