Interview with Jorden Halvorsen: Star of Freeform’s “Not Her First Rodeo”

Jorden Halvorsen is no stranger to the spotlight—or the arena. A four-time world champion bull rider and the founder of the Elite Lady Bull Riders association, she’s the central figure in Freeform’s powerful new docuseries Not Her First Rodeo. As the series gallops onto television, we caught up with Jorden to talk about her mission to grow the sport for women, how she fosters a positive competitive atmosphere, and why her love of animals (and Winnie the Pooh!) keeps her grounded.

Alex: Hi Jorden, congratulations on the launch of Not Her First Rodeo. I understand that you had previous exposure on a docuseries on Netflix. What made you want to do another one?

Jorden: Just the opportunity to grow the sport of women’s bull riding, honestly… I’m definitely hoping that it draws more attention to it and shows girls that maybe don’t know that there’s an opportunity out there for them to ride bulls.

Alex: One of the things I love so much about the series is—even though it is a sport and you’re all competitors—there’s not this heinous rivalry between you. It’s not like “Oh, I’m going to come out and crush you." It’s like everyone’s rooting each other on. Can you talk about fostering that kind of atmosphere?

Jorden: Yeah, so as a bull rider, you’re not really competing against another bull rider. If you don’t ride your bull for eight seconds, you’re not going to get paid anyway. It’s not about the other riders—you have to be able to ride the bull that’s in front of you. And I think that’s what really helps keep riders from having this rivalry. It’s not about them—it’s about riding that bull.

Alex: The background of everybody in the show is really different. No one’s story is the same. What advice do you have for someone watching who’s like, “Oh, I’d like to try that"?

Jorden: I would tell them to find a bull-riding school or a practice pen and just try it. You don’t know you like something until you try it—it’s like trying new foods. If you like it, then give it 110%.

Alex: Animals have been really important to you your whole life. You work with them daily, and you have some of your own. Where did that love come from?

Jorden: I think I’ve just always kind of loved animals from the time I was little. I started riding horses at a pretty young age. Horses are big animals, and they take a lot of care. Once I got started with them, I couldn’t stop—which then translated to pretty much every other animal on the planet.

Alex: I’m guessing riding a horse is quite different from riding a bull. But would you say horse riding is a good prerequisite?

Jorden: Yeah, I’d say horseback riding definitely helps with bull riding. That’s probably why I had a little bit of success early on. From riding horses, I had a decent understanding of how to ride a bull—especially since I used to ride a lot of horses bareback and I jumped, which is ultimately the best way to practice riding bulls.

Alex: The series doesn’t touch on mechanical bulls, but I feel like that’s most people’s gateway. How different is it for you?

Jorden: It’s a lot different, actually. Compared to a mechanical bull, a real bull moves really differently—where the break points are, how they buck. It’s not the same.

Alex: The show captures a lot of fun moments around rodeo events, too. Even here in California, we’ve got them near fair season, and of course Las Vegas has huge ones. With the rise in Americana culture thanks to Yellowstone and more, what would be your pitch to someone thinking about going to a rodeo for the first time?

Jorden: Every rodeo is different. Not one rodeo is ever the same. So being able to go and experience that—experience a little taste of the Wild West—is definitely something you should check out.

Alex: When you're practicing, do you have a playlist? What are the songs that really get you motivated?

Jorden: Honestly, there are a lot of those David Goggins-type audio bites I like to listen to before I get on. Other than that, just happy, playful, upbeat music. There’s not really one thing—it just depends on the day.

Alex: Final question—I saw on your Instagram that you went to Walt Disney World, met Winnie the Pooh, and posted about how much you love him as a character. The show’s going to be on Freeform and Hulu, and eventually in the Disney content library. What does it mean to you to be in the same company as Winnie the Pooh?

Jorden: I’m just a little kid at heart, you know? So it feels really cool to be kind of connected all the way around.

Alex: It’s all part of the circle of life. Congratulations again—I’m excited for everyone to check out Not Her First Rodeo.

Not Her First Rodeo debuts with a two-episode premiere on Freeform tonight at 10 p.m. ET, with two new episodes every Thursday through June 5th. All six episodes will be available to stream on Hulu starting Friday, June 6. Whether you’re a rodeo rookie or a lifelong fan of Western grit, this docuseries is a wild ride worth watching.