Jesse learned from the best; turning his dream into reality
Colton Jesse grew up riding bulls and looking up to the likes of two-time PRCA champion Jim Sharp and 1996 PBR World Champion Owen Washburn. With his father as his biggest mentor, he's working his way up the bull riding ranks.
By PBR
PUEBLO, Colo. – Colten Jesse was getting ready to slide up onto his bull rope five years ago when his father, Todd, leaned down and hollered some advice.
“Give him an NFR spur!” Todd said.
The 15-year-old then nodded for the gate at the Fire & Ice Bull Riding in Ada, Oklahoma, and by the time Little Moody was making his third turn, Jesse was spurring his way to the 8-second buzzer.
The dismount wasn’t the prettiest, but the reaction from the crowd was ecstatic.
This teenager from 20 minutes up the road in Konowa, Oklahoma, had just ridden a bull that a month earlier was bucking at the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
“I didn’t even know what he was,” Jesse recalled last year during his PBR premier series debut in Uniondale, New York. “I was at this open bull riding and I ended up winning it at 15 years old. They said I had a $500 bounty bull. Back then, I don’t know. There is not much running through your mind. I just tried to stay calm and relaxed and that is how I was then.
“I went on to ride him and they made a big deal about it.”
If Jesse had ridden Little Moody at the NFR, he would have made a hell of a lot more money than the $500 bonus he earned at the amateur bull riding event.
It didn’t matter, though. Jesse was pumped to end the night with a memorable bull ride, as well as a total paycheck of roughly $2,300.
The ride helped him purchase his first car, too – a 1995 Lincoln Town Car.
The car didn’t last too long, Jesse said with a laugh.
Jesse had to wait about five months before he was able to get his license in May 2013. He then ran the Lincoln Town Car into the ground in a brief four months by taking it all over Oklahoma to various open bull ridings.
“Oh yeah,” Jesse said. “I tortured it. I drove it until it broke down. I drove the wheels right off it. I got my use out of it. It paid for itself, for sure.”
Jesse has gone on to earn much more since that fateful $500 bull ride.
The 21-year-old has earned over $84,000 in the PBR and PRCA since first purchasing his PRCA card when he turned 18 in 2015 and began traveling with fellow Okie Brennon Eldred.
Jesse finished 26th in the 2016 PRCA standings. He was hopeful he would qualify for the NFR last year before tearing his labrum in February.
“I have had my fair share of battles with injuries,” Jesse said. “I had hip surgery and finally bought my PBR stuff in August (last year) and here we are today.
“I told myself the best decision for me is to buy my PBR stuff and make a run at the World Finals.”
Jesse went on to finish the 2017 standings 64th in the world after going 6-for-18 following his PBR debut on Aug. 26 in Salinas, California.
The second generation cowboy got his start in the sport courtesy of his dad when he was 3 years old.
He worked his way up the ranks like most Oklahoma bull riders by getting on sheep, steer, calves, junior bulls, you name it.
Jesse also looked up to the likes of two-time PRCA champion Jim Sharp and 1996 PBR World Champion Owen Washburn.
“My dad has taught me everything I know. I have been to a few Gary Leffew schools, but my dad has always taught the same stuff. He has been my biggest mentor.
“I watched a lot of Jim Sharp. I like the way Jim Sharp rode. Owen Washburn. I am pretty good buddies with Owen Washburn. He is kind of another mentor to me. I traveled a lot with Joseph McConnel and Joseph knew him growing up.”
Leffew is being inducted into the PBR’s Ring of Honor this November.
Tickets for the 2018 PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration are on sale now and can be purchased via PBR Customer Service at (800) 732-1727 or by calling the South Point Showroom Box Office at 844-846-8689.
Jesse made the full-time switch to the PBR a year ago and is currently 51st in the world standings.
The rookie is 14-for-39 at all levels of competition (35.9 percent) and 4-for-19 (21.05 percent) on the 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast.
“I’m trying too hard,” Jesse said in Bismarck, North Dakota. “I’m putting too much pressure on myself that wasn’t needed. Trying to win way too much instead of riding first and worrying about the winning second.”
Jesse finished in fourth place at the Dakota Community Bank & trust PBR Bull Riding Challenge Touring Pro Division event two weekends ago with an 88.5-point ride on Cheese Bandit.
“I saw a video of him the other day and he just looked good,” Jesse said. “He kind of stacked up around there and started hop, skipping and nearly got me over his head. Heck, I sat back down and it worked out.”
He earned 17.5 points toward the world standings.
“It helps a ton,” Jesse said. “Right after Last Cowboy Standing, I took a week off and have been getting on practice bulls. I got back to feeling like myself.”
Jesse is next expected to compete at the Slick Rock Challenge Touring Pro Division event in Rocksprings, Texas, on Friday and Saturday.
The Oklahoma native is only 107.5 points behind No. 35 Fraser Babbington.
He is also the No. 1 rider in the Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour with two victories on his resume this season.
“I have come up from there, and this has always been a dream, and now I am making it a reality,” Jesse concluded.
