Dust filled arenas, cowboy cheers and bucking bulls were all fond childhood memories for Jackson Jefferies when he attended rodeos with his bullfighting pop Geoff Free.
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Now it is his own reality, with Jackson pursuing a bull riding career of his own.
“I always wanted to try bull riding,” he said.
“I went to rodeos with Pop many moons ago, which is where my interest started.
“I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I first rode a steer.
“I was 17 and at Homebush competing in the junior steer ride. I stayed on for about four seconds,” he said.
It’s been almost 12 months since that ride, meaning Jackson is yet to perform in front of a home crowd.
He intends to make his Deniliquin debut in a few short weeks, as a competitor at the Deniliquin Easter Saturday Rodeo on April 8.
Jackson works as a diesel mechanic for Edward River Council, which helps fund his new passion for bull riding.
He also has a few sponsors to help him along on his journey.
“I’m self-taught, a mate helped me fund my gear, helped me get on a steer and I’ve never looked back,” he said.
“I had no idea what I was doing at first,” he laughed.
“I just walked out and did it.
“Now I’m too old to ride a steer, and bull riding has been a massive difference.”
A bull rider mounts the bull and once it is let into the arena, the rider attempts to stay on the bucking bull for at least eight seconds.
They must only touch the bull with their riding hand.
The other hand must remain free for the duration of the ride, making it very difficult for the rider, but extremely exciting for spectators.
Once the rider has remained on the bull for eight seconds, each ride is scored out of 100.
Two judges score the bull out of fifty and the rider out of fifty.
While currently wearing a cast on his wrist, Jackson said he has not had any serious injuries.
Her has been stepped on a few times though, and occasionally stabbed with horns.
“I seriously injured my wrist from just tripping over, nothing to do with bull riding,” he said.
“It was a week before the Bendigo Rodeo in January. I knew I had done some damage, but I rode anyway.
“I didn’t go so great. It (the wrist) was really sore and I was nervous about the bull.
“I finally went to hospital on the Monday and the nurse said that she had seen rodeo boys before, so it was no use trying to talk me out of it.
“She gave me a hard plastic cast, so it didn’t break when I hit the deck.”
Jackson said possibly the hardest technique for him to master is when the bull goes left, and then a quick right.
“I call it the ‘left/right goodnight’; before you know it your in all sorts and back on the deck,” he said with an almost cheeky grin.
“Sometimes they get a couple of bucks in, then turn and it blows your feet out, you lose grip.
“I have done this and been front flipped off the bull and landed back in the chute, it’s not ideal,” he said.
He recalls his worst ride taking place in Chiltern in March.
“I’m sure it was the worst bull known to man,” he said shaking his head.
“It kept sitting down in the chute.
“I didn’t think things could get worse, but they did.
“Out of nowhere a second bull comes in the chute and knocked me out of it.
“They kept trying to get me on the bull but he kept sitting down, so I had no time to prepare.
“The next time he stood up, I was off (out of the chute) before he had a chance to sit down again.”
Jackson has had further investigations on his wrist and may be looking at having surgery.
When asked if this would stop him from taking part in upcoming rodeos - including Deniliquin - and listen to the medical advice regarding his injury, a grin started to appear.
He looked up and said “I’ll take it into consideration”.
His motivation to keep riding is the up coming Western Rivers Rodeo Series.
A first of its kind, the series will run across the Deniliquin, Finley and Homebush rodeos.
Bonus prize money is on offer to those who compete in all three events.
“I’m keen as mustard,” Jackson said.
“I’ve never ridden in my home town.
“It would be a dream to do a home town ride.”
Not only would his community be there to support him, but his family as well - especially his mum Sacha Free and dad Nathan Jefferies.
“Mum and dad were not too sure (about my bull riding) at first.
“Dad really likes it now; he’s always worried but very proud,” he said.
Jackson has a barrel on a spring at home to practice his technique on, and a friend has a bucking bull for additional practice.
He also attends practice days at some of the ranches near by.
“For this sport you either love it or hate it.
“You can’t just do it every now and then; it’s such a dangerous sport, you’re all in.
“Every bull is different, every buck is different and everyone rides different.”
Jackson has high praise for the rodeo community that surrounds him, and is proud and grateful for the support.
“The rodeo community is always there to help; they are like family, willing to help with anything.
“Right from the start they help with gear until your able to finance it yourself, and I’ve taken on board a lot of their advice.”
An as for his future bull riding aspirations, Jackson has set high goals for himself.
“My future goals are to continue to do what I love, but ultimately I would love to ride in America,” he said.
“That’s where the money is, but it would be nice to try and win some flash buckles first.”