Local and national riders expected at bull riding titles

SET on a ranch at Muskerry is Bennet Ranch Rodeo, home to the regions first family-run rodeo and this year’s Victorian bull riding titles.

James Neil Bennet started the rodeo three years ago after interest in his bucking chutes started to grow beyond his circle of friends.

“I started the rodeo myself, I built the whole arena at home and then opened up to the public expecting to get 500 people and then we got 3000,” Bennet said.

Since the first event, Bennet has built a viewing platform around the arena and installed new TV screens to accommodate the large crowds.

This December the ranch will host the 2023 Victorian Bull Riding Titles, an event supported by the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Financial contributions from local business partners will make up the $10,000 prize pool that riders compete for, a sum that Bennet said will draw riders from around Australia.

“You get ‘em from all across Australia, like Darwin, Queensland, New South, everywhere” he said.

“Especially when you put up $10,000, it’s worthwhile them spending the money on the fuel to try their luck.”

For Bennet, bull riding is not about competing against his peers, but is a competition with himself.

“There’s a joke that goes around bull riding like, it’s 90 per cent mental and the rest is in your head,” he said.

“Everybody that rides bulls has had horrific injuries so you know what could happen so it’s a massive mental drain to be able to calm your mind and perform,” he said.

Bucking bulls are bred specifically for the sport from animals that show natural talent.

Bennet said riders develop respect for the animal as most will sustain injuries over the course of their riding careers.

“You can’t ride bulls unless you respect them, because you know how badly they can hurt you,” he said.

Bulls at the next Bennet Ranch Rodeo will be supplied by Guy Morgan, Gary McPhee, with some of Bennet’s own bulls used as well.

The two-day rodeo will be held on the 15 and 16 of December at Bennet Ranch at Muskerry.