Sometimes the luck of the draw affects us bulls too.

           We were in Nashville for the Jack Daniel’s Invitational in June. I’m feeling pretty good again after a little rest and relaxation. My ribs are all heeled up, I’ve been back at the ranch and I’m ready to go take care of a cowboy.

            They saved me for the final round, so I got to wait through the first two rounds and see who would get me. Here’s where the luck of the draw comes in. They pick the 15 bulls for the finals and draw for positions. I’m bull number 12 and since they start with 15, I’m third out.

            I’m thinking it’s probably no big deal, I’ll buck off the guy that gets me and then I find out that guy is, J.B. Mauney. Now I’m starting to worry. I’ve been wanting to get J.B. for a while, and I figure that when I do he’ll most likely ride me.

            Here’s the problem and where the luck of the draw comes in. If J.B. rides me, how are they going to score it? We’re at the bottom and I’m thinking they might score us to leave room for the other bulls yet to come.

            This final round pen is as rank as they can be and I’m up against Chicken on a Chain, Scene of the Crash, and Big Bucks just to name a few. I’ve been watching J.B. all year and I’m thinking if he rides me, he’ll make it look easy. I’m standing in the chute, he’s getting ready and I’m nervous. I like it a lot better when I’m at the end of the draw and get to close out the show.

            Everything that I think could happen does. J.B. rides me and makes it look easy. I had a pretty good trip and I head out the alley. I’m waiting for the fireworks and confetti, because I just know we are going to be over 90 points. I’ve got my head picked up and my ears are twitching. I’m sure it’s going to happen and then I hear the score, 88.75. Now I know that is just 1.25 points shy of 90, but it doesn’t matter. It takes the air right out of me.

            So I go back to my pen and sulk. I’m not big on pouting and I think it’s a pretty amateur thing to do, but I don’t even want to watch the rest of the bull riding. I’m waiting for the other bulls to tease me about getting ridden and I’m dreading seeing anyone.

            They ride Crown of Thorns for 91.25 and Just a Dream for 90.25 and both of those bulls get the royal treatment, confetti and fireworks. I’m still sulking when they come back to the pens and I’m just waiting for them to tease me.

            That Crown of Thorns is a pretty nice bull. He didn’t gloat or anything. He came back and gave me a good job look in the eye. We all started talking about our trips and those other bulls said they thought I should’ve been more points, but that the judges didn’t score me or J.B. because they were leaving room for everybody else.

            Now I don’t know if they are right, but I do know the judges have a big responsibility. Regardless, it made me feel better and helped get my confidence up again. It also got me to thinking about how I could’ve done my job better and gotten J.B. more points. So I leave Nashville with a new determination and I can’t wait to get to Dallas for the next stop on the tour.

            When we get to Dallas I’m in the second round. I’m used to being in the finals, but Dallas is one of the most prestigious events for us bulls, so it is a privilege to be there.

            J.W. Hart is the cowboy that’s got me this time. I had one of my best trips ever with his brother Cody. J.W. sits down on me and I’m waiting on him. I start bellering and letting him know I’m ready. He nods his head, I come out of there, turn back to the left, he’s still with me.

          I know J.W. is one of the toughest guys in bull riding, but I’m mad and I decide I’m going to see just how tough he is. I feel him loosen up and he’s a little off center. I turn back, kick and slam dunk him right in front of the bucking chute.

           I trot back to the pens and he still hasn’t gotten enough air to get out of the arena. I’m thinking “take that”. Then I started feeling a little bad. I wanted to buck him off and give the crowd something to talk about. I can honestly say I’m glad that J.W. was okay. My intentions are to buck off cowboys, not hurt them.

            I’m so glad Dallas is over, because I’m finally getting to head north for the summer. I’m going to Steamboat Springs, Colo., for their rodeo series and I know it’s going to be great to get to the mountains. Well, I thought I’d seen mountains before, but nothing compares to the Rockies.

            After we got to Colorado we came up through Pueblo to Canon City, Salida, Dillon and Kremmling before we got to “The Boat”. That country was so pretty and I sure saw a lot of grass that looked appetizing. But thinking about hiking around those mountains to get to it made my hay look pretty good.

             I was laying down in the trailer for most of the trip. I thought about getting up once, but we were making a pretty good climb and I took a peek over the edge of the road. Talk about drop. I decided then and there that laying down and watching through the sides was good enough for me.

            I had a few days in Steamboat before I got to go to work. I even had the Fourth of July off and didn’t mind at all. They had a great crowd and the best fireworks I’ve ever seen. I got to stand in my pen behind the bucking chutes and watch the fireworks off the mountain with a mouth full of hay --- life just doesn’t get any better than that.

            The final night Bad Company Rodeo had the stock there was my night to shine. I was back in a pen by myself when this kid walks up and hangs his bull rope on the fence. Then they bring a reporter to talk to him and the reporter keeps looking at me. They get a camera out and you know how I like cameras, so I started pawing the ground and putting on a show. Then I find out the reason they are all back there is because this is the kid that is going to ride me.

            His name is Chris Bartlett from Parker, Colo. He’s probably seen me on tv, but that’s it. I look him straight in the eye while he’s getting his bull rope ready. I’m thinking that he might look back and we could have a stare down. Well there is no intimidating him. He just takes care of business and gets ready.

            They load me in the chute and I can’t wait to get in front of that crowd and do my thing. I don’t know this guy and I don’t care who he is, I’m going to throw him Rocky Mountain High.

            I may never have heard of Chris Bartlett, but this kid rides good. He lasted about five seconds before he made a mistake. I’m hoping he’ll get behind so I can send him flying, but that hasn’t happened. I change directions and kick, I feel him get a little loose and I just turn out from under him. It wasn’t the way I wanted it to happen, but the end result is the same and we’re all okay --- and, the crowd loved it.

            I’m staying in Colorado and going to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs. Bad Company Rodeo is going to have bulls there and at Cheyenne Frontier Days. There will be a whole herd of us doing our thing and we will definitely have stories to tell.

            My name is Walk This Way and I am a bull with BADITUDE!

You can now email me walkthisway@badcompanyrodeo.com

Click HERE to read Volume 1, Chapter 1

Click HERE to read Volume 1, Chapter 2

Click HERE to read Volume 1, Chapter 3

Click HERE to read Volume 1, Chapter 4

Click HERE to read Volume 1, Chapter 5

Click HERE to read Volume 1, Chapter 6