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Calgary Stampede's rodeo clowns

Broadcast Date: July 14, 1982

Miles Hare puts his life at risk every time he goes to work in the bull pit. Wearing nothing more than a colourful costume and some bright face paint, Hare distracts angry bulls so fallen riders can escape to safety. It's a dangerous occupation considering some of the bulls weigh over 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg). The secret to a rodeo clown's longevity is anticipating the bull's next move. But it does get tricky at times, Hare tells CBC Television.

Hare's suffered his share of hits. He's been a professional rodeo clown, also known as a "bullfighter," for eight years, getting his first taste of rodeo thrill at age 13. What's it like being hit by a bull? "If a guy takes a pipe and hits someone in the rear end hard enough to send them 10 feet in the air," says Hare, "they'd get an idea of what we go through." Ouch!

Calgary Stampede's rodeo clowns

• There are three different jobs that correspond to the three different categories of rodeo clowns. The bullfighter's main responsibility is to protect the cowboy. The "barrelman" stays inside the barrel and only emerges to distract the bull when needed. The comedy clown's main job is to entertain.

• Bulls are colour-blind and respond to movement rather than colour.

• Rodeo clown, bullfighter and barrelman, too, F.J. "Scooter" Culbertson suffered 24 broken bones, three concussions, a dislocated jaw, internal injuries and a torn-off ear during his 23-year career.

• Rodeo clowns make between $100 and $225 per show.

Calgary Stampede's rodeo clowns

Medium: Television

Program: Calgary Newshour

Broadcast Date: July 14, 1982

Guest(s): Miles Hare

Reporter: Terry Glecoff

Duration: 2:31

Last updated:
Aug. 14, 2009