Now who in their right mind, would willingly choose to tie themselves to two thousand pounds of rank hamburger and go for a Saturday night drive?
Yep. I know some folks who do.
’Cause many courageous or insane men do this week in and week out here in the Southwest and all over the world. They are bull riders! And they are special. Thrill seekers with a purpose—to survive those eight seconds on the biggest, bad-est bull of the bunch and take home a platter- sized buckle and a bunch-a-money.
They ride bulls with intimidating names, like Copperhead Slinger, Troubadour, Chicken on a Chain, and Evil One.
Our son is a fighter pilot and ever since he charted his course to fly, my husband told him: “There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.” But I’m here to introduce you—outrageous as it may seem to the geeks and nay-sayers—two bold, senior, bull riders. Bull riders who are alive and doing quite well in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, and New Mexico!
But the bull rider’s best friend is the cowboy on the ground—Mike Jones. For more than a quarter of a century Mike has been a key player in the world of rodeo, providing protection to bull riders all over the States. He is currently the Ultimate Bullfighting Tour President, and he still competes!
On the left meet Shawn Best, Sr. a/k/a Iron Man. Shawn has qualified to the INFR twenty-seven
years. And twenty-three of those years in all three rough stock events. This Iron Man has won over one hundred saddles. And he still rides in the WSPBR today.
In the center is rodeo photographer, Tex Travis. Tex is co-host of Internet TV show, Texas Ranch N Rodeo. Where would all these events be without the fearless photographer, endangering life and limb to catch those breath-taking photos we all know and love.
And on the right is former rodeo rough stock athlete, Pepper Stewart, most known for his work as a bullfighter. Pepper hosts the Internet TV show Texas Ranch N Rodeo Weekly, seen world wide and in syndication in the UK.
Each one of these three heroes of the arena are also bold, successful businessmen who will confirm the positive impact rodeo has had on their lives and has on today’s youth.
So folks, if you still wonder why bull riders and bull fighters have that famous cowboy swagger that make girls swoon, I ask you—if you’d been in the arena with two thousand pounds of hell-on-a-hoof and lived to tell the tale—bet you’d have a swagger too!
A few years back, while sitting atop a fence at the Rockdale Arena, I had an up close and personal experience with a bull by the name of Booger Daddy. Almost made me trade my camera for a skate board…woulda been lots safer. To read the story, click on the link Booger Daddy below. Instead, I put ’im in my book, Roped, due to be released by Prism Book Group and available August 21st on Amazon.com.
That’ll teach that critter to scare the bejeebers outta me.
Stay tuned for details of the release celebration…be sure to register for the daily drawings…prizes galore!
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 