BULL BUZZ

Pueblo's Wild West Fest Classic Results

2010-05-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

There were some really strong ABBI Classic Bulls out tonight. One interesting thing is that there were 11 buckers entered that were either sons or grandsons of the late, great Houdini. There were also three sons out of 88 Best Shot aka Super Duty, two full flush mate brothers and a full brother to Black Pearl.

The Unofficial Results before official audit are as follows:

1. D&H Cattle Co.'s & L&E Bulls Priceless 89.75 $10,924
2. Moreno/Oliveira's Bushwacker 89.25 $6,242
3. Jackson/Holmes/Baker's Moon 88.75 $4,681
4. Martinez's Mad Max 88.00 $3,316
4. Boyd-Floyd/LaRue's Lil Red Kat 88.00 $3,316
4. Ravenscroft/Boyd-Floyd's Pearl Jam 88.00 $3,316
7. Barry & Ward's Kat Hour 87.75 $2,340
8. Lightning C's Copp Hou 87.5 $1,755
8. Jackson/Holmes/Baker's Magic 87.5 $1,755
10. Rafter HB's Ice T&D 86.75 $455
10. Boyd-Floyd & Cunningham's Sleeper 86.75 $455
10. D&H Cattle Co's Best Ever 86.75 $455

Pay Out is Also Unofficial until audit

Visit to Headquarters

2010-05-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

Well even though the weather hasn't been the greatest and it is raining right now, today's visit to the ABBI and PBR Headquarters was pretty exciting. It was the first time I actually got to come out and kick around the office.

The first thing that tickled my bull fancy is the bronze statue of Little Yellow Jacket under Adriano out front. Of course I've seen the photos but it's even better in person.

The next super cool thing is the receptionists desk when you first walk into the ground floor. It's in the shape of a bull's horn. Didn't get a pic but will try tomorrow.

Up on the PBR floor when you get off the elevators there is a wall dedicated to all the PBR World Champs. Their faces are embossed on leather and signed and framed and each has a bull rope hung next to it. Of course I have dreams of one day seeing something similar for the buckers when you get off the ABBI floor elevator. In the meantime check out the pic.

Well it is time to get headed over to the event but I at least wanted to throw you all a little bone. Keep checking back for pics and updates from the Wild, Wild West Fest.

Wild Wild West Fest Pueblo!!

2010-05-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in Pueblo, Colorado the home of the PBR & ABBI Headquarters and now also the home of the USBBA's new super- svelte magazine the American Bucking Bull. There is so much going on it surely should be Wild, Wild.

Besides all the regular festivities that accompany a BFT event the big highlight for me is the official launch of the new magazine and the televised ABBI Classic competition Saturday night.

Watch for all ABBI Classic competition bulls to be bucking with some new ear-ware identifying them as American Bucking Bulls. The new ear-tags are bright yellow, sport the ABBI logo and should be easy to spot on TV from the bucking chute and arena. It's just one more way the ABBI is working to bring more notoriety to our bovine athletes.

Something else I am looking forward to during the Wild, Wild West Fest here in Pueblo is the activities planned to keep the fans stoked about our buckers. On Sunday at 10 a.m. PBR fans get treated to a tour of the Bull Housing at the State Fairgrounds. Susan and I have some ideas to reward these fans for not just being PBR fans but also for being bucking bull fans =)

Well it's off to Headquarters!

Stay tuned for more from Pueblo.

ABBI Announces New Bucking Bull Magazine

2010-04-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

The ABBI Headquarters has announced that their official magazine is going in house.

What....crickets? Don't panic......it's a super good thing for the bucker....and the breeder.... and the fan!

As many of you know, Bull Pen Magazine has been the staple source for everything bucking bull. The magazine that has been published by FanCorp of Costa Mesa, Calif. since its beginning is turning the page on its long partnership with ABBI.

Why? Well as you probably know the bucking bull industry has grown by leeps and bounds. It has become extremely popular with fans and has exceeded most of our wildest dreams. The ABBI has decided that the best way to propel the bull industry and its breeders to the next level is by kicking it up a notch and doing an even better job promoting our brazen buckers and those guys and gals that bust their backs to bring us these amazing athletes.

As the industry turns the corner it only makes sense that the official publication be based from the PBR and ABBI headquarters in Pueblo, Colo. AND that it be flown under the banner of the USBBA (United States Bucking Bull Assoc.), who's mission is to promote the bulls and the breeders and to increase awareness and interest in The American Bucking Bull.

Speaking of The American Bucking Bull, the new magazine has a new name. Yep you guessed it,
The American Bucking Bull. How fitting!

Like many of you, I was a bit uneasy at the idea, but then again change is.....well strange sometimes. What I can tell you today as I sit here writing to you is that I whole-heartedly know this is just what the industry needs-A higher level of promotion for the breeder and definitely more promotion of The American Bucking Bull. You all know how I feel about these buckers and how badly I'd like to see them promoted to an even greater degree.

