Photo by M.J. Bonsall, Bonsall Bucking Bulls
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Let's Put Blue in Greener Patures
After Note: I've taken some heat from certain people about the following article and for voicing my opinion on the subject of Code Blue's injury. Certainly I mean no disrespect to Rick Wagoner and Jimmy Walton by saying what I have said in this article. Granted, it's easy for me to say what I would do in their shoes, because I'm not in their shoes. So my wish for them is that they are able to get all of the information they need to make a decision they feel good about. And the following is just my opinion. What I hope I would do if I were in their shoes.
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I'm no vet, but if Blue were mine I'd retire him today, whether he gets a clean bill of health to continue bucking or not. First and foremost, if my bull was in this situation, I'd want to give him a chance to live out his life in comfort and safety. I might not have the glory of competition, but he would be safe and I'd still make millions selling his DNA. I don't know how many fans understand the huge amounts of money to be made selling the semen of a bull of this caliber, but it is a lot of money. A bull like Code Blue comes along rarely, and if I had a breeding program, I'd be standing in line. So, if it were me, I'd get this bull out of the arena and wouldn't bring him back. I'd let his sons tell the rest of his story. It ain't my decision to make, but if it was, I'd make it in a heartbeat.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Injury Report: Notes from Nashville
1. There seems to be no luck for Travis Briscoe, who sprained his left wrist and elbow (riding arm) coming off his first bull on Saturday. He did not ride on Sunday because he could not turn his hand over to hold the bull rope. His intention is to ride right-handed next week, something he did successfully in 2007.
2. On Saturday, a bull kicked the back of Brendon Clark's helmet after bucking him off. On Sunday his bull fell flat onto its side, throwing Brandon down. This was one of those shudder-inducing moments when a rider's head hits the dirt hard. Brendon staggered around a little bit and was helped out of the arena by the sports medicine team. The fact that the bull fell down qualified Brendon for a re-ride, something he was not able to take advantage of due to his injury. Travis Sellers also sustained a concussion.
3. Ben Jones won the event while riding with a broken scapula (shoulder blade). How that is possible, I do not know.
4. Code Blue posted a bull score of 45.50 on his first out since injuring himself in June. He looked just fine, but I'm reserving my celebration until next week when we see if the good health holds.
2. On Saturday, a bull kicked the back of Brendon Clark's helmet after bucking him off. On Sunday his bull fell flat onto its side, throwing Brandon down. This was one of those shudder-inducing moments when a rider's head hits the dirt hard. Brendon staggered around a little bit and was helped out of the arena by the sports medicine team. The fact that the bull fell down qualified Brendon for a re-ride, something he was not able to take advantage of due to his injury. Travis Sellers also sustained a concussion.
3. Ben Jones won the event while riding with a broken scapula (shoulder blade). How that is possible, I do not know.
4. Code Blue posted a bull score of 45.50 on his first out since injuring himself in June. He looked just fine, but I'm reserving my celebration until next week when we see if the good health holds.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Lingo, Part Two
Here are a few more interesting bull riding terms. I know that some of you are breeders and riders and you already know all this. And then some readers of this website don't watch bull riding at all and have no clue what any of it means. Bottom line: I just love words. So here we go:
1. In the well: When a bull spins and the centrifugal forces pulls you into the center of the spin and off the bull, you are in the well. A wellie bull is one that tends to put you there.
Example: "He's pulling him into the well..." This is said by announcers with a mixture of dread and glee, and sort of tails off at the end as the announcer is proven right and the rider does, in fact, go into the well.
2. Muley: A muley is a hornless bull. I wrote an article about horns way back when, and have since confirmed, to the best of my ability, that the hornless (or polled) gene is dominant. A muley bull has to have at least one hornless parent. Major Payne is a muley and I am kind of in love with him and in love with the muley look in general. Something about them, they just look so sweet. Yeah, yeah, I'm a girl. I know they're not.
Example: "We're seeing a lot of big red muleys out of the Northwest."
3. Cornering Bull: This is a bull that turns really sharply. It is not the same as a spin. In a spin the bull whirls like a bottle in a game of spin the bottle. When a bull corners, it turns around and faces in the other direction really quickly. So it's like that bottle suddenly stopped, bent in half and faced in the other direction. Bad analogy, but there you have it.
Example: "When a bull corners like that, it feels like it swallowed its own head." Ty Murray actually said something very close to that about a cornering bull while announcing a PBR event.
There you have it, cowpokes. Check out Lingo, Part One for my first set of favorite terms, and stay tuned for more on the genetics of horns tomorrow.
1. In the well: When a bull spins and the centrifugal forces pulls you into the center of the spin and off the bull, you are in the well. A wellie bull is one that tends to put you there.
Example: "He's pulling him into the well..." This is said by announcers with a mixture of dread and glee, and sort of tails off at the end as the announcer is proven right and the rider does, in fact, go into the well.
