bull riding

I met a cowboy who invited me to watch him bull ride. These men compete not against each other, but against the bulls who are champions in their own right. Angry bulls who sometimes take their revenge. These proud and cumbersome-looking creatures became surprisingly agile and balletic when they had an unwelcome cowboy on their backs. Years of genetic selection have created this elite breed The American Bucking Bull designed for their athletic prowess and desire to buck.

Their names are as familiar to fans as the names of the cowboys who ride them: Chicken on a Chain, Voodoo Child, Unabomber, Far West, Bad Medicine, Braveheart, Perfect Poison, Train Wreck, Bufallo Hump, Tomahawk, Bible Bender, Iron Horse, Pistolero, I’m a Gangster, Bushwacker, Bones, Code Blue, Spit Fire, Black Pearl, Big Iron, Wild and Out, Hot Stuff, Pit Boss, Minor Incident, Big Iron, Ground Zero, Super Duty, Smack Down, Touch of Class, Out of Control….

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3 Responses to bull riding

  1. Ron Broglio says:

    The history of cattle and their many uses is an amazing topic. Particularly interesting here is, as you note, that the animals have lasting star power. I’m also interested in this notion that the animals are breed for competition–like horses. Such breeding enhances characteristics in the animal not pronounced in milking or beef breeds. It creates a new vector for the animal! Also, I am wondering, can you explain what makes them buck? Is it having a rider on them? or are they otherwise provoked to buck?

    The relationship between humans, animals, and technology here is worthy of a whole essay.

  2. They have a Flank Strap around their midriff. Its loose, but aggravating and encourages bucking. Other than that its the bred-in predisposition to buck.
    On the US professional bull riding circuit, the rider must stay on for at least 8 seconds. The sport dates back to 16th Century Mexico when the rider rode the bull until death or it stopped bucking…whichever came first.
    These elite US bulls are only bucked once or twice a month. “They work 16 seconds a month and get treated like kings”.

    I agree about the relationship between humans, animals, and technology and would add economics to the mix…this sport is highly lucrative to both the breeders and the riders.

  3. Dibble says:

    ..weird how enter the ring to rave music but switch to a slow female rendition of the National Anthem for the bucking bit…doesn’t seem to fit..

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