We've heard for years that the official publication that showcases our bucking bovines was going to be available on newstands and through select retailers. Today I know that's a tangible and likely reality under the USBBA. So far the ideas and future plans to promote our buckers and breeders through the USBBA have really blown my mind and that's hard to do!

Also, we all know where the future of anything lies. With our youth. That being said, there are big plans to increase youth involvement in the bull industry and again I think the plans are pretty amazing.

So, what does this mean for Bull Pen Magazine subscribers and ABBI members? It means sit back and enjoy receiving your first issue of The American Bucking Bull. How about you advertisers? Well an advertising staff is quickly being assembled. Everything you were enjoying, expect to enjoy it even more. The things that erked you? They are being addressed and we are positive these changes will be good.

So, who's doing what?

Thankfully I can say that Susan Bedford who has dedicated herself to this sport for over 15 years and served as Bull Pen's Editor and V.P. will be The American Bucking Bull Magazine Editor in Chief. This fact alone gets me excited because I know where her heart is....with the bulls! She's also pretty crafty and I know quality will be the first order of business.

I'm also super excited to say that I will get to keep doing what I do. I have accepted the position of Assitant Editor in Chief and I couldn't be more thrilled! I've loved bucking bulls since I was a kid, but over the last eight years have grown to love them more than even I knew I could. The bulls and this business are one of the most fascinating things I've ever been involved in. The breeders are amazing and I've grown to love them and respect what they do more than you can imagine. The bulls are the first thing I think about when I get up and usually the last thing I think of before I fall asleep so this is pretty awesome for me.

I hope you all know how hard we will be working for the breeder, the bull fans and most importantly The American Bucking Bull. Wish us luck....aww never mind. We will be making our own luck from now on! But one thing we can't get enough of is your support!

Best Bull Wishes!
Sugar

For Advertising Questions:
susan@americanbuckingbull.com
sugar@americanbuckingbull.com

Inside Scoop on Networking in Vegas

2009-10-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

Whether you have a huge breeding program or a hobby sized breeding program, everyone knows the best, free tool is NETWORKING. Sure you can try to hatch your computer tweetin', bloggin', facebookin', myspacin, forum fightin and Bull Buzzin'', but at the end of the day in-person contact is what really makes the difference in our game.

There are a multitude of awesome opportunities to network just around the corner. World Finals in Las Vegas is quite possibly the best place to network of the entire year. Everyone is excited and usually in a playful mood thanks to the environment.

Most of the breeders stay at the South Point Hotel & Casino, so in the off hours that's where to go if you are a "seeker". I'd recommend late evenings at the blackjack tables and at the cocktail lounge if you know what I mean. LOL :) By this time of night the edge is off, nobody's stressed and the "layed-back" environment is conducive to making new acquaintances. You'll find the vast majority of our ABBI breeders polite, friendly and more than happy to talk shop.

If you're up for some Tricks and Treats, come out to boost your brainpower at the ABBI Breeder Seminar on Halloween day from 9-11 am at the South Point in the Sonoma Room A. There are always a ton of topics and just as many accomplished professionals that speak on various subjects that are pressing to our industry. This is one of my favorite events of the year and a great time to get questions answered by those in the know in areas like nutrition, vet care and breeding.

Your next networking opportunity is on Monday after the Futurity Long Go. Bull Pen Magazine is having their annual BASH party sponsored by Best of the West Sale and The Hard Rock Cafe. It's a really fun opportunity to get together and enjoy everyone's company. There's also a meet and greet with some of the PBR riders at this gala and live music by James Intveld. There's always a lot of "bull" in the air at this party guys so come-a-runnin' to the Hard Rock Cafe on Nov. 2 @ 8 pm.
To view event flyer:
http://www.bullpenmagazine.com/downloads/bash%20invite%20for%20websites.pdf

Another great networking place during World Finals is Contractor Alley at the Mandalay Bay. It's a great place to learn about some of the top breeding programs in the business and about the ABBI and the USBBA if your a fan or interested in getting involved in the industry.

If you don't make some new key contacts while in Vegas maybe they'll do a "Seminar" on it next year! :) All kidding aside, Las Vegas and World Finals is definitely the place to be if you feel the need to NETWORK.

For full World Finals schedule of events: http://www.abbinow.com/content.aspx?ID=11

Hope to see you there Networking up a storm, VEGAS-STYLE!

Brain on Bulls...Any Questions?

2009-09-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

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

Last Minute Hustle & Final Finish

2009-09-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

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!

Bull Short Hand for Twitter Followers

2009-09-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2009-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

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

VEGAS-Cards R Not the Only Thing Being Shuffled

2009-09-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

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