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A rodeo clown, also known as a bullfighter, distracts bulls to protect cowboys during competitions. Originally an entertainer, the role shifted to protector. Modern bullfighters may not wear clown makeup and prioritize safety over entertainment.
During a professional riding contest, one of the few people standing between a cowboy and an angry 1200-pound bull is a man known as a rodeo clown or bullfighter. It is the rodeo clown’s job to distract the bull by any means necessary after a rider has been driven away. A rodeo bullfighter often wears brightly colored clothing and clown makeup as part of his costume, but most of his duties are very dangerous and are taken very seriously by others. A good fighter uses his athleticism and quick reflexes to assist the cowboys, while simultaneously using his physical skills and timing to entertain the crowd between contests.
Originally, a rodeo clown’s primary job was to entertain the audience during the rodeo’s downtime, not necessarily protect the cowboy during horse riding competitions. A rodeo clown may have performed slapstick comedy or staged controlled fights with one of the bulls. An original rodeo clown has learned many of the same stunts and tricks characteristic of an ordinary circus clown.
Eventually, however, the role of a rodeo bullfighter shifted from that of entertainer to that of protector. A rodeo bullfighter might still perform routines for the public between rounds, but his primary focus now is the safety of the riders. Whenever a rider falls or becomes trapped, a rodeo clown is often the first person on the scene to stand between the bull and the cowboy. It is not unusual for the bullfighter to be gored, trampled, or otherwise abused by an agitated bull after a rider has been thrown off. An experienced bullfighter generally knows the disposition of each bull he works with and the best way to distract the animal without being seriously injured.
As job responsibilities have become much more serious in modern rodeo competition, a number of professional rodeo clowns now prefer to be called “toriro” instead of clown. It’s not unusual to see modern-day “rodeo clowns” wearing normal clothes and little or no clown makeup. While a modern rodeo clown may still perform routines for audiences, his role as a protective bullfighter often takes precedence.
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