Love/Hate

As Sports Become Safer, Bull Riding Doubles Down on Danger

Inside one of the most stubbornly dangerous sports in the world

Cannon Cravens rides his first bull ever at the professional bull-riding level. All photos: Jack Sorokin

A cowboy is made in eight seconds. That’s how long you have to stay on a bull for it to count as a “ride.” Any less than that is a failure. On the best rides, eight seconds doesn’t feel like long enough; on the worst…