At just 21 years old, Anthony Floyd has already lived a life full of horsepower—literally. The Magee High School graduate is a diesel mechanic by trade, a race car driver by hobby, and now a professional ranch bronc rider tearing up the rodeo circuit.
“I started my career at the end of October last year at the Jackson State Fair,” Floyd says, leaning back with the easy confidence of someone who has already stared down more than 70 bucking horses.
“When I first started, I was nervous, sure, but I’d been training horses since I was nine or ten years old. I already had the basics. Once I got on my first bronc, I knew this was it.”Since that first adrenaline-charged ride, Floyd hasn’t looked back. In his rookie season alone, he’s covered more than 70 head of bucking horses—missing the full eight-second ride on only seven. That remarkable consistency has propelled him into the top ranks of three different rodeo associations. He’s currently leading Tri-State for Rookie of the Year, sitting second in the NCPRA championship race, and third in the Sierra Rodeo standings.
A Cowboy Raised in the Saddle
Floyd’s rodeo story began long before he climbed into a bucking chute. At just four years old, he joined his family on the Mount Olive Wagon Train, a seven-day ride that stretches from Simpson County to the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Seventeen years later, that tradition still fuels his passion for horses.
“Growing up, it gave me a respect for the animals,” Floyd says. “A lot of people see a bronc and forget it’s still a horse. I still pet mine before I get on. It’s about respect—it’s about that bond.”
That respect doesn’t make the ride any easier. Ranch bronc riding is pure, unfiltered rodeo grit. Unlike saddle bronc, riders use a standard western saddle and a neck rope instead of a halter.
The goal is the same: stay aboard for eight wild seconds while the horse does everything in its power to toss you skyward. Both rider and horse are judged, with each contributing to the final score.
“The name of the game is getting the rankest horse in the pen,” Floyd explains. “That horse’s job is to buck you off, and your job is to ride. The harder he bucks and the better you ride, the higher your score.”
The Zone: Tunnel Vision and Eight Seconds of Chaos
Floyd’s pre-ride ritual is part focus, part faith, and part respect. Before mounting, he rubs down his bronc, letting the horse know he isn’t the enemy. Once inside the chute, though, everything changes.
“From the moment I cross into that box, it’s tunnel vision,” he says. “You don’t hear the crowd, the announcer—nothing. Just the horse and the ride. It’s all reaction. You follow the horse, you counterbalance when you get off-center, and you stay in rhythm. When it all comes together, and you hear that crowd after, it’s one of the best feelings in the world.”
That crowd reaction isn’t just for him—it’s for the kids leaning over the arena rails, eyes wide with hero worship.
“That’s one of my favorite parts,” Floyd admits. “I was that kid once. Now I get to be the cowboy they talk about at school the next day. That means everything.”
From Training Horses to Touring the Nation
Floyd credits much of his success to years spent working with problem horses. Learning to read a horse’s movements gave him an edge when stepping onto true bucking stock. He also trains relentlessly off the circuit—practicing on a training barrel at home, reviewing film, and fine-tuning his technique.His rookie year has already taken him far beyond Mississippi, with rodeos in St. Louis, Kansas City, Little Rock, and even Uvalde, Texas, near the Mexican border. Each stop offers not only a new challenge in the arena, but also the thrill of travel and meeting people from all walks of life who share a love for the rodeo lifestyle.
“Man, going through Texas, seeing those wide-open spaces, the mountains up north—it’s just different,” Floyd says with a grin. “The rodeo has given me a chance to see the world in a way I never would’ve otherwise.”
Advice for the Next Generation
For young riders dreaming of rodeo glory, Floyd is quick with advice: start early. Youth rodeo associations like the Louisiana Youth Rodeo Association give kids opportunities to compete in bronc and bull events long before they’re 18.“Getting that head start is huge,” Floyd emphasizes.
“A lot of the pro-level guys you see today? They’ve been riding since before they were six years old. The earlier you get into it, the better.”
Looking Ahead
With Rookie of the Year honors within reach and ambitions to step into bareback riding—a discipline recognized at the top pro level—Anthony Floyd’s rodeo career is only just beginning. But whether he’s chasing points, fanning his cowboy hat mid-ride to thrill the crowd, or simply petting a bronc in the chute to show respect, one thing is certain: this young cowboy is riding high and destined for bigger arenas. For fans wanting to follow his journey, Floyd keeps his schedule updated on Facebook and TikTok. “I’m all over the place every weekend,” he says. “If you want to come out, cheer, or just ask me a question, reach out. I’ll always answer.” Photos by Photo Downwind and Black Lotus
