The first bullfighter was a rodeo clown, who used a barrel to help protect himself from the bull. Clowns became skilled at using the barrels as props for their entertainment routines; showing their athletic abilities by diving into the barrels.
There is much debate between historians on when the first rodeo actually occurred. Cowboys of old often competed against each other for bragging rights about who was the best bull rider. Soon, spectators began gathering around the corrals to watch and towns in the frontier began to have yearly events.
When the events became more organized and spectators started paying; the need for entertainment was inevitable. People grew restless and bored between competitions. Thus the rodeo clown was born.