Bullfighter Joe Butler

Joe has been fighting bulls and saving cowboys professionally since 2003. Originally from Cushing, Oklahoma, Joe lives in Apple Valley, California.

He’s seen everything the rodeo can show a man: blood and death; unexpected victories and close calls. Bullfighter Joe Butler has been in the rodeo arena keeping bull riders safe for a long time.  Butler confides that many people think bullfighters are crazy. Turns out, there’s a little more to it than that.  “You have to be able to understand and read livestock. You’ve got to be able to read situations,” he said. “There’s a lot that goes into it other than just standing out there and let a bull run you over. Professional bullfighters work as a team and unspoken communication between them is essential to doing a good job.”