Gilbert’s lens takes readers beyond the dirt—inside the chute, onto the ranch, and into the quiet spaces where confidence is built and doubt is confronted. His work captures elite riders and the bulls beneath them with equal respect, presenting the sport as it truly exists: demanding, unforgiving, and earned. Every image carries weight. Every frame tells a story that words alone cannot.

This book is one of the most beautifully illustrated picture books I have ever seen, and it is a must-see—especially for new fans of the sport who are just beginning to learn what professional bull riding truly is. It walks the reader through chute procedure, equipment, preparation, and the countless details that go into a successful ride, all captured through the lens of a still camera rather than video. That distinction matters. By freezing these moments in time, Gilbert allows the reader to study, understand, and appreciate the complexity of bull riding in a way only photography can provide. The result is educational, immersive, and visually striking.

Looking deeper, one of the most powerful themes in Cowboy Up! Stars Riding Bulls is how clearly it shows that bull riding is often a family tradition, passed down through generations. The book highlights families whose names are woven into the fabric of the PBR, including the Salgado brothers – Adriano Salgado and Thiago Salgado, Alan de Souza and Alisson de Souza, and sons following in their fathers’ footsteps such as Cort McFadden and Cory McFadden.

These stories matter. They remind us that bull riding is not simply a career choice—it is a calling, learned early, lived fully, and carried forward with pride.

One of the coolest and most meaningful sections of the book is its focus on the legends—those who paved the way long before today’s stars ever nodded their heads. Seeing and hearing from figures like Myrtis Dightman, a true trailblazer and one of the first men of color to achieve real success in professional bull riding, placed alongside modern athletes such as Ezekiel Mitchell is powerful. Dightman helped open doors that did not previously exist, and his impact on the sport cannot be overstated.

The book also honors icons like Charlie Sampson, the 1982 PRCA World Champion, and Ted Nuce, the 1985 PRCA World Champion bull rider who is featured in a brief Q&A along with similar sections from Dightman, PBR Co-founder and “King of the Cowboys” Ty Murray, and more contemporary riders looking to make their mark such as Chase Dougherty and Jessi Petri.

Equally significant is the recognition of Jim Sharp, one of the most important figures in the history of professional rodeo and bull riding. Sharp became the first man in PRCA history to ride all 10 bulls at the National Finals Rodeo, accomplishing the feat in 1989—an achievement that forever changed how greatness was measured in the sport. He would later go on to become a founding member of the PBR. While his time in the PBR came later in his career, his success, influence, and respect within the locker room never faded. To this day, Jim Sharp is widely regarded as one of the greatest bull riders of all time by those who truly know and understand the history of the sport.

That history matters.

We must always remember and honor the men who came before us—the ones who took the hits, pushed boundaries, and laid the foundation—so that we can preserve the traditions and heritage that define bull riding, even as the sport continues to evolve through modern technology, expanded viewership, new partners joining CBS like the CW Network and Paramount+, and global reach.

Cowboy Up! Stars Riding Bulls understands that balance and executes it beautifully. Across 256 pages, the book is organized to mirror the rhythm of bull riding itself—from anticipation and preparation, into the intensity of the chute, and finally into the raw truth of eight seconds that define careers and legacies. Sections devoted to current riders, rising stars, and the legends of the past provide continuity and perspective, turning this into more than a photo book—it becomes a visual timeline of the sport.

Gilbert’s work captures that continuity, showing that while formats, scoring systems, and platforms may evolve, the heart of bull riding remains unchanged. One rider. One bull. Eight seconds. No margin for error. The book serves as a bridge between generations, reminding fans why bull riding commands respect across all sports.

If you’ve never been to the big leagues of professional bull riding, never walked through the locker rooms, never felt the tension behind the chutes, this book brings you there. Through world-class photography that will stand the test of time, it offers an inside look at a sport that demands everything from those who choose to live it.

If you want to understand bull riding—not just watch it—this book belongs on your shelf.

For readers who want to experience the full scope of the photography, history, and storytelling captured in Cowboy Up! Stars Riding Bulls, the book is available HERE.

Beyond the Dirt

You’ve now heard about an incredible picture book that celebrates what I believe is one of the greatest ways of life on earth. In Western culture—and especially in bull riding—we’re taught to show up for one another, to offer a hand up, not a handout.

Sometimes what happens off the dirt is just as powerful as what happens on it. Born with cerebral palsy, my own journey, shaped by the values of Western sports, led me to create the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation—an organization built on the simple belief that no one should be left behind.

The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation exists to restore access to the outdoors for people whose mobility has been changed by birth, injury, or illness. Through the use of the Action Trackchair—an all-terrain mobility device—we help individuals experience nature beyond sidewalks and doorways, whether hiking, fishing, or hunting. Serving civilians in Oklahoma and Arkansas who cannot afford this life-changing equipment, our mission is to bridge the gap and return freedom where it’s been lost. Life is too precious to watch from the sidelines. To learn more or find out how you can help give someone a hand up, visit www.moafoundation.org.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media