Remember those commercials with the eggs sizzlin' in the frying pan and the sub title...."Here's your brain on drugs. Any questions?"
That's how I feel this morning except forget the drugs....who needs 'em when you've got super, adrenaline-pumping bucking bulls on your mind. There's so many resources these days....video archives, stat sites, genetic records, historical data.....I mean it's quite easy to get lost in it all. It's the time of year my mind gets on bull-information overload. Is that my brain I hear sizzlin'? It's all so exciting that I just can't help myself. I may not remember where I put the truck keys, but I can tell you how the top ten are bred, where they've had their best outs and what challenges they face going into Vegas! :)
My husband told me awhile back that every morning the first thing he thinks about is running his hand in a rope, even after all these years. I'm wondering today if he ever thought he'd be married to a girl that thinks about bulls as much as he does. Probably not!
There are times you get so much bull 411 in the brain that it can blend together at times though. Lucky for me I get to put it down on paper as I go. I've spent the last month or so pouring over this year's ABBI bull stats and videos trying to get a firm grasp on how all these bulls stack up going into Vegas AND contention for the ABBI World Championships. What fans might find interesting is that it's not always a shoe-in for the bulls that dominated the season. Many of the road-pounders experience wear and tear just like bull riders. They can get body sore and mentally maxed. Our bovine athletes can face issues with injuries, diet, work-outs and overall mental sharpness. If there's anything besides experience, talent and skill that matters in this game it's freshness.
And when I say freshness, I mean bull's that aren't settled into the whole..."oh, it's this deal again...sigh" mentality. This type of freshness is different than being well rested. The newer bulls on the scene are more apt to be on the muscle and have that edginess and alertness that bring us those eye-popping outs. These are bulls that are light on their feet and can really get around.
You know the ones I'm talking about. When they crack the latch they give us buckets of blow and air, lofty leaps and a big break-over, then kick like a wildcat. It's electric execution and what will 5 the INTENSITY category on the judges sheets. It's also what I'm trying to not miss when looking over all these contenders. Unfortunately you don't always know who's gonna show up and with what. I try hard to find out, but some of these fellas really love that element of surprise.
Usually we know before the finals what we have for ABBI Wild Card contenders too. But this year we won't know until we get there. Talk about building excitement! I can't wait to see 'em and you know there will be a couple in there that can really mix things up. The ABBI Wild Card brought us 250 Black Pearl last year and look at him now....he's the man. We also got crazy-fun Deja Blu via the Wild Card event. So, there's no doubt in my mind their gonna "come-a-goodin'" on Thursday, October 29th through this avenue.
When the dust clears expect to have a handful of the season's steadies and a splash of newcomers lined up in the top 20 holes. However it all plays out.....you won't find anyone more excited about it all than this bucking bull fanatic!
To get the inside scoop for yourself on the top ABBI Classic Contenders read up on the first part of the Season and which bulls did what....here: Parital Season Classic ReCap
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Last Minute Hustle & Final Finish
While some ABBI bull contenders and their owners and handlers are all set and ready for Vegas, others are workin' hard to make last minute changes and adjustments. Handlers are putting the final finish on their bulls via diets, excercise regiments and last minute training.
Twisted Aces from Boyd-Floyd/Conat had an exceptional out last night. Maybe too exceptional in that his rider did not last long enough. He may be getting one more out over the next week to continue working on his start. Meanwhile, there are several other bulls hitting the heavy exercise to give them an extra boost.
There are also a few other bull owners experimenting with delivery. It is pretty amazing when you have several bulls that are just as effective out either delivery. That says a lot for their athletic abilities. There are people who can switch hands easily enough, but when we start looking at what these bulls are capable of in either lead and in both directions it is pretty impressive.
I am amazed when watching video of Tom Teague's Deja Blu. He's been out both deliveries and honestly it is hard to say which delivery he is better in. He is really something. Everytime he's out he turns back one way, then changes it up and turns back the other way. He is pretty handy with himself and has exceptional body awareness. Better yet, he prevents himself from getting fatigued by using this method, so he's smart too!
This is the most exciting time of the bull year. So much is happening and so much is up in the air. You can cut the anticipation with a knife! At the end of the day, I just have to sit back and marvel at how much breeders have accomplished in such a short amount of time. Our bulls are definately not just bovines....they are tremendous athletes!
Twisted Aces from Boyd-Floyd/Conat had an exceptional out last night. Maybe too exceptional in that his rider did not last long enough. He may be getting one more out over the next week to continue working on his start. Meanwhile, there are several other bulls hitting the heavy exercise to give them an extra boost.
There are also a few other bull owners experimenting with delivery. It is pretty amazing when you have several bulls that are just as effective out either delivery. That says a lot for their athletic abilities. There are people who can switch hands easily enough, but when we start looking at what these bulls are capable of in either lead and in both directions it is pretty impressive.
