‘Best feeling ever’: New Mexico teen helps USA team defeat Australia in junior bull riding competition

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A team of American junior bull riders, including three New Mexico teens, have made their mark in Australia after winning a bull riding competition.

“I felt amazing; it was just the best feeling ever,” said Jace Green, one of the competitors.

Green, a 13-year-old New Mexico native from Dexter, was one of several members who rode against team Australia in a junior bull riding competition.

“I made a lot of friends, and I won three rounds,” Green said. “Got second in one. I did pretty good. It was a fun trip.”

The team returned last Tuesday after competing across seas for about three weeks. Green put on quite the showing during the team’s international visit, earning almost half of his team’s points to beat out Australia.

“It’s just a mental game,” Green explained. “If you’re feeling strong in your head, you’re gonna ride anything you get on.”

Green won the first round and tied for first in the second during the team’s first competition. During the next competition, he again was the first-round winner and came in second place during the final round.

Green said he’s been doing competition riding since he was a little kid and started with sheep. However, Green isn’t the only avid rider in the family.

“He’s dang sure handy,” said Jared Green, Jace’s dad. “I mean, kid rides good; he ropes good.”

Both of Green’s parents received full-ride rodeo scholarships in college, and on his mom’s side, the family has competed at rodeos for generations.

“It’s just been on both sides of the family forever,” Jared Green said.

Green will be competing at the junior high rodeo in a couple of weeks in Socorro.

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