I'm gonna' ride bulls!

This is a great thread!
Bon Temps, It looks like ole Freight Train is gonna ride you for a few seconds. I hope that bull fighter/clown got his ass off of you before he did too much damage.

Hank,In another life I aspired to rodeo. I'm glad you are following your up on your dream. The training should be a hoot for you and all of us if you keep this thread going so we can follow your progress as you gain knowledge and you develop your bull riding skills.
Are there websites with bull riding forums where you can share your knowledge and experiences other bull riders?

Rodeo is a very popular sport around here in up country Maui.

Olaf Mitchell wrote: ...I hope that bull fighter/clown got his ass off of you before he did too much damage...

He didn't.
Mortician ran right over me, tossed me around a bit, and was coming back for a second helping when Frank, the big burly cowboy in the background, scraped my Gumby ass off the ground and tossed my remains up on the rails out of harms way.
If I had been in any condition to do so, I would of opened up an economy sized can of whup ass on that clown for being off station and not doing his job.
I got beat up real nice but it was nothing that my Doctor/Dentist/Chiropractor/Psychiatrist, Dr. Jack Daniels couldn't fix up right away.
Man those were good times!
Wish I could do it all again. I envy you Hank, You're in for one hell of a rush.

Bon Temps, It's just something I've always wanted to do. I grew up in Texas with most summers spent at my Grandparents horse ranch in San Antonio. I'm spending an acceptable amount of time preparing for this and I'm phsyched. The adrenaline rush will be great, but that's not the draw. Olaf can also say this-why do people wanna ride the BIG waves, BASE jump off buildings at 2:0AM, climb K2 or jump the Snake River in a rocket. Sometimes it's just got that pull inside you and you gotta do it. I'm almost 42yrs. old and fit as hell. Why not?

any updates, Hank?

Learning to get out of the gate without getting your guts stomped out is freaky. I still have plenty of time before August 5th, so I'm psyched! I'll post pictures when I can get good ones.

Hank,

I ride an Andalusian Stallion everyday, and after a few incidents, I'm seriously considering the unthinkable, making my boy an "it." They say you ain't a cowboy until your horse has thrown you three times, well, I'm sort of proud to admit I am 2/3 of the way there and have gotten very close a couple of times the last two weeks. I think there must be some mares in heat in nearby stables. Dang I am sore. Thinking of doing something casual like going climbing this weekend to ease my fears.

That ain't no bull, it's a cow, baby!

Russ, That is a GOOD story!

I dig this thread Hank!

8 SECOND RIDE
By Zach Martin

You pack up your gear
You gotta big check
So ya head for the show
That you entered next

You get to the show
And pay your fees
You draw a good bull
You sure are pleased

You pull out your rope
To keep a good grip
You lookin for a win
An 8 second trip

They load up your bull
Your the last one to ride
The leader scored eighty
You'll score ninety-five

You give a big nod
They pop open the gate
You get bucked off
A bull rider's fate

So you leave empty-handed
But you've still got your pride
You'll just wait around
Til the next 8 second ride

This puts the poor bulls in so much discomfort for pure entertainment reasons (they wouldn't jump around like that if they were unmolested).

AliciaMunoz wrote:This puts the poor bulls in so much discomfort for pure entertainment reasons (they wouldn't jump around like that if they were unmolested).

Never worked on a farm, have ya?

Olaf Mitchell wrote:As some one said, I think it was Hemingway:" there's only three real sports, auto racing, mountain climbing and bull riding!" or sum-thing like that?

It was bull fighting, according to Hemingway. Now THAT's a real sport.

I started bull riding at 13 at Sankeys rodeo school in Olatha Kansas, rode in the I.P.R.A. til i was 20 and had a blast doing it. that moment you sit down in the chutes for the first time is unforgetable. good luck and let me know if you are needing any gear, got a clg vest, right hand barstow rope, glove, and i think i still have a set of spurs, maybe do some trading too.