When Tim O’Neal’s small son decided he wanted to ride bulls, O’Neal searched the country for a miniature bull that the then 5-year-old could use for practice. The rim is rolled to avoid sharp edges which could damage either the clown or the bull should contact occur.Photo courtesy of Brubaker Photography.King Kong WarningsĪ rolled rim should be welded into the top and bottom of the barrel for safety and added strength. Tape and painting will have to be redone periodically as the barrel is hit by bulls or weather. Some clowns choose to paint designs into the barrel as well, a form of branding for the clown himself. Spray paint the barrel in the desired color. Tape should be wrapped top to bottom or vice versa, taking care to make even rows and overlap the tape with each new wrap. Wrap the padding on the outside of the frame using heavy tape such as duct tape. Padding should be several inches thick and completely cover the outside of the frame. Wrap the outside of the barrel with Styrofoam or other dense padding material. To determine the height of the handles, measured where they would need to be to enable the clown to lift the barrel approximately 6 inches from the ground.

The handles enable the clown to pick the barrel up and relocate it within the arena without getting out. Weld handles inside the barrel using stout metal rods. There should be reinforcing bands around the barrel as well. Most are now constructed of #20 gauge aluminum. Although steel was once the most common material, according to Jordan its weight has led many clowns to opt for lighter aluminum barrels. Weld the frame of your barrel using the sheet metal.

Raising bucking bulls