I am amazed when watching video of Tom Teague's Deja Blu. He's been out both deliveries and honestly it is hard to say which delivery he is better in. He is really something. Everytime he's out he turns back one way, then changes it up and turns back the other way. He is pretty handy with himself and has exceptional body awareness. Better yet, he prevents himself from getting fatigued by using this method, so he's smart too!
This is the most exciting time of the bull year. So much is happening and so much is up in the air. You can cut the anticipation with a knife! At the end of the day, I just have to sit back and marvel at how much breeders have accomplished in such a short amount of time. Our bulls are definately not just bovines....they are tremendous athletes!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Bull Short Hand for Twitter Followers
Since many of my twitter followers have had a hard time understanding my behind the chutes short hand, I thought I'd blog about abbreviations and their meaning. So, when you see them come across in my tweets you will know what I'm talking about. :)
Study up, so when World Finals rolls around....you can keep up with the rapid pace. Let's face it with only 140 characters in a tweet and basic text short-hand, it can be like reading Latin.
I hope this helps and prepares you for the most exciting event of the season.
Study up, so when World Finals rolls around....you can keep up with the rapid pace. Let's face it with only 140 characters in a tweet and basic text short-hand, it can be like reading Latin.
I hope this helps and prepares you for the most exciting event of the season.
LHD: Left Handed Delivery
RHD: Right Handed Delivery
Bulls are like people in that they favor a left or right hand/leg. A bull is out the "delivery" that allows him to maximize his athletisim. EX: If he is out a LHD, he prefers to be in his left lead or lead with his left leg. In many cases a bull will turn back in the direction of his delivery.
TB2R: "Turned back to the Right" meaning bull is circling to the right while bucking.
TB2L: "Turned back to the Left" meaning bull is circling to the left while bucking.
WBW: "Went Both Ways" meaning Bull turned back one direction, then changed it up and went back the other direction.
I2HH: "Into his hand" meaning the direction the bull is turning back is the same direction as the riding hand.
AFHH: "Away from his hand" meaning the direction the bull is turning back is the opposite direction as the riding hand.
HHS: "Hipped himself" meaning the bull hit his hip on the chute when leaving-Sometimes will be said that the bull "fowled himself"
TI: "Tied in" meaning the contractor has tied a rope across the chute over the bull's neck to keep him from jumping up and injuring the rider.
BIB: "Bad in Box" means the bull is being difficult in the chute and the rider is having a hard time getting out on him.
BLD: "Bull Laying Down" means that they bull is trying to lay down in the chute.
BO: Rider was "bucked off" before 8 seconds.
RR: Rider has been given the option for a "re-ride"
CS: Clock is stopped indicating rider disqualification.
SLP: Rider has been called for touching his bull with his free arm during the ride.
C4K: Rider has been called for hanging his spurs in his rope "knots".
RP: Rider has protested the judges call by pushing the button.
ROT: "Ruling Over Turned" meaning after video review judge has reversed a call.
This is just a base list and I will update as necessary.
WILD CARD ENTRY DEADLINE
Just a heads up to everyone that is entering the WILD CARD in VEGAS!!!
DON'T MISS OUT! Entries close 10/5 @ 5PM!!!!!
http://www.abbinow.com/content.aspx?ID=11
DON'T MISS OUT! Entries close 10/5 @ 5PM!!!!!
http://www.abbinow.com/content.aspx?ID=11
VEGAS-Cards R Not the Only Thing Being Shuffled
Right now there is a whole lotta shuffling taking place. Which ABBI World Championship qualifiers are actually making the trip to Vegas is changing by the minute.
It isn't as easy as you'd think to figure out who's in and who's out. You can't just go to the standings and scale the list.
As of today, I know that -20 of Andrews Rodeo Co. it out of futurity contention. This also means that 716 is out since James (Sammy's son) won't make the trip for one.
On the D&H Classic front..."Good Time Charley" is out. He got killed in a bull fight night before last. "Check Out" is questionable at this point. HD will put a couple more outs on him before deciding for sure. "Down Time" is another he's not made his mind up on. He's leaning toward a yes at this point. "Monty the Bull" who was rumored to be out on a soundness issue is in as of yesterday. 22S Priceless is ready for war and Page neighbor Ciff Wiggins' "Mr. Hyde" is out.
To keep ya guessin' even more, HD has renamed several of his futurity entries. 94T is now Hoop N Holler, T03 is no longer Itchy Kitty but Black Cat, 01T All the Above is now Little Coat, 40T Wild Yeller is now Hillbilly Scream, 715 is now Big Shot, 33T is no longer Double Dip but Double Oak, 35T is now Freight Train, 84T is now Sporty, T50 is Ferocious Beast and T07 is now Bad Cat. Thankfully Jug Head is...well....still Jug Head! LOL. 45T "High Times" is out, as is 13T. However "T13" Thermal Kitty is still a maybe while TD2 Buckin Machine and 83T Lil Squirt are in.
