Controlling Your Free Arm In Bull Riding

When you’re learning to ride bulls, one of the most common struggles is figuring out what to do with your free arm. Many beginner riders move it too much—thinking it will help their balance or not really knowing what to do with it—only to realize it often throws them off. The truth is, controlling your free arm is about building the right habits, training your body through repetition, and focusing on the mechanics that really matter.

Why Free Arm Control Matters

Your free arm is not the driving force of your ride—it’s more of a stabilizer.

• Too much movement = loss of balance and wasted energy.

• Calm, controlled positioning = smoother form and better balance.

Think of it this way: the power comes from your hips and shoulders, not your free arm. Watch any pro rider, and you’ll notice that their free arm doesn’t flail—it moves with purpose, only when it has to.

How Habits Shape Your Riding

Everything about bull riding comes down to forming the right habits:

• Every motion you repeat becomes muscle memory.

• Wrong habits (like swinging your arm wildly) will stick if you don’t correct them.

• Right habits, built through repetition, make your movements automatic—even when the ride gets intense.

👉 Remember: your brain can’t think through every move in an 8-second ride. You have to train your body until the movements happen naturally as a reaction.

Fixing the “Wild Free Arm” Problem

If you’re moving your free arm too much, here’s how to fix it:

1. Focus on Form, Not Just the Arm

Instead of obsessing about your free arm, train your hips, shoulders, and core positioning. If these are solid, you will start to have better control of your free arm.

2. Do the “Bull Rider Dance” and Ride Air Bulls

Practice the motions of a ride without being on a bull. This builds muscle memory and keeps your form sharp. (Just be mindful of where you practice—you might get some funny looks!)

3. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

Whether it’s drills, practice barrels, or actual rides, commit to repeating the correct form. Over time, your free arm will settle into the right place automatically.

4. Watch the Pros

Study how professional riders use their free arms: minimal, controlled, and always secondary to hip and shoulder movement.

Bull Riding Safety and Confidence

A wild free arm isn’t just a style issue—it’s a safety issue. Overextending your arm can throw off your balance, increase your risk of getting hung up, and make you more likely to get bucked off early. By staying disciplined and developing strong habits, you’ll ride safer and with more confidence.

Keep Pushing for Better

Don’t settle for “good enough.” Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been riding for years, there’s always room to refine your form. The more control you have over your free arm, the more consistent you’ll become—and consistency is what separates average riders from champions.

Next Steps: Learn, Train, Ride

If you’re serious about improving your riding, don’t stop here. Keep building your skills with proven training resources:

• Take the Online Bull Riding Course – Learn to bull ride from anywhere with Wiley Petersen’s step-by-step instruction.

• Sign Up for a Bull Riding Clinic – Get hands-on coaching and live practice with personalized feedback.

• Read More Bull Riding Tips on Our Blog – Keep learning with articles on safety, technique, and mindset.

Final Word:
Controlling your free arm in bull riding isn’t about being stiff—it’s about being efficient. Focus on your form, train the right habits, and keep practicing until control becomes second nature. The choice is yours: stay stuck in bad habits, or put in the work to ride like a champion.