PBR and Pedicures

I bet you find "PBR and Pedicures" to be an interesting and curious title for this week's blog!  Well, it's been an interesting time with my bulls out at Let R Buck Bull Riding School!  Friday last, we brought in a gentleman to trim hooves or as I like to call it, a "bullycure".  This was the very first time I've seen this done and it was the very first time the bulls have had their bullycures!  I'd never seen a squeeze chute in operation and it was quite fascinating to watch the whole procedure.

My partner's bull, SNAP BACK CHARLIE, thinking about this whole thing for a moment.  He wasn't quite sure about this contraption!

Thomas working on SPOOK'S hooves.  He was quick to trim, so the bulls had minimal time in the squeeze chute.  This of course, gave me time to talk to them and pet them.   :)

My bull partner, JW, checking SPOOK'S eyes.  JW was able to give them a good look over while they were in the chute.  Thomas paid us a very nice compliment about how good our bulls looked and behaved!

Once SPOOK was out of the chute, off to his favorite digging spot he went!  All of the bulls did really well and enjoyed a nice afternoon of grazing and digging!

On Saturday, SNAP BACK CHARLIE bucked really well during Practice Pen time.

Now on to the PBR event in Thackerville, Oklahoma.  Thackerville is an outdoor event, an entire arena set up in the back parking lot of the Winstar World Casino.  I attended this event in 2013 with friends.  It was a lot of fun to experience...but...it was 113 degrees outside!  This year, I enjoyed the event from the comfort of my air conditioned living room, away from the heat, humidity and massive bugs!

Here is a photo I snapped last year of the chutes and back pens.  The VIP seating had folding chairs and the rest of the seating was bleachers.  This year I noticed that the bleachers were gone and all seating was new seats with back!  I'm sure a much more comfortable seating arrangement!!!

Friday night, the Classic bulls bucked...those unpredictable 3-4 year olds.  This event, I must say, they seemed rather well-behaved.  The Stock Contractors pay to enter their bulls in the Classic competition, so it's exciting to see a young bull do well, and heart-breaking for the contractor when the bull does not buck well.  The winner of the Thackerville ABBI Classic competition was MARGY TIME from D&H Cattle Company, with a score of 45.25 points.  He quickly dumped Kasey Hayes, and by quickly I mean 1.77 seconds!  The only word I could write in my notes was WOW!!!!!  (I have not yet seen this bull buck in person, I hope I do soon...I need some photographs!!!)  The runner up to Margy Time was PEARL HARBOR from Boyd & Floyd Bull Company.  Pearl Harbor, a son of the great BLACK PEARL, had a slightly slower buck off time, and by slightly I mean 2.11 seconds.  He was scored 44.75 points.  I suspect these two young bulls will be in the running for the ABBI Classic Champion in Las Vegas this year, and providing they stay healthy, will be in the running for World Champion Bucking Bull in 2015.

So, an interesting event occurred during Friday night's round, and the only reason I know about it was from watching on the Live Event Center.  The event was delayed for a few minutes because Silvano Alves was told to change his spurs.  Now, my question is this, why would a rider, at this level, have to be told to change his spurs?  I tweeted the PBR, and no surprise, did not receive an answer.  If anyone has a clarification or knows the rule, please, by all means, share it with the rest of us.  I'd like to know why he wasn't DQ'd???

Saturday night, the number of rides decreased to 9, from the 13 during the previous round.  The bulls were large and in charge, bucking off the first 8 cowboys in section one.  But, once again, the judges left me scratching my head over low bull scores.  I guess there are always constants in this sport.

One rider who had the BS flags flying all over my living room was Claudio Crisostomo.  He was put on the clock for being so long in the chute.  I'm no expert but good grief, the bull was standing perfectly, and Claudio was in there so long, I thought he was enjoying an ice coffee.  It was ridiculous.  The bull ultimately won the day by bucking off Claudio but was only scored a 38.5 points.  Guilherme Marchi is part owner of the bull,  JUDGEMENT DAY.  I wonder if it bothers him when HIS bull is soaked? Hmmm......

Director of Livestock, Cody Lambert was interviewed and asked about which bulls will fill the void once the great Bushwacker retires.  Cody immediately mentioned Jared Allen's AIR TIME, MICK E MOUSE and SHEPHERD HILLS TESTED.  Tested has been around for a few years.  Mick E Mouse pushed all the other bulls to the limit last year and continues to do so.  Air Time best bull bucking right now.  And, ASTEROID is still going strong.

This is a picture of ASTEROID last year in Thackerville.  Well, he looked pretty much the same this year.  He received the High Marked Bull of the Event score with 46 points.  He went vertical....enough said!

Gene Melton, Asteroid's handler and hauler, said the bull is getting older with a few more miles on him.  He has a "few more tricks, harder to get out on".  I'm always impressed at how these bulls get smarter and smarter!

MICK E MOUSE was Shorty Gorham's "Dickies Pick of the Pen" Saturday night.  Mick E Mouse, who turned back faster than ever in Tulsa, according to Justin McBride, was taken to 7.47 seconds by JW Harris.  Mick E received a 45.75 point score.  It was Mick's 23rd straight buck off!

Unfortunately, Jared Allen's AIR TIME didn't quite live up to all the hype over the weekend.  He had a bad day with odd jumps but was still scored 43.25 points.  Justin McBride explained that Air Time is "scared of his own shadow" and that they need to keep him calm to conserve energy for bucking.  Air Time does have the top 2 bull scores of 2014 with a 47.5 point score in Tulsa and a 47 point score in Las Vegas.  I'm thinking he just had an off night...happens to the best of 'em!

The bull the was R-A-N-K in the Championship Round was I'M A GANGSTER TOO from Jeff Robinson.  He was totally dominating as he blew out of the chute, whipped around and bucked off  Stetson Lawrence in 1.94 seconds for a 45.75 point score.  Quite honestly, I thought he was better than Asteroid that night.

SOUTH PAW was terrific, as was WICKED and JACK DANIEL'S AFTER PARTY.

I have to say, I was so proud of AFTER PARTY.  He was the first bull chosen in the Draft, and toted as the most "rider friendly".  Well, After Party was smart, and he bucked hard!  He may be a little bit older but this bull is still great and has a few more tricks up his hocks!

 

 

One final question for the day...
Saturday night, when JB Mauney left the chute on Asteroid, it looked like the bull hipped himself.  JB got stepped on and immediately left the arena, but, Stormy Wing pushed the Challenge Button.  Stormy challenged on JB's behalf.  The buck off was upheld and no reride given.  So my question is this...who pays the $500 for the challenge?  Stormy or JB?  Just curious.

Congratulations to Mike Lee, who rode Moad Cattle's JET AIRLINER to win the Thackerville event.  It was Jet's first time ridden for 8 seconds, but at least it was for the event win!

It was a great weekend, both here at home and in Thackerville.  But I guess anytime bucking bulls are involved, it's a great time!!  After all, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BULLS!


All photographs by Susan Hanrahan