Davis has bull riding in his blood

Did somebody say “Bull Rider?”: JT Davis of Red Bluff rides a smiling bull with the gift of professional skill at a rodeo in Lakeview Oregon. Davis is currently ranked 10th in the state going into the finals for the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association.

JT Davis of Red Bluff has spent a lifetime around rodeo and horses. He started riding at a young age.

Davis began riding sheep and worked his way up to the more difficult and notorious bulls.

While in high school, Davis rode on the California High School Rodeo Association team for four years.

His freshman year, Davis won rookie of the year, and was ranked second in the district for bull riding. He also placed high enough to attend the Silver State International Rodeo in Nevada.

While in his junior year Davis held the number one spot in District 1 and was ranked second in the state and the California High School Rodeo State Finals.

This qualified him to make the trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo, which at the time was held in Springfield Illinois. Davis returned home 25th in the Nation.

During his senior year, he was successful enough to qualify for the the state finals, however, he was injured just before them and was unable to compete.

When Davis turned 18, he went on the road riding on the Professional Bull Riders Circuit. After an injury, Davis was riding with his left arm and had his right arm in a cast.

He felt that "this just wasn't his year," and returned home. At some point, Davis would like to return to competing in the PBR. He is currently riding in open bull rides and competing in the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association.

Going into the finals in the first week of October, he is ranked tenth in the association for bull riding.

At the end of Labor Day Weekend, Davis will have covered three rodeos in three days.

"I am not really sure how many rodeos I've been too this year, there are to many to count," stated Davis. "I am doing what I love."

For Davis, his whole family rodeoed at one time or another so it was natural for him to try the sport.

His goal is to be the best bull rider to walk the face of the earth. Davis also enjoys making a living out of it.

When Davis is not riding bulls, he is fighting them at rodeos for the fun of it. At the Donny Martin Memorial Bull Riding, Davis was the number one bull fighter at the event. He rides and fights bulls for the adrenaline rush and the love of the sport.

"I love the adrenaline," stated Davis. "It gets your blood pumping."

Each morning, Davis gets up to go train horses at a ranch in Los Molinos. His greatest inspiration is his girlfriend Ashton who stands behind him 100 percent in his pursuit of his dream. He also watches bull riding tapes and the late Donny Martin also played a huge role in who Davis is today.

"I've know Donny since I was born, he taught me a lot about bull riding and a lot about life," said Davis.

Davis's favorite place to ride bulls, is each and every bull ride.