The rodeo world has long been home to daring athletes who thrive on adrenaline, but few have traveled as far—literally and figuratively—as one man whose bull riding career took him from São Paulo, Brazil, to a new challenge in the reining arena.

For 16 years, Luis Blanco earned a reputation as one of the sport’s greats, collecting two Global Cup championships, seven world finals appearances, and $3.7 million in career earnings. But after years of chasing gold buckles, enduring injuries, and living out his dream, he’s traded his spurs for a saddle, embarking on a new journey in reining.

“I started bull riding because my cousins stopped at the house when we lived in Brazil,” he shared. “I used to wake up early to take care of my dad’s cows, and I heard from my room his story. In Brazil, they give cars, motorcycles, and trophies for the champion of the rodeo. I started watching a movie from America, a rodeo movie, and I said, ‘I want to be a bull rider one day.’”

Like many young kids on a ranch, he made the most of the calves around him. “Sometimes the ranch is boring for kids,” he laughed. “Me and my friends would close on Sundays to get on the calves for fun.”

By 2008, his childhood dreams were becoming a reality as he climbed the ranks in professional bull riding. His talent earned him a spot as one of the top 20 bull riders in Brazil, and in 2009, he helped Team Brazil claim victory at the Global Cup in Mexico. A decade later, he repeated the feat in Arlington, Texas, celebrating another Global Cup championship.

“It was hard for me to decide to retire,” he admitted. “But everything has a start, middle, and end. Bull riding careers are short, so you have to enjoy it as much as you can because you never know when you’ll get hurt and be done. But I lived my dream. Everything I dreamed about came true through bull riding—it took me all over the world: America, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Brazil—everywhere.”

After retiring, his competitive fire didn’t dim—it simply shifted. “My whole life, I’ve competed. I like to challenge myself,” he said. Reining, with its focus on teamwork between horse and rider, presented an entirely new kind of challenge.

“Reining is so different than bull riding. In bull riding, it’s myself; if I am mentally and physically healthy, I am usually pretty sure it is going to be okay because I’ll ride good,” he explained. “With horses, it’s difficult because you have to understand the horse mentally. You have to understand the horse’s body position and heart.”

Training under NRHA Professional Gabriel Borges, the former bull rider is learning to adapt his skills. “The biggest difference is that in bull riding, my body is stuck. The only parts I move are my hips and free arm. In reining, it’s hard for me. I lose my leg and feel like I’m going to fall right away. The first time I spun, I squeezed my legs like I did for the bulls, but now I have to relax my leg. It’s just really different, but I’m getting there little by little.”

Despite the stark contrasts between the two sports, the excitement of competition remains the same. “I feel the adrenaline when I’m in the alleyway as the next rider in the pen,” he said. “Before, I had my confidence in myself. Now, I have to have my confidence in my horse. We have to be on the same page and on the same team.”

His preference for quick reactions persists in his new arena. “Bull riding is fast. You have to have fast reactions. I kind of like my horses like that. One of the horses I’m showing here is fast and ready all the time. She’s tough.”

From rodeo arenas to reining pens, Blanco proves that a champion’s spirit transcends disciplines. With grit, determination, and a willingness to learn, he’s writing the next chapter of his remarkable story—one spin, slide, and stop at a time.