One on One with Clint Cannon, PRCA Bareback Rider

He's Going into the 2009 NFR as #1 in the World!

I had the rare opportunity to sit down with one of the world's most talented professional rodeo cowboys back in May of 2009. Waller's own Clint Cannon is the leader going into the NFR this year. Clint is probably one of the last genuine, home-grown Cowboys in the world. He's humble, kind, and unbelievably real. It was amazing getting his unique insight on the rodeo world. Clint competes in the NFR in the upcoming days, and we're rooting for him to win big time! Here is his story.

*HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET STARTED IN RODEO?

Clint had always been athletic, he played football for two years at Stephen F. Austin before transferring to Texas A&M-Commerce, and playing there. After a sports injury in 2002, his senior year in college, Clint wanted to continue competing in something that was athletic. His father had rodeoed competitively as a bareback rider for 10-15 years, so he gave it a try. The result? He was hooked!

*WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DO?
" When I first started I fell in love with the sport.. the people, the atmostphere, the freedom of it and the challenge of man vs. animal.. never been challenged in my life like I do with rodeo... not college sports etc. Everday that I go to a rodeo and ride it is a different challenge.. no horse with same personality.. each event can end your life.. compared to gladiator sport.. brings everything out in me.. makes me feel good.. brings my fear, my adrenaline.. makes me happy.. I'm addicted to it. "

*IS BAREBACK RIDING THE ONLY EVENT YOU HAVE EVER COMPETED IN?
" No.. rode bulls and bareback horses. But this is my main event. I fell in love with the horse riding because I was fascinated with horses and way they move. They are intelligent and beautiful. Everything happened so much faster and was so much more of a challenge, not that bulls aren't but everything happened so much more with the barebacks. I used to enter both events, but was not as excited about the bulls... but really excited about my bareback horse."

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