07/18/2025
“I honestly didn’t think I’d ever ride bulls again.” Brady Oleson overcomes alcoholism en route to stellar return to bull riding and the PBR by Jordan Tolley-Turner
When 25 year old Blackfoot, Idaho native Brady Oleson entered Portland, Oregon’s Moda Center earlier this month, he didn’t have many expectations. Just two weeks earlier he had returned to the PBR via a Touring Pro Division event in Klamath Falls, Oregon after more than a year away from competition.
The past two years, Oleson had been on about 15 bulls and wasn’t riding to his own standards. He had gained 40 pounds. Alcohol had taken its toll.
“I basically just hit a point where I was really unhappy and miserable,” Oleson said. “Alcohol took away everything; I had lost family, friends, and bull riding. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever ride bulls again.”
Eventually, Oleson asked for help.
He ended up at a treatment center in Utah where he learned more about alcoholism and how to combat its grip; changing his day to day life to resist temptation.
“I just wasn’t happy with where I was in my life and where I was ending up, so I needed a change,” Oleson said.
Then he began working on himself mentally and physically, and after losing 30 pounds as well as gaining a new sense of mental fitness with the support of family and friends, he began to crave bull riding again.
Fast forward to 2022: a new year, a new season, a new Brady Oleson.
“I wanted to do well because I know how important it is to start the year off on a good note, but I was kind of unsure how it was going to go,” Oleson said.
In Portland, Oleson would ride Corey & Lange bulls Shaved Ice (86.50 in round one) and Big Racks of Montana (86 in the short round) to win the Velocity Tour event as the only man to ride both bulls.
“It went great!” Oleson said. “I felt really good physically and mentally, I drew really good bulls, and it just couldn’t have worked out any better.”
The next weeked in Spokane, Washington, Oleson’s momentum continued with an 84.50 point ride in round one that was good enough for second place behind Matt Triplett. He was bucked off in the short go by Sittin Sideways of Howell Rodeo Company, “but that’s going to happen,” Oleson said.
In both Portland and Spokane Oleson rode Big Racks of Montana (pictured) from Corey & Lange Rodeo Company, a younger bull who tends to make a jump or two before turning back to the right, into Oleson’s hand.
“He’s a really good bull to ride,” Oleson said. “If I could draw him every weekend it’d be alright with me!”
Now Oleson sits 2nd in the PBR Velocity Tour Standings and 18th in the PBR World Standings; he makes his return to the premier tour this weekend in Sacramento, California for the first time in nearly four years.
“Yeah it didn’t go so well a couple years ago,” Oleson chuckled. “I definitely want it to be different and I just want to keep it simple, not get too blinded by the lights, and ride bulls!”
A quick turn around, to say the least, from Oleson’s expectations just a few short weeks ago when he returned to the sport he loves.
“I still didn’t think I’d ever be able to compete at this level or even win,” Oleson said. “But through all of this, it’s really helped me learn who I really am, and that if I take care of myself mentally and spiritually I can accomplish those goals I have set for myself in the arena.”
And what are the goals for 2022?
Oleson paused for a second or two when begged the question before answering, “Well I would love to make the world finals, that’s probably the goal, but I really just want to enjoy myself and have fun this year.”
Oleson’s return season isn’t necessarily about the wins, standings, or buckles; he just wants to do what he has grown to love even more in its absence from his life.
Oleson just wants to ride bulls, and do so as living proof that the grip of alcoholism and substance abuse can be overcome.
“I think it’s important to share this, maybe it will help someone else who may be going through similar things, help them know they’re not alone, and that there is hope,” Oleson said.
Photo via Brady Oleson/Bull Stock Media
