POWERS Podcast #407: JB Mauney – The Greatest Bull Rider That Ever Lived
Host: Chris Powers | Guest: JB Mauney | Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features JB Mauney, widely regarded as the greatest bull rider in history. Chris Powers delves deep into JB’s psyche, his career, the mechanics and dangers of bull riding, and the ethos that underpinned his legendary success. Listeners are given rare access to the mindset, rituals, work ethic, triumphs, injuries, and challenges that comprise a life at the pinnacle of one of the world’s most brutal sports. Through gritty storytelling and candid reflections, Mauney shares wisdom that transcends the rodeo arena—illuminating themes of pride, perseverance, risk, and authentic living.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Psychology of Greatness: Going for First

• From the outset, JB defines his mindset: “If I had the opportunity to win, I was going to try to win.… I didn’t come here for second. Let’s go for first.” (00:00)
• He clarifies he’s not a “gunslinger”—he simply lived and rode with pride and relentless self-challenge:

  "I wanted to prove to myself that they didn’t have a bull there that could throw me off. And no matter how hurt I was, I could still ride them." (00:17, 112:56)

Bull Breeding and Training: The Science and the Art

• Explanation of Mexican fighting bulls and the nature vs. nurture debate in bucking performance (03:09–06:54).
• Detailed walkthrough of raising and working bulls, from weaning to arena prep, including acclimatization, chute-breaking, and evaluating genetics versus heart (03:28–10:02).
• JB shares his evolution from buying and raising his own bulls to becoming a trusted trainer to outside bull owners.

Physical Demands, Pain, and Injury

• Candid inventory of JB’s extensive injuries—fractured hip, torn ligaments, broken jaw, ribs, back, kidney lacerations, and more (41:01–43:11, 142:05–142:59).
• Emphasis on mental toughness as the decisive edge at the elite level:

  “I’m no tougher than anyone else… I told myself I was tougher and I believed it.” (43:40)
  “Bull riding is a sport where… the day you stop working at it is the day you never get any better.” (27:46)

• Admits riding through pain was the norm—not the exception.

Becoming a Bull Rider: From Childhood to Legend

• Started with sheep at age 3, calves by 5, steers at 8–9, and full bulls by 13 (17:41–18:18).
• Early days defined by hands-on learning (“the school of trial and error”), relentless practice, and no shortcut mentality.
• Heavy emphasis on balance, core strength, and being small/light as advantages in the sport (23:53–24:58).

Riding Technique, Strategy, and Mind-Games

• Explains the nuances of “shoot-breaking,” “nod and slide,” and the physical reactions necessary to ride successfully—never thinking, always reacting (23:36–23:49).
• Discusses the role of genetics and unpredictability in bulls’ behavior:

  “A lot of them have a tendency to do the same things, the smarter, better bulls, they don’t… Some of them buck off a feel. They’re smart.” (28:55–29:41)

• Admits he preferred not knowing what a bull was "supposed" to do because “think long, think wrong”—he trusted raw instincts (28:14).

The Importance of Pride and Doing Things on Your Terms

• JB’s career was fueled by self-respect and personal challenge, refusing to take safer, easier routes for points or money:

  “I went about bull riding completely with pride. There was no business in it… I wasn’t going to try to take the easy route.” (73:51)

• Turned down team event philosophies and adopted an old-school “do or die” approach:

  “Bull riding is not a team sport. You can call it a team sport, but when they nod their head, it’s all on them. It’s still individual.” (79:55–80:09)

Legendary Bulls: Bushwhacker, Bruiser, and Man Hater

• In-depth examination of what made legends like Bushwhacker and Bruiser unique (61:16–73:24):
  • Bushwhacker: “You never knew what he was going to do. I got on him 13 times, he never did the same thing twice… when he rared, he was going up and away all at the same time.” (67:19–69:35)
  • His one ride on Bushwhacker stands as the most meaningful achievement of his career (154:06–156:41).
  • Bruiser: “If you did ride him, you were mid to high 90s. Not a mean bone in his body, and he’s a big old pet, but he did buck.” (63:16–63:41)
  • The community’s profound mourning for iconic bulls like Man Hater when they die (74:43–77:15).
• Debunks myths of animal cruelty and emphasizes the affection and respect bullmen have for their animals.

Culture, Camaraderie, and the Changing Landscape of Bull Riding

• Contrasts the old days—a tight, rowdy brotherhood—with a more corporate, sanitized approach in today’s organizations, lamenting the loss of "cowboy" culture and fun (79:22–101:21).
  • “Now, I don’t see much of that [camaraderie]…” (80:39)
  • “Bull riding was always fun, but outside of riding bulls was back to being fun.” (99:14)
• JB’s vision through Bucktown: "Everything we do is going to be old school." (94:02)
  • No instant replays, subjective judging, laid-back contests, open coolers, and bull riding for the sake of the ride and community.
  • "There are no rules because nobody can tell us how to do this. We get to do it however we want to." (95:46)

The Mechanics of Bulls, Arenas, and Raising Stock

• Highly technical discussion of the logistics and infrastructure of Bucktown—a “bull rider’s bull riding”—with attention to pen systems, gates, sorting, and the entire flow (91:04–93:42).
• Explains bull selection for practice, breeding, genetics, prepping for ABBI events, and methods of calming and controlling problem or wild bulls (130:25–132:59).

