mutton busting

noun

A form of entertainment, akin to bull riding, where young children compete to hold onto the back of sheep for as long as possible.

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Meanings

nounmutton busting (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA form of entertainment, akin to bull riding, where young children compete to hold onto the back of sheep for as long as possible.

    See all these sheep over there? All those kids are gonna be racing. […] What's this called again? Mutton busting. Mutton busting?

    [2011, Wes Cunningham, Brandon Dickerson, Thomas Ward, directed by Brandon Dickerson, Sironia (motion picture)
    3 more examples

    What is mutton busting? […] Apparently, in certain parts of the country it's perfectly acceptable to take your 2- to 6-year-old child, strap a helmet on their tiny, fragile, still-growing head and throw them on the back of a frantic sheep in front of a cheering audience. It's a very, very real thing at junior rodeos, […]

    [2012, “Top Music News”, in Alltop

    But mutton busting quickly caught on and is now a staple at rodeos and fairs around the country, and even overseas, despite occasional opposition from animal rights groups.

    2020 February 1, John MacCormack, “Mutton busting a popular rodeo event for kids in San Antonio and nationwide”, in My San Antonio

    I feel like having all of the livestock exhibits and shows under one roof has been fun and educational for our fair families as well as the public. […] Our truck and tractor pull were well attended, and we had some great reviews on that. [T]he mutton busting area was packed!

    2020 May 14, Victoria Smithey, “History of Laramie County Fair Part 1”, in Pine Bluffs Post, archived from the original on 09 May 2021

Origin

From mutton (“sheep”) + busting (“turning an animal into a beast of burden”), modeled on the phrase bronco busting.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

mutton busting. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mutton%20busting

MLA

“mutton busting.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mutton%20busting. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mutton busting,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mutton%20busting.

Source: mutton busting on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.