Types of Rodeo Bulls

Rodeo sport refers to the use of cattle in a competitive sport. The most popular rodeo sport in the United States is bull riding. Bull riding uses a variety of different types of bulls to assess the ability of the rider. Types of bulls include aggressive ones like the toro de lidia to gentle ones like the British white bull.

  1. Toro de Lidia

    • Made famous by the Spanish, the toro de lidia bull is a fighting bull from Spain. It was primarily used for bull fighting. The toro de lidia is a highly aggressive bull and very intelligent. Its stamina, strength and speed make it a great bull for a rodeo. The bull's aggressive trait was highly praised and as a result, many breeders maintain the bull's aggressiveness through selective breeding. The most common rodeo bull is the toro de lidia. This bull is brown in color and can grow to weigh more than 1,500 pounds. Only highly skilled rodeo riders are allowed to ride the toro de lidia. These bulls are extremely dangerous and can severely hurt or potentially kill the rider.

    Corriente Bull

    • Like the toro de lidia, the corriente bull also originates in Spain. This bull however has a distinctive white fur face and a brown coat. The bull's horns can grow quite long, much longer than other bull species. Corriente bulls live in the southern regions of Spain. They are less aggressive than the toro de lidia but can also act as a good substitute when the toro bull is not available. What they lack in aggressiveness compared to the toro bull, they make up with stamina. Corriente bulls can leap to great heights. These bulls have been known to leap over fences and gates. This ability makes them a dangerous rodeo bull. Most rodeos will not let beginner riders on the corriente.

    British White Bull

    • The British white bull is the all-white bull that originated in Britain. This type of bull is mainly used for beef and farming. Its temperament, however, makes it excellent for rodeo as well. There are many types of bull used in rodeo and the bull the rider chooses to ride on has to match his level of expertise. The British white bull is significantly less aggressive than the corriente and toro de lidia bull. This bull is usually the starter bull for first-time riders.

    Barrosa Bull

    • The Barrosa bull is another type of bull breed found within Spain. This bull has a chocolate brown coat and has a smaller stature compared to the corriente and the toro de lidia. Like the British white bull, the Barrosa bull is used mainly for farming, but its temperament and stamina make it an excellent intermediate bull for rodeo riders. This bull is much more aggressive than the British white, but less so than the corriente.