Shaun Greenhough loves the thrill of bullriding.
He loves everything about the sport.
That admiration for it has the 17-year-old dreaming of a professional career.
The Penticton/Princeton resident, who recently competed in the Summerland Pro Bullriding Stampede, wants to travel the world chasing the paydays that come with winning.
Before he can reach that level, Greenhough needs to learn the ropes of staying on a bull. In a career that is just six months old, he’s getting help from someone who has been through it.
Trevor Thompson won the 1985 National High School finals bullridingc championship is also a 1985 All-American Team-Bull Riding/Bareback.
Thompson, who returned to the sport because of Greenhough, said the newcomer is progressing pretty good.
“He’s going to be good. He’s a very determined young man,” said Thompson, 46, who met Greenhough after beginning a relationship with his mother. “One of the better ones I’ve seen. There is a learning curve that you have to put out there for him. You give him something to work on and he picks it up real quick.”
Greenhough has enjoyed learning from Thompson. As the summer continued, Greenhough started seeing improvements. Among the risks of riding bulls is getting hurt. Greenhough broke his collarbone, which affected his riding arm, but still competed.
“Once you get on the bull you don’t really feel anything,” said Greenhough, whose interest in the sport started by watching it on TV. “It’s just a bunch of adrenaline pumping through you. When you get off, you really feel it.”
Thompson, who quit bull riding at 22, goes to rodeos with Greenhough and gives him advice in the chute. They have also utilized video so he can learn from his mistakes.
“Last weekend he rode in Smithers … I was able to go through the video (Greenhough’s cousin shot) with him,” said Thompson. “There were a few mistakes he did. It’s awesome with that kind of technology. I wish I had had that.”
Thompson said riders need strength in this sport and Greenhough has that because he works out religiously. Thompson said Greenhough needs to work on his focus, which will be put to the test in Barriere this weekend as the community hosts the B.C. Rodeo Association’s final stop before finals in Quesnel. The top 10 qualify to go to Quesnel. Greenhough currently sits in eighth.