WHEW! Good luck keepin' all that straight! D&H is also on the fence with 30T, 65T, T65 T56, 92T, 10T, 111T, 66T, 46T and 53T. (No promises on my "T" placement with these. There are times I think this guy has fun confusing us....mmmmmm.):)
Let's move on to Toby Floyd. What's going on in his camp is a bit easier to follow. One thing I can say is that partner Brad Boyd gives their buckers some pretty unique names which in turn makes them easier to remember. On the futurity front.....Naughty by Nature, LIT, Fine Young Cannibal, Economic Barometer, Three Mile Smile and Personality Lines are all a "No". Time Bandit, Greenhorn, Getin' Busy, Santana and Mammer Jammer are in.
On the Classic end for Boyd-Floyd Bull Co., Ravenscroft's Black Pearl has never been better and is Brazilian Ready. Coming off a big win in Reno should have done nothing but bolster his confidence. HeeBee GeeBee is on a super streamline diet and exercise program while Twisted Aces is in the process of trying to make some pattern changes. The bull will be headed to a bull riding or two before World Finals to work on his form. Why? Because the bull is SO explosive and kicks so hard right out of the box that his forward momentum often causes him to stumble in the front end with the rider. From a rider's standpoint that can be pretty scary. Floyd has been hard at work trying to make sure the bull will turn back right out of the gate, thus preventing him from stumbling.
Classic big dog Top Notch is just coming off a huge dose of Brazilian and everyone is all eyes watching to see if there's been any impact. Meanwhile Range War seems to have finally gotten over a similar experience that effected him for several months. I've heard rumors that he is back to his salty self, so he should be a fun one to watch for.
That's all the update I can handle for now. Of course there's lots of other bulls just as interesting so give me some more time to get the scoop. Will try my best to keep you updated.
Best Bull Wishes,
Sugar
It isn't as easy as you'd think to figure out who's in and who's out. You can't just go to the standings and scale the list.
As of today, I know that -20 of Andrews Rodeo Co. it out of futurity contention. This also means that 716 is out since James (Sammy's son) won't make the trip for one.
On the D&H Classic front..."Good Time Charley" is out. He got killed in a bull fight night before last. "Check Out" is questionable at this point. HD will put a couple more outs on him before deciding for sure. "Down Time" is another he's not made his mind up on. He's leaning toward a yes at this point. "Monty the Bull" who was rumored to be out on a soundness issue is in as of yesterday. 22S Priceless is ready for war and Page neighbor Ciff Wiggins' "Mr. Hyde" is out.
To keep ya guessin' even more, HD has renamed several of his futurity entries. 94T is now Hoop N Holler, T03 is no longer Itchy Kitty but Black Cat, 01T All the Above is now Little Coat, 40T Wild Yeller is now Hillbilly Scream, 715 is now Big Shot, 33T is no longer Double Dip but Double Oak, 35T is now Freight Train, 84T is now Sporty, T50 is Ferocious Beast and T07 is now Bad Cat. Thankfully Jug Head is...well....still Jug Head! LOL. 45T "High Times" is out, as is 13T. However "T13" Thermal Kitty is still a maybe while TD2 Buckin Machine and 83T Lil Squirt are in.
WHEW! Good luck keepin' all that straight! D&H is also on the fence with 30T, 65T, T65 T56, 92T, 10T, 111T, 66T, 46T and 53T. (No promises on my "T" placement with these. There are times I think this guy has fun confusing us....mmmmmm.):)
Let's move on to Toby Floyd. What's going on in his camp is a bit easier to follow. One thing I can say is that partner Brad Boyd gives their buckers some pretty unique names which in turn makes them easier to remember. On the futurity front.....Naughty by Nature, LIT, Fine Young Cannibal, Economic Barometer, Three Mile Smile and Personality Lines are all a "No". Time Bandit, Greenhorn, Getin' Busy, Santana and Mammer Jammer are in.
On the Classic end for Boyd-Floyd Bull Co., Ravenscroft's Black Pearl has never been better and is Brazilian Ready. Coming off a big win in Reno should have done nothing but bolster his confidence. HeeBee GeeBee is on a super streamline diet and exercise program while Twisted Aces is in the process of trying to make some pattern changes. The bull will be headed to a bull riding or two before World Finals to work on his form. Why? Because the bull is SO explosive and kicks so hard right out of the box that his forward momentum often causes him to stumble in the front end with the rider. From a rider's standpoint that can be pretty scary. Floyd has been hard at work trying to make sure the bull will turn back right out of the gate, thus preventing him from stumbling.
Classic big dog Top Notch is just coming off a huge dose of Brazilian and everyone is all eyes watching to see if there's been any impact. Meanwhile Range War seems to have finally gotten over a similar experience that effected him for several months. I've heard rumors that he is back to his salty self, so he should be a fun one to watch for.
That's all the update I can handle for now. Of course there's lots of other bulls just as interesting so give me some more time to get the scoop. Will try my best to keep you updated.
Best Bull Wishes,
Sugar
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
