Plots(1)
Rhyder Rutledge is just a little boy of eight. As if his future had been sealed when he was given the name, he started out as a rodeo rider when he was a toddler. The youngest riders start out on sheep, switching to calves at age six. Then they graduate to young bulls before finally moving on to the strongest, wildest adult animals. Rodeo riding on bulls is one of the most dangerous sports there is; every year, countless cowboys fall victim to the trampling hoofs of a rampaging bull – sometimes with fatal consequences. When Rhyder falls during training, his stepfather won't let him cry; in this sport, you have to be able to take the pain. Rhyder is in training for the world championship in Texas, as is teenager August Hopper, the only female taking part. While their participation is controversial, we meet parents who support their children in this expensive sport, sometimes taking second jobs to pay for it. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)
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