2. Muley: A muley is a hornless bull. I wrote an article about horns way back when, and have since confirmed, to the best of my ability, that the hornless (or polled) gene is dominant. A muley bull has to have at least one hornless parent. Major Payne is a muley and I am kind of in love with him and in love with the muley look in general. Something about them, they just look so sweet. Yeah, yeah, I'm a girl. I know they're not.
Example: "We're seeing a lot of big red muleys out of the Northwest."
3. Cornering Bull: This is a bull that turns really sharply. It is not the same as a spin. In a spin the bull whirls like a bottle in a game of spin the bottle. When a bull corners, it turns around and faces in the other direction really quickly. So it's like that bottle suddenly stopped, bent in half and faced in the other direction. Bad analogy, but there you have it.
Example: "When a bull corners like that, it feels like it swallowed its own head." Ty Murray actually said something very close to that about a cornering bull while announcing a PBR event.
There you have it, cowpokes. Check out Lingo, Part One for my first set of favorite terms, and stay tuned for more on the genetics of horns tomorrow.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Rank Reaches 100
Well, it's been six months since I started this website. In the beginning it was just something I did because I wanted to write about a bull riding event. Now I have reached the 100-article mark and along the way I've met some wonderful and kind people who've taught me a lot. I've learned more than I ever thought possible about bulls, breeding, and bull riding. I'm celebrating today by looking back at some of my favorite articles. If you've been with me a while, you know that I do all kinds of things here. I write about bulls, riders, events, injuries, breeders, and the Imaginary Cowgirl (that's me). So here you go, here's a sampling. Click on the title if you want to read an article.
A Bull's Years: I learned a lot while writing this article about the life cycle of the average bucking bull.
Injury Reports: Injuries are a huge part of the sport and I like writing about them. Read and be glad you are not a bull rider. Or, if you are a bull rider, you've probably had at least a few of these injuries, and I'm sorry.
Imaginary Cowgirl: Baptized in Dust: A starry-eyed description of a bull riding event.
02 Heat Wave, In and Out of the Arena: I only wrote a sentence or two for this, but it's one of my very favorite videos. (Thanks, Melanie Wilfong!)
The Short Go: Pick Your Poison: You've got to love bull riding. There is truly something for every interest, and if you like bull statistics, this one's for you. Pretend you're a rider and pick your short go bull.
The Cow Birth Series: I got a little obsessed with cow birth for a while, and okay, a little grossed out by it, but I finally decided I would be up to the challenge of assisting in any way necessary, because I'm just that kind of girl. Read in order, from the bottom of the page up. Thanks again to Melanie, for the video and summary of Voodoo Child's momma giving birth.
Lingo: Some of my favorite bull riding terms. I have to do another one of these.
D&H Cattle Company Bred to Buck Sale: I like this because it was the first auction I watched, the prices were interesting, and because the Pages called one of their cows "Rank Bitch" and she sold for a heck of a lot of money.
The "How to Judge a Bull" Series: These are ABBI guidelines, so I didn't write them, but it's great to see the five elements of judging listed out like this.
Cowgirl Resume: In which I list my completely ridiculous cowgirl qualifications.
Made of Iron?: One of my very first articles and even though the event occurred several months ago, I still like it.
Name Your Bull: I had just had surgery on my right shoulder, so I decided to put up a contest in which people could submit the names they would choose for their bulls, if they had any bulls. The contest got me through the first week of recovery and was a source of great amusement for me and, I hope, for all. And if you've ever had rotator cuff surgery, you know that's saying a lot, because it is not easy to be amused right after having it.
Notes from Kansas: Escape: I love this segment in Muriel Bonsall's Notes from Kansas series.
Imaginary Cowgirl: Envy Strikes: Just the way it sounds - an east coast girl gets poetic and sad about not living in Texas.
Those are just a few of the many pieces I've written here so far. There are lots of others listed in the Topics list on the left side of the page. Thanks to all of you for tuning in, commenting, emailing, and following along. I do appreciate it!
A Bull's Years: I learned a lot while writing this article about the life cycle of the average bucking bull.
Injury Reports: Injuries are a huge part of the sport and I like writing about them. Read and be glad you are not a bull rider. Or, if you are a bull rider, you've probably had at least a few of these injuries, and I'm sorry.
Imaginary Cowgirl: Baptized in Dust: A starry-eyed description of a bull riding event.
02 Heat Wave, In and Out of the Arena: I only wrote a sentence or two for this, but it's one of my very favorite videos. (Thanks, Melanie Wilfong!)
The Short Go: Pick Your Poison: You've got to love bull riding. There is truly something for every interest, and if you like bull statistics, this one's for you. Pretend you're a rider and pick your short go bull.
