Volume 1, Chapter 2

By Susan Kanode

I’d say that January was a pretty good month. I bucked off Travis Briscoe, Matt Bohon, Kasey Hayes, and Cody Hart. And, just to prove that I’m not unrideable, I let Justin McBride ride me.

After we were in Madison Square Garden, we went up to Connecticut and spent a couple of days at an Equestrian Facility. Back in Texas we’d call it a horse farm, but things are a little different in the East. Let me tell you it was fancy and they provided us all the hospitality we could imagine.

When we got off the trailer, we figured we’d have a few days to just kick back, then head to Worcester, Mass., for the next stop on the tour. They had a bunch of heavy equipment moving around dirt and that other stuff that we bulls produce mixed with straw. Of course that got my curiosity going because I always want to know everything that is going on.

It wasn’t long until I learned the game plan. Here came a film crew and we all know that I love cameras. They turned some of us bulls out and pushed us toward that pile and I decided it was time to play.

I walked right up, stuck my head in that pile, wallered around and got some straw stuck on my horns. Apparently that was what I was supposed to do because that camera man followed me all the way. There were a couple of times that Satan’s Own started to get in the picture and I had to push him out of the way.

    I heard they used that on the telecast the next week. The other bulls are picking on me because I’m getting so much camera time, but I can’t help it that I’m so photogenic. I’m also not camera shy.

            So we were off to Worcester where I found out that I’d drawn Justin McBride. Well you all know he was the only guy to ride me last year. I was excited to get a shot at him again. So I’m in the bucking chutes waiting to do my job and that McBride guy is just back there joking around with all those other bull riders like this ride is no big deal.

            I felt him settle down on my back and this guy is so confident it really makes me want to buck. He doesn’t mess around in the chute either, gets his rope around me takes his wrap and nods his head. The gate comes open and I start to do my thing. He matches me move for move and I can’t unseat him

            Of all the bull riders that have been on me, Justin McBride probably has the best balance. He’s got strength, agility and all the qualities that make him a great athlete. But his balance is incredible. 

             After I heard the horn and Justin got off, I headed out of the arena. Way to go Justin, you just proved once again that I am not unrideable. Then I heard them announce the score, 90.75. Well that made me happy. I’m back there in the holding pens hearing congratulations from those other bulls and Satan’s Own and I are talking about both being ridden.

            He took Kasey Hayes to an 86.25, good enough to place in the round. We were wondering when we’d get to go again and who would try to ride us.

            They put Satan back out in the third round where he bucked off Rob Bell. I got to save my energy for the finals and this time it was Kasey Hayes that got a shot at me. He rode me quite a while (6.9 seconds) but I figured he had won enough money on the Bad Company Rodeo bulls, so it was eject-button time. Kasey’s a pretty tough bull rider and I think if he gets another shot at me, it could go the other way.

            We left Worcester and I got to go to the bull resort at Tom Teague’s for a few days before Charlotte, N.C. I say resort, because that place is beautiful and they had everything there that a bull could ever want. I got to see some of the calves out of my heroes like Little Yellow Jacket. We had plenty of time to rest and get ready for the Dale Jr. Clash.

            Cody Hart won the second round there on one of my Bad Company Rodeo traveling partners, Born to Boogie. That 87.5-point ride got him to the finals and guess whose name was beside his on the list. You got it and was I ready. I know Cody’s a world champ and Born To Boogie had told me a little bit about him.

            So I’m standing in the chute, minding my own business and getting ready to do my thing. Cody’s got his rope around me, I think everything’s good and he should nod his head.

I want everybody to think about this from a bull’s perspective. Our head is facing a wall. We can’t see anything that is going on with the guys that are getting ready to ride. When the gate opens it opens from my backside, so I don’t actually see the gate until it is completely open. We don’t have any rear view mirrors either, so we don’t actually know when that bull rider nods his head. And, we rely a lot on our sight to do our job.

So, my heart is beating, adrenalin is pumping and I’m waiting for the action. I can hear what’s going on and I can’t figure out why Cody isn’t nodding his head. Well the longer he takes and more he prepares, the madder I get. I start bellering and trying to let him know that I’m ready to go. I beller some more and finally he gets the message.

The gate opens, I see my chance and jump out of there like a rocket. I plant my chin on the dirt, kick over my head and launch that guy into the arena. Okay, so I am pretty proud of myself, but the judges liked it too. Even though they only got to see me for 1.9 seconds, they marked me 46.5 out of 50 points.

Here’s a lesson for all of you bull riders. Don’t make me mad! My name is Walk This Way and I am a bull with BADITUDE.

You can now email me walkthisway@badcompanyrodeo.com