Scott AFB, IL -- The last ride
As the months began to close in on the finals of the rodeo riding season, I knew in my mind what I was about to do.
Last year was not one of my best years but, all in all, it was good. I was riding well, but I could tell it was at that point where all bull riders come to--the crossroads in their riding career to either keep going or hang up the rope.
I made myself promise years ago that by age 45 I would retire and hang up my rope unless I was in the Top 10 of the World. In that case, I would maybe go on for about three to five more years, tops.
I made some goals and, of those, there were only two that I did not achieve: Ride at the World Professional Bull Riding finals, and qualify for the Top 45 Bull Riders in the World.
Over all, I am very happy with my riding career, as I did get a chance to ride the 1999 World Champion Bull in 2000, this was a dream I had wanted to fulfill.
In 2002, I got to ride in the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo, in Tulsa, Okla. That same year I qualified for the Central Region Finals of the IPRA (International Professional Rodeo Association) and ended up placing 10th in the region.
The last five rides
The first three of my final rides were in California last July. The first two rides were good ones, but not as good as I wanted them to be, and I didn’t score as high as I wanted. However, the last ride that weekend was not good at all.
I ended up getting bucked off and stepped on right in the chest. If it had not been for my protective vest I would be dead now.
I had to go to the hospital after arriving back in Missouri. At that point I was told by the doctor that I had to sit out for six to eight weeks. When I got the OK from my doctor to ride again in September, I started working out and preparing to ride in what I said would be my last ride.
I called in for a rodeo that would take place in Lake St. Louis, Mo. My family and friends all knew it would be my last one in bull riding. I knew it would be a two head deal (two Bulls) in one night. My mind was focused because I wanted this to be my best two rides ever before I went out in front of my family and friends.
As the Rodeo started, my mind went through what I call a shut down of all other things except making a good ride. At that point I don’t know what is going on around me except knowing what needs to be done.
After they put my first bull in the chute, I started putting my rope on him and slid down on to him. I called for the gate to open and the ride was on. I was sitting in fourth place after that ride with one ride to go. As they put my second bull in the chute, I knew that if I rode this one I could win the whole Rodeo.
As I called for the chute, I knew that this would be a much harder bull to ride than the first one. This one threw more at me, and the judge told me that he thought I was going to get bucked off within the first three seconds (out of an eight second ride). He didn’t get me until 7.5 seconds into it. He bucked me off and stepped on me putting me in the hospital for a week.
I was told that if I had lasted that last half second, I would have won. The ride caused me to have a bruised kidney, fractured ribs, and a collapsed lung. One heck of a way to hang up your rope, but I do miss it.
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