03/26/2025
So incredibly proud of Ayden! When he started riding bulls, I won’t lie, I was a nervous wreck—nervous not just about him riding, but also because I had no idea how we were going to make it all work. I had so many questions: Who was going to tie him in? Who was going to spot him at every rodeo? I tried helping twice, and he was like “Nope, never again, Mom.” Haha, safe to say I had no clue what I was doing. But honestly, when they say rodeo family becomes your family, they are spot on. From the day he went to “bull riding school” to the weekends spent at rodeos, we’ve built some great relationships, and we are beyond thankful for every single person who has helped us along the way.
A huge shout out to our sponsors, A Bounce Above and AMVETS Post 910—your support means the world to us and has helped make this journey possible!
If you’ve ever given him words of encouragement, tied him in, spotted him, videoed when I couldn’t be there, or just congratulated him, we can’t thank you enough. If it weren’t for all of you, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Bull riding is his heart and soul—whether it’s him practicing on the bucking barrel, watching videos, or getting his pony to buck in the yard, he’s all in. The grit and determination this kid has is unreal.
This past weekend, they gave him the option to flip a coin for the buckle because he was tied. He looked at me and said, “Mom, I can’t do that. Cowboys ride for the buckle.” Even after his elbow got stepped on, he got on that bull. The bull hit the gate coming out and he got a reride. And let me tell you, he had the prettiest reride—sat up, stayed centered and did amazing, but I was so nervous I completely missed the video! He rode three times on Saturday and I couldn’t be prouder.
Not only am I proud of him for riding bulls, but I’m also proud of his sportsmanship. He’s always wishing others luck and congratulating them after their rides. We are so, so proud of Ayden Brayall our Lucky R Calf Riding Champion 2025!
