bullrider Vanessa Hodgson

Our bulls, ourselves: Women join ranks of riding elite

PAULS VALLEY, Oklahoma (AP) -- Brushing aside a few wisps of hair flying from her blond ponytail, Vanessa Hodgson prepares for battle against 1,700 pounds of snorting, raging bull.

If she can ride the beast for six seconds she has a shot at $500 in prize money. Six seconds is a long time, especially when a bull is hell-bent on tossing his rider on her rump and tormenting her in any way he can before a rodeo clown drives him to distraction.

But the money is not what drives Hodgson, a 22-year-old former barrel racer who has been competing on bulls and bareback broncos for three years. She grew up on a Michigan farm and in 2003 was named rookie of the year by the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

"I was hanging around bull riders and they dared me to ride," Hodgson said. "Now I ride because it's fun."

Although they comprise a small group, women are making inroads into what may be the last bastion of all-male sports. Year after year, they crisscross the country in search of competition, showcasing their unique mix of athleticism and femininity in the dirt of the rodeo arena.

The rules in all-female competition are slightly different from the men's events, where eight-second rides are mandatory. But the danger is real for both men and women who ride slobbering, wild-eyed beasts that can gore them in an instant. Many times riders compete with broken ribs or arms.

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