Kingstown man finds 'freedom' in bull riding

The first time Ty Johnson rode a horse, he found freedom from the anger, pain and past experiences life has thrown at him.

It has provided an escape.

“A buddy of mine suggested I get a horse to stay out of trouble,” said Johnson. “It helps me escape from everything outside of work.”

Now the Kingstown man has turned his love for horses into a solid bull riding career. He competed in his first competition in May.

“I didn’t stay on long, but I loved the thrill of it,” said Johnson. “It’s just like dancing. Once you get the rhythm, you just go along with it.”

Johnson always envisioned himself being a cowboy after spending many mornings watching old westerns with his grandpa as a little boy. But his plans were derailed when he went to prison at 18 for eight months.

It gave him enough time to think, reflect and plot what his next move would be. He had already lost so much. Football and wrestling coaches were scouting him. He was well on his way to becoming a college athlete before one wrong move ruined his plans.

“For me, following the street code got me in trouble,” said Johnson. “The entire time I was in prison, I knew I needed to change.”

Johnson, who is 31, wants his story to be a warning to youngsters who are struggling to make the right decision. He admitted he missed out on prom and his high school graduation ceremony at Crest High School.

In prison, he earned a dollar a day fighting wildfires. There, he began to have a passion for outdoor work and knew he never wanted to spend the rest of his life behind a desk. Upon his release, Johnson moved to South Carolina for a fresh start. He was introduced to a man who took him under his wing and taught him how to do landscaping.

From there, Johnson purchased his first horse for $600.

He later joined a riding circuit under the Southern Rodeo Association.

Billy Ray Thunder, a legend in the rodeo circuit, reached out to Johnson to see if he would be interested in riding after he saw one of his competitions. Johnson could not pass up an opportunity to compete alongside Thunder, who is considered to be a living legend in the African American community. Johnson said his race plays a factor in his story of redemption because of the small population of Blacks who are in the sport. He wants to break the stereotype that comes with being a Black man and encourages others like him to pursue their dreams, even if it makes them look different.

“A lot of people think I’m an odd ball,” said Johnson. “I’m not out here wearing designer clothes. I wear boots and laid-back southern wear. Not everyone is meant to be a rapper. Just go with what you like to do. When you get on a horse, it takes you away from everything. We are trying to free our spirits. You never know what anyone is going through. It is our escape from the real world. I am trying to be something I’ve always wanted to be.”

Johnson, who does road construction in multiple states, is becoming a household name in the industry, saying every time he rides, he gets an invite to compete somewhere else. More importantly, he has found a way to tame the beast inside of him.

“When I ride, it helps me understand the pain that is coming, so it helps me with my anger,” said Johnson. “When you are angry, you can feel that emotion coming and you have to find the right way to silence it.”

Latrice Williams can be reached at 704-669-3339 and lwilliams6@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Kingstown man uses bull riding to help him cope with life's hassles