Steer riding
Riding steers in contrast to using cattle for oxen has an equally long history, although not as well known. Steers were ridden by American Indians such as Blue Duck, who choose to raid farmsteads on a steer knowing that loose cattle around the ranches would help hide his tracks. He would ride off to exchange his steer for a horse and a faster get away. Many pioneer school children would ride the family cow rather than the horse to school. While a horse could be used all day for ploughing, the family cow wasn't needed again for milking until after the children returned home from school.
Today, riding steers and cattle in general is seeing a new popularity. Steers are being shown alongside horses in areas where members of the International Riding Steer Association live. Riding steers are being used in hunt seat, jumping, reining, cutting, roping, team penning, and even endurance riding.