Professional Bull Rider Dustin Martinez exclusive interview with Steven Cuoco

From Dustin: After about 4 years old, I spent the majority of my young life traveling back and forth between Oklahoma and New Mexico as a result of divorced parents. Growing up around and constantly being surrounded by the outdoors, animals, and other cowboys at both homes, it has all been a part of who I am ever since I can remember. Horseback at the age of 3, rode my first sheep, “ mutton bustin’ ” not long after, and the rest has all made me who I am today.

I am now back in New Mexico helping with the family ranch, and still convinced that with this way of life comes many of life’s great things. From the horses I work with, to the wildlife that helps us survive out here, I am constantly surrounded by life and creation. This way of life never seems to leave a person, sure as it never left me.

A fifth-generation cowboy and second-generation bull rider, I continued on with my passion of riding wild animals and am now a professional bull rider, currently ranked in the world. When I’m not traveling to and competing in events I spend the majority of my time working with horses, this ranging from: training, riding, farrier work, to giving riding lessons. Bull riding, however, is the main focus in my life at the moment. It is something I have trained at since I was a child, very similar to an Olympic athlete, and I don’t plan on letting up.