Bull riding is one of the most dangerous sports on earth. In a blink of an eye, a bull can charge at a defenseless rider in a split second after the ride is over. However, the bull riders are never alone in the arena; they have two fearless life savers, known as bullfighters, waiting in the wings who are ready to dive into immediate danger to protect the bull riders. Sometimes this means the bullfighters even have to get in the way of a bull’s dangerous horns or hooves by any means necessary. With the best bucking bulls and bull riders in the world at Vernal’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo, we need two of the best bullfighters in the world: Nathan Jestes and Nathan Harp.
Nathan Jestes
Nathan Jestes is one of the most respected professional bullfighters in rodeo today, known for his fearless cowboy protection, athleticism, and dedication to the sport. Born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, Jestes grew up connected to ranch life and small-town western culture. A standout athlete in high school, he received lacrosse scholarship offers from top colleges before choosing instead to pursue aviation at Montana State University, where he earned a degree in Aviation Technology and became a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor.
While in college, Jestes discovered his passion for bullfighting and quickly developed a reputation for his instincts, speed, and calmness under pressure. He joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2010 and rapidly climbed the ranks, working many of the nation’s premier rodeos and earning six selections to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Jestes has been nominated numerous times for PRCA Bullfighter of the Year and is admired for his toughness, professionalism, and team-oriented style in the arena. His biggest fans are his wife, Bridget, and two daughters, Harper and Channing, who travel the country with him to the PRCA’s biggest rodeos.
Nathan Harp
Nathan Harp wasn’t brought up in a rodeo family, but since he can remember, he has always had a love for rodeo. Nathan grew up and still calls Tuttle, Oklahoma, home. At the age of 16, he started to pursue his love for rodeo through bullfighting.
After high school, Nathan attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in Agri-Business. While at college, he put all of his effort into his career and before long found success in freestyle bullfighting. He has won some of the most prestigious freestyle bullfighting titles, including the Rex Dunn World Championship Freestyle Bullfights and the California Rodeo Salinas Freestyle Bullfighting title two times.
Since joining the PRCA in 2012, he has been voted as one of the top five bullfighters in the world numerous times, and selected to work the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, the Professional Bull Riders World Finals, and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
The bullfighters and the Save of the Night are sponsored by:
