Rodeo dream for 'cowboy student'

Mr Tooth has consistently stayed on his horse for more than eight seconds

A student from Berkshire believes he is on the verge of landing his dream job - becoming a rodeo rider in America.

Tom Tooth, from Aldworth, has recently been at a bucking horse training school in Wyoming.

The school's organiser Jim Forbes believes the 25-year-old could be good enough to one day perform for real.

Mr Tooth, a philosophy and law student at Bristol, first became interested in the dangerous pastime when he saw a rodeo show during a holiday to the US.

"I saw a show on holiday I immediately wanted to try," he said.

I'm a nervous wreck because the kids have no idea what could happen John Forbes, rodeo school organiser

"I have done sky dives, bungee jumps and skeleton luges.

"But nothing that I have ever done has given me the rush of lowering myself down onto a bucking horse, getting ready to nod my head and hanging on for eight seconds.

"I am determined to go back again and continue this quest."

To stand a chance with the professionals he has to prove he can consistently stay on his horse for more than eight seconds at a time.

John Forbes, rodeo school organiser, said: "I've put on schools for probably near on 25 years.

"Not everybody is going to be a rodeo superstar but I think Tom could do it.

"But if they can come and do the best they can do... I think it is well worth it.

"I'm a nervous wreck because the kids have no idea what could happen. Just land wrong, it can happen, but they think they are bulletproof."

Mr Tooth has returned to the UK to continue his studies but has vowed to return to the US.

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