Herreid native is safety man on bull riding’s biggest stage

Professional Bull Riders (PBR) has announced that Dave Schumacher from Herreid is the 2013 safety man for the Built Ford Tough Series shown weekly on the CBS Sports Network.

The safety man (or pickup man, as it is known in the rodeo world) has the job of keeping the show moving along. If the bull doesn’t want to leave the arena or if a rider gets hurt, the safety man ropes the bull for safety reasons.

Schumacher is also a safety man for rodeos in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Montana.

Schumacher says he raises his horse from a colts, and he has to trust his horses like he trusts his best friend or family members. He says, “This is a job you will never be able to replace with an ATV.”

The Built Ford Tough Series is off for the summer months, so Schumacher will be attending rodeos and Touring Pro events. These are like minor league events for young riders trying to get into the Built Ford Tough Series, he says.

“I have had bulls go to the PBR events hauled Chad Berger of Mandan, N.D.,” says Schumacher, “So I have been involved with the PBR for a little while and produced some Touring Pro events. I am very happy that the PBR has hired me on. It is the greatest cowboy organization I have ever been involved with.”