by Terry Lidral
Wiley Petersen retired from the PBR in 2011 after a bull riding career that included 13 televised event wins and a PBR Finals championship win in 2007. See PBR stats here: https://probullstats.com/rider/Wiley+Petersen
His charismatic personality and his genuine interest in people made him a fan favorite. He was greeted by fans wherever he went and his strong and principled character made him a role model for all those who met him.
Now that he is retired, Petersen is a licensed physician’s assistant and a part-time bull riding coach.
“Being a bull riding coach keeps my hand in the sport. Throughout my career, I gained experience, confidence and satisfaction and I want to pass that on to the people that I work with,” Wiley explained of the reason for continuing his involvement in bull riding.
“As a kid, I was small and I wasn’t very confident or aggressive. I thought that getting on a steer would make me tough,” Petersen told us with a laugh. “I thought it would give me confidence. And it did.”
Petersen wants to help to develop that same confidence in the boys and girls he works with as a bull riding coach. He also wants to make sure that they get a proper start.
“It is very important that beginners get on the right caliber of bulls. They should get on beginner bulls that are rider friendly,” Petersen told us. “Kids will be more apt to stay involved if they have a positive experience.”
Petersen believes in putting all young riders on bulls that match their ability. It’s a way to help them be successful and to lessen the possibility of injury.
“I’m interested in building confidence in the boys and girls that come to my clinics. They may not stick with bull riding, but I want them to take away a sense of confidence from the experience,” explained Petersen about the purpose of his teaching. “It’ all about learning from our mistakes and not letting difficulty or fear keep us from pursuing our goals to have a fulfilling life.”
Petersen has some concern about the future of the sport of bull riding. He sees a decline in the number of young people who are getting involved.
“When I was coming up, there would be 2 or 3 sections of 10 bull riders at high school rodeos. Today there might be one section with a handful of riders,” he told us.
Wiley Petersen was one of the top tier riders in the PBR. His career included winning the PBR World Finals title in 2007 and a number of high profile wins on the BFTS PBR Tour. Read his story here: https://westernlivingjournal.com/pbr-fan-favorite-wiley-petersen-from-bull-riding-to-a-career-in-medicine-its-all-about-living-with-a-purpose/
A problem that Petersen presents as a possibility for low turnout is that the bulls are not in line with the abilities of the riders. And he thinks that might be, in part, due to economics. Contractors who haul bulls have to be able to make money. And there aren’t a lot of opportunities to make money with rider friendly bulls.
“Beginner and rider friendly bulls cost as much to keep as the rank ones. People who haul to professional events have to provide those top-level bulls. Most can’t afford to keep rideable bulls around just for practice and teaching. Thankfully, I work with people who are committed to helping future riders. They are willing to have beginner and rider friendly bulls that I can use for my clinics.”
Petersen is committed to promoting and furthering the sport of bull riding through his work with young, beginning riders. He sums it up this way.
“I want to foster and help this sport succeed. I think catering the level of the bull to the young rider is better than the luck of the draw. It is especially important for the beginners to have the right level of bull for where they are. There’s a better chance that they will continue with the sport if they are having fun and are more confident.”
Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame bull rider Cody Custer considers the key to success in bull riding to be confidence – the confidence that comes with forming a strategy and maintaining a process to ride a bull for eight seconds. Read more here: https://buckingstocktalk.com/cody-custer-talks-bull-riding-the-process/
Author: Terry Lidral
Terry Lidral is a western writer/journalist who lives in Idaho. She is the publisher and editor of the online magazine Bucking Stock Talk and the online magazine Western Living Journal. Her publishing credits include Storyteller for Real American Cowboy Magazine, writing feature articles for Humps N Horns Magazine as well as a wide variety of national and international web sites, historical magazines and news publications. She is known for her "up close and personal" profiles of celebrities and industry moguls such as NPR's Tom Bodett; PBR's Wiley Petersen and D.H. Page, PRCA's Sammy Andrews, Cindy Rosser and Julio Moreno to name a few. She has been applauded for her way of making a personal connection between her readers and her subjects. She indulges in her love of rodeo by serving as an associate board member for the Caldwell Night Rodeo. She is also an accomplished trainer and handler in dog agility. Her shelties Amelie and Milo are titled in NADAC, USDAA and AKC.
Isn’t pratice pens in today’s time we’re u ..never mind ? How’s a feller or gal able to get his card ?
Not everyone has money or come up in high school rodeo .
And there is still some that would hit there local rodeos .
Not just bullriding but .. never mind .
I mean no disrespect.
Mr wiley sir if I may say hows someone start back riding or rodeoing now days when ones not rode in years.
Mr wiley if u will how’s one get back In the chute past practice pen .
Please sir I am not being rude or mocking you or anything negative.
Thank you sir God bless i appericate the knowledge and the priveledge to have got to read this #dirtfam thanks love yall #prayers #for #our #rodeo #family (o)