The Cow Birth Series: I got a little obsessed with cow birth for a while, and okay, a little grossed out by it, but I finally decided I would be up to the challenge of assisting in any way necessary, because I'm just that kind of girl. Read in order, from the bottom of the page up. Thanks again to Melanie, for the video and summary of Voodoo Child's momma giving birth.
Lingo: Some of my favorite bull riding terms. I have to do another one of these.
D&H Cattle Company Bred to Buck Sale: I like this because it was the first auction I watched, the prices were interesting, and because the Pages called one of their cows "Rank Bitch" and she sold for a heck of a lot of money.
The "How to Judge a Bull" Series: These are ABBI guidelines, so I didn't write them, but it's great to see the five elements of judging listed out like this.
Cowgirl Resume: In which I list my completely ridiculous cowgirl qualifications.
Made of Iron?: One of my very first articles and even though the event occurred several months ago, I still like it.
Name Your Bull: I had just had surgery on my right shoulder, so I decided to put up a contest in which people could submit the names they would choose for their bulls, if they had any bulls. The contest got me through the first week of recovery and was a source of great amusement for me and, I hope, for all. And if you've ever had rotator cuff surgery, you know that's saying a lot, because it is not easy to be amused right after having it.
Notes from Kansas: Escape: I love this segment in Muriel Bonsall's Notes from Kansas series.
Imaginary Cowgirl: Envy Strikes: Just the way it sounds - an east coast girl gets poetic and sad about not living in Texas.
Those are just a few of the many pieces I've written here so far. There are lots of others listed in the Topics list on the left side of the page. Thanks to all of you for tuning in, commenting, emailing, and following along. I do appreciate it!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Injury Updates
In many ways, injuries have become a key part of the PBR race to the finals. An unprecedented number of riders have them, and an unusual amount of drama surrounds them. Who rides, who sits out, who makes the decisions, and who says what about all of it - these have become the subject of a lot of armchair quarterbacking. At this point, missing an event is costly, so we might start seeing some questionable judgment calls from riders. They know that if they sit out an event, there are guys behind them who are waiting to make a move. Valderon de Oliveira has done just that in the last two events. (Click here to read "San Antonio: The Big Story")Here are a few updates on injuries past and present.
Both Guilherme Marchi and Ryan McConnel rode in San Antonio after sitting out in Tulsa two weeks ago. Marchi pulled himself from the Tulsa event when his wrist, on which he'd had surgery during the BFTS break, became swollen after wrapping it prior to a ride. Dr. Tandy Freeman, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the PBR's medical team, pulled McConnel from competition in Tulsa pending an MRI to diagnose the severity of a neck injury sustained during break. Though both riders were cleared to ride in San Antonio, Marchi admits to riding through a lot of pain. McConnel's MRI showed no recent neck or head fractures.
L.J. Jenkins is reportedly doing well after undergoing surgery to set a bone and reattach a ligament in his left (free) hand this week.
New rider injuries include a sprained wrist, bruised leg, bruised back, sprained thumb (free hand), dislocated wrist (free hand), and injured index finger.
On the bull side of the fence, Code Blue has been examined by vets from Virginia Tech University and given a clean bill of health. Cody Lambert, who picks the bulls for the BFTS events, told Rick Wagoner last week that Blue would need to get clearance from a top level vet before he could compete again. When I talked with him a few weeks ago, Wagoner was planning to bring the superstar bull to Nashville next weekend.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Imaginary Cowgirl: Ain't Got No
So I'm feeling sorry for myself these days because I've got no cows, no bulls, nowhere to put any, and no money to speak of, anyway. I'd like a little ranch somewhere it doesn't snow where I could raise a few head of bucking cattle. I'd pretty soon be collecting bloodlines like some people collect wine. But bloodlines are even better: Mix a little of this with a little of that, wait a few years, put a cowboy on it, see what happens. The thrill of the chase. My only problem, other than the no land and no money, is that I like things to be neat. I've got a feeling that isn't going to be a high priority on the ranch.
On the plus side, after worrying for quite some time now about my ability to assist in calf-birth, I have realized that I would indeed be able to leap to the fore and pull the calf free from the cow. Some things - and I think these include calving - are worse on video than they are in real life. Even bats and spiders are worse on video than they are in real life, and in real life those are two things that I have an unreasonable fear of. Compared with that, I'm not afraid of muck or birth membrane. You do what you have to do. Of course, now that I think about it, I'm sure ranches are full of spiders and bats. That might be an issue.
On the plus side, after worrying for quite some time now about my ability to assist in calf-birth, I have realized that I would indeed be able to leap to the fore and pull the calf free from the cow. Some things - and I think these include calving - are worse on video than they are in real life. Even bats and spiders are worse on video than they are in real life, and in real life those are two things that I have an unreasonable fear of. Compared with that, I'm not afraid of muck or birth membrane. You do what you have to do. Of course, now that I think about it, I'm sure ranches are full of spiders and bats. That might be an issue.
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