Perry Co. Rodeo has wild rides for cowboys

~ J.T. Taylor won the bareback bronc competition.

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- J.T. Taylor hates wild rides in safety-latched seats on rollercoasters.

He'd rather just get jerked around on the bare back of an uncontrollable horse for 8 seconds.

He's pretty good at it, too.

"I hate heights," Taylor said Friday during the first of two nights of the Perry County Community Rodeo in Altenburg, Mo. "I won't ride anything at the fair. I love buckin' horses, though."

Taylor celebrated his 28th birthday Friday by posting the highest first-round score in the bareback bronc riding event. His score of 81 eventually earned him first place overall in the contest, which concluded late Saturday night. He earned $876 for his efforts.

Taylor, however, didn't even stick around to watch the final round. He had already packed up and hit the road to Wisconsin for another rodeo. Taylor, who enters three to four rodeos every week to occupy his Thursday through Sunday schedule during the summer, said he has competed in 40 states in the last 10 years since becoming a professional.