There are many advantages to becoming a PBR bull rider. PBR sanctions around 250 bull riding events globally throughout the year, with the top competitors, inside the most iconic venues in the world. PBR’s premier Unleash the Beast and Camping World Team Series are aired weekly, with 25 hours of premier series action airing on CBS throughout the year. In addition, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events and select Touring Pro Division and Challenger Series events are broadcast as well, giving our riders a great deal of exposure and marketability.

PBR offers the biggest payouts in all of Western sports. In the last five years, PBR sanctioned events have paid out almost $60 million dollars in prize money, including over $16 million in 2024 alone. We have an unmatched list of very successful, hard-working event producers that hold big events throughout the year all over the country, giving our riders every opportunity to win big money and make a lifetime of memories while doing it.

In 2022, PBR transformed a roughly 150-year-old individual sport by executing the first season of PBR Teams. The league is made up of 10 teams: the Arizona Ridge Riders, Austin Gamblers, Carolina Cowboys, Florida Freedom, Kansas City Outlaws, Missouri Thunder, Nashville Stampede, New York Mavericks, Oklahoma Wildcatters, and Texas Rattlers. PBR Teams is the most exciting endeavor to hit Western sports since the 20 bull riders met in a hotel room some 30 years ago to invest $1,000 in an effort to start the PBR.

The access to the coaching, training camps, teammates, hometown crowds, and all the resources provided by the teams to their athletes is something never seen before in Western sports. It is an industry-changing initiative that has changed the game and has no doubt improved the sport in all aspects from fan engagement to earning potential to bull rider performance.

At the end of the day, the opportunities are aplenty as a bull rider in the PBR. We will do everything we can to help you in your career and we work tirelessly to provide you with every opportunity to be successful. You will have the opportunity to earn as much money as you want and qualify for the biggest events in the sport. The rest is up to you!

A rider must be at least 18 years of age to compete in a PBR Event or to purchase a PBR membership. Purchasing a membership requires filling out the PBR membership application below every five years and paying the annual membership fee of $520.  Memberships are valid from time of purchase through Oct. 31 of each season. Any membership purchased after Oct. 1 will roll over and apply for the following PBR season.

After purchasing a PBR membership, you will receive a membership packet with your cards, a set of PBR approved rowels, a current contestant schedule, and an official PBR rulebook.

You will start out with your permit. The permit allows you to enter all Touring Pro Division and Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events. Once you earn at least $2,500 in prize money, you will be upgraded from a permit holder to a card holder at no additional cost. To maintain your card holder status, you must continue to win a minimum of $2,500 each year. If the minimum $2,500 threshold is not met in a season, you will be returned to permit status.

For any questions about PBR memberships, payments, or scheduling, you can reach Ruby DeGrado at 719-242-2865. The application PDF may be downloaded via the link below or you can fill it out online. You may also return the application, by mail, to PBR at 122 E Exchange Ave, Suite 470, Fort Worth TX 76164; by fax to 719-242-2767; or by email to rbeltramo@pbr.com or comp.department@pbr.com.

 Application PDF

Online Application

The PBR competition department takes entries each week beginning at 8 a.m. CT on Tuesdays and closes entries at noon MST on Thursdays. Books are open for each event at least 16 days prior to the event date. To enter the event or to request an updated contestant schedule with all call-in dates, contact the competition department at 719-242-2865. Entry fees, added money, event venues, and event dates are listed on the contestant schedule.

Open entries are accepted at all Touring Pro Division and Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour events; however, priority will be given to PBR members for acquiring a position in these events. If you enter as an open rider and get a position and earn at least $520, you must have your PBR membership withheld from your winnings.

When entries close on Thursday for each event, our competition department will check all entered riders and execute the qualifications for each event on Thursday afternoon. Callbacks to see if you made it into the event are on Friday. The number of riders in each event will vary, depending on the event format, which is listed on the contestant schedule. Qualifications are all based on PBR points and are outlined in the official PBR rulebook.

All points and money earned at PBR events will count toward the PBR standings applicable to the event you are participating in. As of 2023, UTB events count toward the UTB standings only. All other events worldwide will count toward the Velocity-Global Standings in the first half of the year, and the Challenger-Global in the second half of the year, which will be the qualifier list for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals and the Challenger Series Championships. Events also give riders an opportunity to earn points towards qualifying for the UTB.

The beautiful thing about the bull riding industry is that everyone is approachable and willing to help! The PBR is always welcoming to new bull riders and searching for more talent to add to our pool of athletes. That being said, this is professional-level bull riding, so it is not the place for bull riders at the beginner level to start their bull riding careers due to the caliber of bulls competing in our events. If you are new to the PBR with some bull riding experience, you are welcome to enter, so please call the competition department at 719-242-2865 and we can get the process started.

If you are new to the sport altogether, we highly recommend getting in touch with our Rider Development Director, Joe Ernst, at jernst@pbr.com, who can assist you in forming a roadmap to getting started. You should also tap into your network and see if you know any or have friends who may know some current or former riders or stock contractors. Most would be happy to help you get started. Most stock contractors are former riders themselves and know the sport inside and out. They are all very approachable and recognize the need for developing new bull riders to help the sport continue to grow, so most would be happy to assist you and get you on the right path. Another recommended starting point could be to attend a reputable bull riding school such as the PBR Academy.

Whatever route you take, don’t be afraid to start from the ground up and be around people who know the sport and are willing to go over everything from equipment to chute procedures to putting you on livestock you can learn on.

Again, if you need some direction or if you have any questions, Joe a call, but don’t be afraid to get involved and reach out to people you may know that can help you get started.

PBR

122 E Exchange Ave, Suite 470

Fort Worth, TX 76164

PBR Competition Department

Contestant Relations Manager Ruby DeGrado 719-242-2865; rbeltramo@pbr.com

Director of Rider Development Joe Ernst 720-763-4471; jernst@pbr.com

VP of Competition Jack Holmberg 719-470-6138; jholmberg@pbr.com

PBR Teams Information

Team Series - Professional Bull Riders (pbr.com)

Rider Application

Rider Application Payment Form

Vendor Creation/Change Form

W9 Form

W8 Form