January 23, 2013 (Winston-Salem, NC) ─ Before taking on the bulls at the Winston-Salem Professional Bull Riders Invitational at the LJVM Coliseum on Friday night, award-winning professional bullfighter Jesse Byrne made a visit to Southfork, a DePaul Senior Living Community. The Canadian cowboy answered seniors’ questions about bull riding and bullfighting, posed for photos and delivered 20 tickets, donated by WXII 12.

Pictured here, Southfork residents James Walls and Marjie Polley learn about the sport of bull riding from Byrne.

Residents were surprised to learn that just as the bull rider must meet certain criteria in order to compete, so must the bulls. A bull rider must stay aboard his bull for eight seconds in order to receive a score, Byrne explained to residents. During the eight-second ride, the bull rider cannot touch his free hand to the bull or himself or he will be disqualified. As a bullfighter, it’s Byrne’s job to distract the bull when a rider bucks off or dismounts after his eight-second ride. The distraction provides the rider a chance to get out of the arena or to a safe spot.

Pictured here, Southfork residents Mary Sykes and Ruby Canter pose for a photo with cowboy Jesse Byrne. For more information about Southfork, please contact Administrator Melissa Silverman-Connolly at (336) 768-8828.