- Clayton Savage, 37, began competing in rodeos two decades ago.
- Sixty injuries and a diagnosis of epilepsy left him out of the game
After a decade of injuries and being thrown from the backs of hundreds of bulls, the “world’s oldest cowboy” has triumphantly returned to the ring.
Clayton Savage, 37, began competing in rodeos two decades ago, quickly rising through the circuit to reach the National Finals Rodeo in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
But sixty notable injuries and an epilepsy diagnosis kept him out of the game for a decade, and he only returned to the circuit in a big way in 2021 as the oldest bull rider in the top 50.
Savage told Cowboy State Daily: ‘I just love it. “There’s just no better feeling than walking into a rodeo and showing up wanting to stay.”
The father of three’s inspiring journey was captured in a new documentary, ‘Savage, the Relentless Pursuit of a Dream’.
Clayton Savage, 37, began competing in rodeos two decades ago.
But sixty notable injuries and a diagnosis of epilepsy kept him out of the game for a decade.
Filmmaker Morgan Law went to school with Savage and was inspired to make a documentary about his journey when he ran into him at a rodeo.
Law worked in construction and had never made a movie before, but he sold his house to finance the project and Googled “how to make a movie.”
He involved Savage in the project and began following him on the road for 14 months.
She told Cowboy State Daily: “Riding in his truck with him, you can really see what it’s like to try to cover up all the injuries and then drive 12 hours through the night to do it again.”
‘There is no low season, it is 12 months at a time. His wife and three young daughters are back home and he is away trying to support his family.
“So it was exciting and exhausting and sometimes really difficult.”
He just returned to the circuit in a big way in 2021 as the oldest bull rider in the top 50
Savage hopes his journey is seen by future bull riders so they understand what they are getting into. He is pictured in the ring in 2013.
When Savage saw the documentary, he said, “I’ve had different emotions every time I’ve seen it.”
“The first time was a little sad, and then the second time was really an adrenaline rush that got me going. The last time I saw it, I was like, “I’ve seen it.”
Savage hopes his journey is seen by future bull riders so they understand what they are getting into.
Documentarian Law said: “There is no off-season, it’s 12 months at a time.” His wife and three daughters are back home and he is away trying to support his family.
Following his triumphant return to the top 50 in 2021, Savage is weighing his next steps
He said: “I’m definitely not planning on traveling much or trying to make the final again.”
‘I want them to know how hard this sport is and how difficult it is to ride and be away from family.
“It’s not really what television makes it out to be.”
Having made a triumphant return to the top 50 in 2021, Savage is weighing his next steps.
He said: “I’m definitely not planning on traveling much or trying to make the final again.”
‘It’s been difficult leaving my family all year. I have a 10 year old, an 8 year old, and an almost 4 year old, and I’m getting to the point where I’m tired of missing all of their sporting events and activities and want to sleep. in my own bed.
‘But I have some smaller goals I would like to achieve. I still want to win the circuit finals and have a good driving percentage.’