Photo Submitted By: Howard Floyd
13 year-old Cody Floyd competes in a bull-riding event

By: Darcie Thom

Cody Floyd may look like your average 13 year-old boy, but hiding under his cowboy hat is a bull-riding champ. Cody is an amateur bull rider, of 2+ years, who has competed in the CCA (Sask.), MRCA (MB.), High School Division, Kennedy Rodeo, to name a few, and will continue to compete in so much more.

There is approximately 40 students in the Wrangler Division and approximately 118 in the High School Division.

Cody has recently finished with the Provincial Competitions and will be traveling to Gallum, New Mexico for the first time, along with 12 other Saskatchewan competitors, to compete in the Nationals for 10 days. There, he will compete against at least 600 other High School students from across Canada, United States and Australia.

Cody will be competing in Bull riding, a sport that requires balance, flexibility, coordination, and plenty of courage. Facing down a bull takes as much mental preparation as it does physical ability. “It’s kinda nerve-racking, you get nervous, but you keep thinking that you are gonna ride. You keep that in your head,” Cody said when asked how he feels moments before his ride.

There is no mark out in bull-riding, just being able to stay on the bull for 8 seconds is the main priority. It has to be said that it is a talent in itself to be able to not only stay on a bull for the 8 seconds, but to ride with one hand and not touch themselves or the bull with the free hand. Cody was able to accomplish this task with a 14 in a row streak and a 78.3 percent average. Cody also qualified in 2 out of 5 events in the High School Division.

While in Gallum, Cody will also be competing in Chute Dogging, a timed rodeo event related to steer wrestling where the steer weighs between 400 and 500 lbs. He must bring the steer to a line ten feet from the chute and wrestle (or “dog”) the steer to the ground. In order for the fall to count as a legal fall, all four feet of the steer must face the same direction as the nose when the steer is on the ground. The steer must be wrestled within 60 seconds, which shouldn’t be a problem for Cody because his record time is about 3 seconds.

Cody maintains his skills by practicing with Jim Lawrence. “He is like a mentor to me,” states Cody. He also does a lot of horseback riding, which he says helps when learning to balance.

“The High School Division is probably one of the best environments to start rodeo, people are always there to support and help you,” said Cody. His father Howard agreed in saying “it’s a safe environment for the kids to learn about the rodeo”.

Cody has qualified to be a member of the Wrangler All-Star Rodeo Team and hopes to compete in the upcoming CCA Rodeo in Whitewood, in the competitions in Wapella in the fall and in the Kennedy Rodeo as well.

If you would like to follow Cody’s achievements in New Mexico, you can do so by visiting SHSRA.com.