Next Generation Bull Riding was born in Reno, Nevada, out of the experiences of 9 kids with big dreams and a goal of changing how everyone could grow in the bull riding industry. This small crew from Michigan, New York, and Ontario looked around and saw missing pieces and a void. Bull riders weren’t being supported and trained, and unless you were a rider, there wasn’t much room for you in youth bull riding. These kids took these challenges home and to heart and built what we are today, Next Generation Bull Riding.
It takes judges who know what fair looks like. Bullfighters and safety men who put athletes first. Stock contractors who raise and care for great animals. Announcers and production crews who give the sport a voice. Marketers who build a stage and fill the stands. They wanted all of that, and they wanted in.
One boy realized his gift was judging. Another, bumped by a weight rule, became a bullfighter. A class clown begged for a shot at comedy—and was told “no.” A kid stared at a blue roan pickup horse at the PBR and said, “I want to be that safety guy.” Others fed bulls every day of the year and dreamed of being stock contractor of the year. These kids weren’t asking for a trophy; they were asking for a pathway. These are the kids that you can thank for the NextGen we have today!
NextGen is that pathway. We are a foundation that provides a year-round development system, not just another “world finals.” Local teams train weekly. Athletes learn the mental, spiritual, and physical skills to last in the sport. We run clinics, practices, and sanctioned events that move athletes from fundamentals to national ride-offs. Our finals are the outcome, not the product. Most kids won’t ride on TV. But every kid can grow through this sport—on the dirt and in life. NextGen gives them structure, direction, and a community that listens. We are raising athletes and leaders who will keep the sport honest, safe, and strong.
We’re inviting you to stand with them. Your partnership doesn’t just hang a banner… It fuels the mind of a young entrepreneur, it creates leaders in the business world, all using bull riding as the tool to do so. It makes bull riding safer and advances athletes in the sport through weekly training, safer stock and equipment, certified coaching, clinics and camps, and real opportunities for kids to learn, work, and compete in every role the sport requires. Together, we can turn “no” into “next”—the next judge, the next bullfighter, the next safety man, the next contractor, the next voice on the mic, the next bull rider who’s prepared for the long haul.
If this vision resonates with you, we’d be honored to talk about how your support can change a season—and a life.
With gratitude and grit,
Denny Count
Founder, Next Generation Bull Riding Foundation