Bull Rider Jordan Spears Working on his Roping
Jordan Spears is a standout bull rider, qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo four times (2014, 2016-17, 2019).
So, what’s Spears doing during the COVID-19 pandemic that put the ProRodeo schedule in neutral? Team roping and tie-down roping, of course.
“I’m enjoying the time at home, I’m starting a bunch of colts and then I have been team roping a lot and (tie-down) roping,” Spears said. “I’m using my time and riding all the horses I have. They are probably in the best shape they have ever been because I usually don’t have this much time to ride them and go to ropings.”
Spears is staying in Idaho and is in the process of trying to buy a home in the Caldwell area.
Growing up, Spears dabbled in multiple rodeo events – bareback riding, team roping, tie-down roping and bull riding in the high school and college rodeo ranks.
“I just team rope and (tie-down) rope for fun now,” said Spears, 27. “I have a pretty good young calf horse, and I have a couple nice head horses, so I’m using the time wisely. I have the horses for myself because I help people brand and gather. I have always grown up with horses, so I’m trying to get a place where I can have some cows, and I will need horses. Right now, I have nine horses.”
Although Spears competed in multiple events he was always drawn back to bulls.
“That was the one that was my calling for some reason,” he said. “I had more a passion and drive for that. I love the other stuff, but my true passion is bull riding. Roping is definitely a different mindset for me. I actually get more nervous for roping events than I do the bull riding just due to the fact that I have done bull riding at such a high level that I’ve gotten used to that feeling because I have done it long enough now. Roping-wise, there are a lot more variables in there. There’s a lot more that goes into roping events than there is the roughstock events because of the fact you have the timing of your horse, you have to have a horse that fits you and there’s the draw and everything like that.”
Spears has roped with a handful of people during this quarantine, including fellow bull rider Roscoe Jarboe, a three-time qualifier for the NFR (2016-18).
“I’m surrounded by a bunch of people in rodeo families over here, so I always have a place to rope,” Spears said. “We’ve been staying plenty busy in the quarantine with horses, it just gives us more time to ride them.”
Spears also is keeping his eye on the PRCA rodeo schedule.
“That’s how I make a living, so I’m definitely trying to get a place bought, and if I get a place bought I will be itching to rodeo so I can make some money and pay it off,” Spears said. “I will be in the best shape of my life and probably the healthiest I have ever been with this much time off. I will be ready when they start rodeoing again.”
Courtesy of PRCA