Passing Wisdom to the Next Generation

• On raising his son, Jagger:

  "I’m not going to push him… I’m not gonna make him do something that could end up getting him killed. He’s got to want to do it, and he’s got to love it." (108:55)

• Cautions against overbearing parents and sports coddling and stands firm on the cowboy code—ownership of results, taking re-rides, and walking out of the arena with dignity (111:15, 111:29).

Scoring, Judges, and the Role of Human Error

• Breaks down how scoring works (50 points total: up to 25 for the bull and 25 for the rider from each judge).
• Frustration with modern instant replay, technicalities, and swings in scoring that have cost him championships (162:45–164:41):

  “I was one mad son of a gun… I had a million dollars and a gold buckle riding on that one ride." (165:51)

• The subjective and cultural aspects of human error:

  "Sometimes the judges get it right, sometimes they don't, but that's part of it.” (97:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Winning vs. Surviving

“If I had the opportunity to win, I was going to try to win. … I didn’t come here for second. Let’s go for first.”
— JB Mauney (00:00)

The Bull’s Intelligence

“A fly lands on their back, and they can swish their tail… they know exactly where you are. … They’re way smarter than people give them credit for.”
— JB Mauney (30:16)

On Physical Toughness

“I’m no tougher than you. … I told myself I was tougher and I believed it. No matter how bad I was hurt, for some reason, the way I was wired was I still felt like I could ride them.”
— JB Mauney (43:35–43:40)

On Bull Riding Schools

“Everybody always asks me what bull riding school did you go to? I said, the one—trial and error. … If it didn’t work, I tried not to do it again.”
— JB Mauney (25:41)

On Pride and Living Your Way

"I went about bull riding completely with pride. There was no business in it... I wanted to prove to myself, no one else, that there wasn’t a bull there that I couldn’t ride."
— JB Mauney (73:51)

The Legendary Bushwhacker

“You never knew what he was going to do. … When he was raring, he was going up and away all at the same time.”
— JB Mauney (67:19, 69:35)

Rejection of the “Team” Concept

"Bull riding is not a team sport... When they nod their head, it’s all on them.”
— JB Mauney (79:55)

On Coaching the Next Generation

“I don’t have a very good filter when it comes to riding bulls... Most show up just to say they did, some because their parents are living through them. I cannot deal with it.”
— JB Mauney (106:07)

Scoring Frustrations

“How can you be four points better than the animal you’re on? I said, it makes no sense to me.”
— JB Mauney (160:42)

The Cowboy Code

“In that arena, you’re the toughest human on the face of the earth. As soon as you walk through the gate and close it, nobody can see you, you can do whatever you want to do…”
— JB Mauney (110:00)

Pride, Sacrifice, and One Life

“You’ve got one shot at this life and you don’t get another one. So you better make it count.”
— JB Mauney (101:55)

Important Timestamps

• [00:00] — JB’s "go for first" mentality and career-defining mindset
• [03:28–06:54] — Bull breeding, genetics, nature vs. nurture, and the science of raising bucking bulls
• [11:35] — Why modern riders don't like JB's approach: "Get on 10 bulls a day"
• [13:46–17:01] — Pain, injury, chiropractic, and walking with a limp
• [41:01–43:11] — Complete injuries list and the necessity of riding hurt
• [61:16–73:24] — Deep dive on Bushwhacker, Bruiser, and what makes a bull “legendary”
• [74:43–77:15] — Community reaction to a bull’s death (Man Hater)
• [91:04–93:42] — Evolution and design of Bucktown, the ultimate bull rider’s event
• [101:55] — "You got one shot at this life..."
• [154:06–156:41] — Most meaningful ride: conquering Bushwhacker, finally
• [162:45–164:41] — Scoring flaws and replay system disappointment costing JB $1.3 million

Tone and Style

• Gritty, direct, and unflinchingly authentic.
• Wisecracking, unfiltered, yet deeply introspective and philosophical about life, pain, and purpose.
• Strong sense of cowboy tradition, risk, pride, and celebrating a life well-lived—on your own terms.

Conclusion

This episode is an intensive, engaging masterclass in the mindset of an elite competitor. JB Mauney doesn’t just embody the toughness, risk, and pride of old-school bull riding—he articulates lessons about life, legacy, and character that offer universal value. Whether discussing the technicalities of breeding, the adrenaline of 8 seconds, or the pain of countless injuries, JB always circles back to authenticity, work ethic, and doing things “your way.”

For More:

• Bucktown events and Mauney’s current rodeo contributions
• Deeper insights into scoring, breeding, and the future of bull riding culture
• JB’s advice for parents, young riders, and anyone seeking to live with purpose and pride