I think your wife's two cousins likely can be great coaches helping your 8 year old out learning the Ropes of Bull Riding. Motor cross and Bull Riding both have the thrill of extreme adrenalin rush which is always fun after a great ride. Both can be fatal too. The developing of good skills now will likely make him even greater later and Bull Riding can be driving by money too. Although, I understand your point.

To ride your son needs to learn his balance and pivoting points of the young calf. Understanding the calf movement before the calf moves be it bucking action or turning, twisting or just moving forward. Reading the head as the calf will give signals with his head as what he plans to do next. Bulls have a bad habit of being able to be read however add another ton of weight to them, and regardless of reading can still be extremely difficult to stay with them for the entire ride.

Riding the barrel: Old school was to use an old oil 55 gallon drum and hang it on it's side and use it as a practicing tool which http://www.ehow.com/how_4681081_training-equipment-bull-riding.html actually shows one how to build the thing. Amazing what one can find on the computer today. Regardless, riding the barrel will develop coordination and confidence.

Next is building the grip and arm. Grip is fairly simple. It's about squeezing, release and squeeze again of the hand using perhaps a rubber ball or anything he finds a liking too to exercise his hand. Building the arm, just like in the gym, curls, weights, push-ups and pull ups.

Riding a bike I recall was much easier than riding bulls. Sure I skin my knee once or twice riding a bike, but I never eat dirt like bull riding. I think the best thing is to continue encourage him to do what he enjoys just as long as the wife doesn't begin to panic. I know you will continue to have fun watching and recording his rides. I enjoyed the video and thought you did an awesome recording. Who knows, your son just might be at the 2024 Nationals and I got to see his first ride thanks to his proud Daddy. Kevin, that was really an awesome video and your son did one heck of a good ride. As we once said in the shoots years ago "OUTSIDE".