A New Chapter: Todd Bowman's Journey from Bullfighting to Silverwork
Image courtesy of Todd Bowman
In the world of rodeo, it’s not if, but when an athlete will be injured. And sometimes, those inevitable injuries can be career-ending. For former bullfighter Todd Bowman, injury that changed his path occurred outside the arena, but that didn’t change its impact on his life, rodeo career, and identity.
Chasing the Bright Lights
Todd's foray into rodeo began at age 15 when he first stepped in front of a bull. Driven by a passion for the sport, he honed his skills and moved up the ranks of bullfighters, participating in rodeos all over the country including the International Finals Rodeo, the Wrangler NFR Bullfights, and PRCA Circuit Finals.
However, a skydiving accident in 1998 that nearly ended his life temporarily halted his rodeo career, requiring months of recovery and physical therapy to re-learn basic motor skills.
"My skydiving accident happened on August 10,” Todd recalls. “When I woke up three weeks later in a rehab center, I told my physical therapist, ‘I'm qualified to go to the NFR, so I am going to the NFR.’ At the time, all I could do was run remote control with two fingers. The rest of me was broken. But I was convinced I was going to NFR.”
Despite his severe injuries and numerous surgeries, he did make the trip to the NFR in December as an alternate, although he didn’t end up being fully ready to fight bulls just yet. In January, just five months after the accident, Todd stepped back into the practice pen. By February, he was back to defending cowboys in the arena.
Time for a Change
Although he continued fighting bulls for several years following his accident, Todd knew his retirement couldn’t be delayed much longer. The transition away from rodeo was far from easy.
“When the lights turn off, the world changes,” Todd reveals. “Rodeo was my identity, and I didn't know what I was anymore. That was really, really hard.”
After retiring, Todd initially stepped into the trucking industry, and began to dabble in an old passion: reining horses. His love of horses became a crucial component in rebuilding his life and identity. As he re-entered the reining horse industry, Todd found time on horseback to be both mentally and physically therapeutic.
Todd and his horse Ima Fat Bottom Girl show off their stop at a National Reining Horse Association competition.
Around the same time, Todd found a passion—and a talent—for silverwork. After receiving encouragement from friends in the reining horse industry, Todd launched Bowman Custom Bits & Spurs, a business centered around functional, beautiful craftsmanship. Through his business, Todd stays connected to his Western roots and contributes to the equine community in meaningful ways.
"I get to be around some incredible artists in the bit and spur business," he humbly acknowledges. “I've been able to put myself in a position—whether it was in the rodeo business, the trucking business, or the skydiving business, or in the bit and spur business—to be around the best people that I can and get the best advice that I can get from them.”
Todd’s work evidences the artistry involved in crafting tools that enhance communication between riders and their horses. His passion for silversmithing is palpable as he describes the intricate work that goes into each piece, a skill honed through patience and precision.
The Inevitable End
Through his own experiences and that of his friends in the sport, Todd has had a front row seat to the unique challenges faced by rodeo athletes, who historically lacked the support systems available to other professional athletes. Even today with help from organizations like Western Sports Foundation, it’s not an easy path.
"The expenses are overwhelming," he notes, shedding light on the financial realities of the sport and the cultural barriers that often prevent athletes from accessing much-needed resources. “You've got to look to the future. Rodeo is only going to last just so long. You're not going to stay in it forever, and in this game, it can be over fast.”
Todd’s story underscores the importance of planning for life beyond rodeo and being prepared for the inevitable end, but it also serves as a reminder of how far resilience, adaptability, and passion can take someone. For every rodeo athlete, life's chapters are constantly evolving, and the skills honed in one arena can lead to success in another.
"Rodeo is just a chapter in our lives,” Todd shares. “So let's make a new chapter, or another book!"
To hear more of Todd’s inspiring story, tune in to Episode 30 of Beyond the Rodeo.