Some good memories

Now that winter has finally arrived, I have plenty of time to just think.
For some reason today I was thinking back to the good times that came when I was taken in by my aunt and uncle.
They own a ranch in CO and once I began to live there, I knew I found my place in life. I had been around livestock before then, but living here it was a daily deal. Anyway, when I got to be a senior in high school, I got this hair brained notion that I wanted to ride bulls. Now, the rest of the family didn’t think to highly of this, but I was bound and determined I was going to try it. So, I consulted with some guys from school that had been riding for quite a few years and they agreed to give me a hand. Once I got on my first bull, I was hooked.
My greatest memory was at a hometown rodeo. I drew a pretty good bull and he was one of the biggest in the pen. When they loaded up the bull in the bucking chute, I was standing on the plank behind the bucking chutes getting ready to get on. Like all hometown rodeos, there was this youg kid that came up and he looked at the size of the bull and with eyes the size of apples he asked me “You goin’ to be able to ride that big bull?” The reason this one ride sticks out so much is because of the confidence I had then. I can still remember how focused, confident, and determined I was about riding this bull. I looked right at the kid and told him I was going to ride this bull. I climbed on the back of the bull, warmed up my rope, wrapped the rope around my hand, and called for the gate. The bull came out of the chute in a huge leap and made 2 jumps, and started to spin to the left. He made a couple turns and jumped out of it and jumped and kicked down the arena. I was so focused on the ride that I didn’t even hear the whistle blow at the end of the 8 seconds. I heard the bullfighters yelling for me to jump off and I finally did. The next day, there I was, my picture was on the front page of the local newspaper with the caption “Longest Ride”. It wasn’t all that much longer than what was required, even though sometimes it feels like it. Those were the good old days of driving all night to get to the next rodeo, seeing many new places and meeting new friends, all the close calls of injuries, getting hooked or stepped on, and being free.
One other story that I remember pretty well was the time I won my first rodeo while riding bareback horse. It started out with a long night of partying in Akron, CO and we had to be in Chappel, NE the next morning. I am not sure how we ever got to Chappel but when I woke up, we were parked behind the bucking chutes. Anyway, I was originally entered in the bullriding, but another guy got hurt at another rodeo that was entered in the bareback riding. Since I was already there, I told them I would take his horse as well as the bull. So, I climbed on this horse and rode the hair off him. Now, it wasn’t the prettiest ride you have ever seen, but the judges liked it and that was all that mattered. Well, I won the event and got the buckle to prove it. But, I still had the bull to ride so I was really pumped. Well ,my good fortune on the horse didn’t last very long. I got on the bull and out into the arena we went. All I rememeber was making 2 jumps out of the chute and then being upside down but still attached to the rope. The way I flipped, I was basicly teetering on the back of the bull with my stomach balancing on his back. My hand was between me and the bull so there was no way myself or any of the bullfighters could help me out. Then I heard and felt something hard hit me on the side of the face. I still don’t know whether his front foot kicked me or the bell on the rope did. But, it went pitch black as soon as I felt the cracking sound. When my body went limp, I guess I fell right off. I laid in the dirt in the arena for a short time before I came to. By this time the medical team was already on their way out to me. But, as soon as I came to, instinct told me to get up and run. I sure looked like a fool flopping around out there when the bull was long gone. I still laugh about that. I got a nice cut over and under the eye and a concussion. I drove back home with one eye closed because all I could see was little black spots. Good times I tell ya.

Great memories Mike!!!! Most enjoyable read!!

Great story Wats, Thanks for sharing.
I ride horses, dont think I have the testys to ride bulls.

eyedoctor2

Cool stories. Something I always wanted to try but never had the cahonaas to do it. I did ride a sow once but there was a little invloved and a wager……..

About the cut and your eye…….Those are just memories that you will never forget!

Tatoo’s and Scar’s…………….

wats thanks for that read. just this year ive gottin pretty big into that stuff but i dont know anyone that could help me. but i still want to at least try it and see how it works out.
-Aaron

I’m not sure who has a bigger set, the bulls or the men who ride them?

Great post Wats! I watch the circuit riders on TV and marvel at their guts durability. Not something many men can say they have done. Thanks for sharing those memories!

hey Wats,

just like you, I used to ride the big boys as well. I remember my first attempt at riding them big bulls. I was at a buckout in Hawaii, yeah I know, the last thing you would think of for that state, but anyway, I was standing there watching my buddies all ride and practice. well my buddy that I used to give crap to when he would fall off finally called my bluff. I told him that I could last longer on a back of a bull than he could. so here comes the male testy thing where guys can’t just back down and let the other male be right. well the bet was made, 1 case of beer, any kind and bottles of course. well he and I went to the table and tossed down our $20 and got the draws. another buddy of mine let me use his rope and chaps, back then, we didn’t ride with them protective vests yet. so my buddy gets on his bull and gets a 3.9, not too bad, so standing there, the clown comes up to me and tells me that I got wildcat. he is a notorious head hunter. well being my first time, i didn’t have a clue on what that meant, so he told me, hit the ground, roll and run in what ever clock direction he yelled. well I guess I was going to be the joke for everyone as well, I got on the cat, got 5.1 out of him, hit the concrete where the soft dirt used to be, rolled to my feet and got my legs going, well everyone at the buck out started to yell different numbers and I stood there trying to figure out which way I needed to go. finally got up to the fence and climbed and bailed over the top and landed on my feet on the other side. well cat is still standing there right where he ended up after I fell off, the clown walks up to cat and grabs him by his ear and leads him back to the stripping shoot. boy did i feel about an inch tall. not to mention, the other reason why I wanted to ride was to impress this little blonde that was there, well I got the beer, coors light bottles, I drank all 23 of them, gave one to my buddy that I made the bet with.
anther rodeo that I was at was up in park rapids for the headwaters of the mississippi. I rode as a turn out rider for that PRCA event. well I know that there is alot of pressure when you are at your home town. my whole family was there, well my dads side of the family was there. I ran out about 7.1 on a decent ranked bull, scrowny and loved them belly rolls. I also rode out in brainerd for a few years as well, graduated from Aitkin, so I was almost home. the only bad thing is, I haven’t blown the dust off my hat in about a year, and I have all my riding gear in a duffle bag, can’t wait to get a house and build me a cabinet to show it off. hey wats, would love to share a fishing trip with you and also some rodeo stories.

God Bless Chris Ledoux!!!!

thanks for the smiles Wats!!

shane

Great stories guys! I really missed my calling in life. About 10 years ago… I about got into bull dogging… but things fell through. I sometimes still think about it. Was never “tough” enough to get on them big bulls.