RMPBS News
She Built a Bull Riding Show on the Navajo Nation
11/6/2025 | 3m 33sVideo has Closed Captions
21-year-old Navajo bull rider Kristal Puente takes on the challenge of hosting her own rodeo show.
Kristal Puente is carrying on her family’s rodeo legacy on the Navajo Nation. Hosting her second bull riding show, she faces the pressure of organizing every detail — from raising money to keeping the event running smoothly — all while proving that women can take the reins in a male-dominated sport.
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RMPBS News is a local public television program presented by RMPBS
RMPBS News
She Built a Bull Riding Show on the Navajo Nation
11/6/2025 | 3m 33sVideo has Closed Captions
Kristal Puente is carrying on her family’s rodeo legacy on the Navajo Nation. Hosting her second bull riding show, she faces the pressure of organizing every detail — from raising money to keeping the event running smoothly — all while proving that women can take the reins in a male-dominated sport.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSecond place is the spur strap, and then payout for third.
Oh yeah, I’m going back there and talk to them right now.
My family has done bull riding event long time ago.
And I kind of got a taste of how to do, what to do, where to be.
So when I started riding bulls, when I started getting into rode I kept telling myself that I wanted to be in charge.
Okay.
Okay.
Alright Talaya, let’s go.
Wait!
Right there.
Bro, that middle one is all in.
I have four brothers.
Five sisters.
We kind of grew up around rodeo.
And rodeo has just kind of passed down from my dad.
We all try to help one another.
Like, if someone goes out, there's always someone next to us.
My family has helped me take care of concession, take care of admission.
My brother was a judge and I had my brother in law helping with flag.
That's just what we do as a family.
My family has hosted bullriding a long time ago.
Yeah, I was young.
I didn't really know what was going on, but we did have a small part of roles like helping with take up trash.
The first time I wanted to host my own show was 2010.
I was in junior high and I wanted to do an all woman show.
It was just kind of a goal for me to have my own and figure out how to put one together.
It took a lot of time and a lot of courage to finally get up there.
Can you bring me the saddle?
If I'm being honest, the last six months when I started preparing, everything was kind of already stressing me out.
I've been spending money like crazy through this past month just to get everything ready, but things weren't coming out the way I wanted them to.
I paid 500 for buckles, and I'm very, very sad that our buckles didn't get to come in right away.
You got to stay on top of everything, and you got to tell people straight out like, this is how I want it.
This is how we're going to do it.
A lot of changes you also have to make within the show.
Despite the part where I was stressed out, I felt pretty proud of myself.
I've hosted two shows.
Last year there was only 11 riders, but this year there was a total of 52 riders.
I would say rodeo means having fun, having a good time, making sure you're safe, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.

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