Same gear a rider of officer Empananda would use  @lug1 @sel366

I didn't know they wore safety equipment like that. I thought it was just cowboy hats and huge belt buckles.

Nothing but net!!!

Whereas officer Rutterham only needs a seatbelt as she is built for speed yet very safe.

That had to hurt. A lot.

@JUNG1999

I grew up there as well. Graduated from NSHS in 91. The rodeo was a different ballgame back then with a lot of unintentional facelifts. But it was “4 days of fun in the California sun. I think we oughtta go.....to the Rodeo”.

That damn theme song they used to play on KTOM every year has stuck in my head for 30+ years.

I quit caring about pro bull riding along time ago. Still some good amateur stuff.

Back in the day they didn’t wear ANY safety gear. They got killed and broke bones like real men.

And that was worth watching.

Dometic > Yeti

They're usually little, tough wrestlers.  Big guys get worse scoring because they don't get tossed around enough.

The general public doesn't understand the difficulty in bull riding.  Being the eldest son, I had the responsibility of breaking all the green horses my old man would buy at auction.  I loved it.  I was only thrown once.  Even though I had only been around horses a few years, I could feel their movements ahead of time, and adjust accordingly.  With enough time in the pen, and plenty of bonding, I was flipping horses several times a year.

When I was introduced to bull riding, I thought, no problem, just sent small adjustments, right?

Wrong.

Completely different animal.  It's not even close.  I lasted all of 3 rides on 3 different occasions.  I did not have it, and I swear to god, the second and third bulls KNEW it.  That power is other wordly, and attempting to straddle that power is the most unnatural feeling I've ever had with an animal.  The mechanics of it simply did not make sense to me.  My hats off to those that can find the groove.

I stayed away permanently after I watched an Angus cow flip my 300lb dad in the air like a rag doll, and stomp on him while my brother and I slammed into her from a dead run.  He lucked out and only broke 3 ribs.  She was the finest cow we had.  PERFECT conformation.  She was number 8.

Number 8 was sent to the auction the next day where she tore up 20 yards of fencing and put two auction hands in the hospital.  She was sold for slaughter prices.  It's been 25 years and my old man and I still talk about that bitch.

When I was a young teenager -maybe 13 or 14- my older sister was dating a loser cowboy guy that did some rodeo.  I talked some shit about rodeo and cowboys and whatnot.  He told me I could try riding a bull if I thought I could do it.  Hell, why not? I was a tough skater punk.

I let my mouth write a check that my ass couldn't cash.

They put me on some small, slow, retarded bull and my Vision Street Wear and Vans wearing ass went flying about 1.8 seconds after the chute opened and I augered in full scorpion style.

That was the extent of my bull riding career.

To be fair, all the cowboys (with the exception of my sister's boyfriend) were good sports and pretty cool guys.

I don't need to see that again. I saw it when it happened. Bodacious was a true monster, and any cowboy that got on his back with out all the gear they wear now, was a true stud. I remember watching the PBR on TV when Donny Gay was announcing.... the first time a guy climbed on a bull with a catchers mask on, you could tell Donny was rolling his eyes inside.

Sort of like when the NHL went to helmets.

Plus he has horns and hooves and knows how to use them.

Oh, some will kneel alright, but it's to thank God they're able to get out of the ring under their own power.

and a temper.

Just posted about him today lol .

@morning_would
People in Salinas love their rodeo!

I'll never understand why some people want to ride on the back of 2000lbs of angry beef.... What could possibly go wrong?

You'd be correct. Man getting old sucks! Bodacious more than lived up to his name, he was incredibly athletic for an animal his size.

I respect the extreme toughness and skill involved but what a fucking stupid sport.

If you want to get beat up train MMA at least you can hit someone back.

Attached File

Well when defensive linemen get weighing 2000lb and have horns, it will be fair.

Liability insurance probably requires them too....because getting killed sucks

Ya know, bull riders 'used' to do that without all the helmets and body armor ...just sayin'

Bronc' riders too.

Hat in one hand, other hand holdin' tight and heels kickin' hard!

Helluva dangerous 'sport' they're playing.

No Colin Kaepernick's out in those pens.

This is why smart bull riders use protective gear...

Took so long to get going the bull made it personal.