Watch: Heroic Rodeo Clowns Risk All to Rescue Fallen Rider From Bucking Bull

Rodeo clowns, also known by their other name, bullfighters, are an extremely important part of rodeo games. They are the wall that protects the bull riders from bucking beasts after they fall from them. Their job is a risky one and requires athletes with smart minds and the courage to make the right decision within seconds.

The Professional Bull Riders Camping World Team Series event is in progress at Bridgestone Arena. The event saw many matches between the teams that competed to win the stampede. In one such match between the Carolina Cowboys and the Oklahoma Freedom, the spectators witnessed a heroic rescue effort by a bullfighter that drew praise from all the people present at the game.

Rodeo clown’s courageous act

The PBR event at Bridgestone Arena had rodeo clowns like every other event during the game. In the match where the Oklahoma Freedom were up against the Carolina Cowboys, the U.S. Border Patrol bullfighters were present for the event. During the match, Briggs Mason came in as the fifth rider for his team, the Oklahoma Freedom. At that time, the Oklahoma Freedom were on 86.75 points, having a 0.5-point advantage over the Carolina Cowboys, who were on 86.25 points. Briggs came through to pull that gap even wider with his perfect ride, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen as planned.

Briggs Madson sat upon Do Dat Eddie, a bull with a 44 average score and 100% buckoff percentage. As the gate opened, Briggs bucked off after a few seconds, and as he was lifting himself from the ground, the bull charged towards him. At that moment, the crowd saw the heroism of the bullfighters. The U.S. Border Patrol Team bullfighter named Austin Ashley came in between them, pushing Brigg with one hand and trying to distract the bull by putting his other hand on his head. The bull continued for a few inches, then backed off toward the other two members of the bullfighters, who approached him to lure him back to the gates. The efforts of Austin were crucial in saving Briggs Madson from any mishaps. Apart from the above event, he has sown his courageous display of protection at the Anaheim rodeo event in a match between Arizona Ridge riders and Missouri Thunder, where he risked his life and came under the bull in protecting the rider.

Austin Ashley’s stellar bullfighting career

Austin Ashley was raised in Oklahoma and grew up surrounded by cutting-edge horse training farms and rodeos. He had a passion for rodeo since his childhood, and when he reached the age of twelve, he began his pursuit of his dream career: freestyle bullfighting. He started that with the help of Cody and Ashley Webster, the famed bullfighters. During his junior year of high school, he made a life-changing decision to finish high school through homeschooling and give his all to bullfighting and cowboy protection.

Read More: Gnarly Rodeo Footage Shows Cowboy’s Helmet Getting Knocked Off by Bucking Bull During Intense Ride

Austin Ashley is the champion of the Bullfighters Only fights in 2021, which were held in Reno, Nevada, and Salinas, California. He ended up being the runner-up in Cody, Wyoming. Currently, he is participating in the Nashville Stampede, where he is a member of the U.S. Border Patrol team. Austin Ashley’s heroism has once again saved the bull rider from potential harm, and it shows his passion and dedication towards his work, which he loves the most.

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