13-year-old Najiah Knight is currently the only girl on the Professional Bull Riders tour’s miniature bull riders circuit across the country and around the world.
Knight, an Oregon native, began bull riding at the age of 9 after watching her father compete. She will never forget the excitement and adrenaline she felt after getting her first bull.
Now, she’s in her fourth season on the tour, where she rides among other aspiring pros between the ages of 8 and 13. Though the bulls the mini athletes ride aren’t quite as large as the pros, they still can weigh between 600 and 1,000 pounds!
Her schedule is insane as she tries to live a normal teenage life with school and also participating in basketball, volleyball, and dance. Knight then works out every night with her dad to training with lunges, weights, and ropes for bull riding.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, the rider must stay atop the bucking animal for a full 8 seconds and are only scored if they stay on. No matter how much she trains, there is always a possibility that Knight could fall off and get stomped on by the bull. She has no fear, though, and her dream is to be the first girl in the PBR (Professional Bull Riders Tour).
When asked about the sport and the comments she receives due to being the only girl she says, “It doesn’t matter what people think as long as it makes you happy, just go for it.” Knight's philosophy is that girls can do anything! #GoodVibes