It might be something a few of us could get coaxed into doing, but most people would prefer to stay on the other side of a sturdy fence. Then, there are the bull riders of the world. Bull riders participate in one of the most dangerous sports in existence. This sport can be summed up as— “hanging on with one hand for eight seconds.” The catch is, what happens in those eight seconds could be the difference between life and death. Naturally, the outcome all depends on the bull you’re riding. The meaner the bull, the more difficult it is to hang on comfortably. The more difficulty and danger involved, the better the spectacle. That means crowds love a mean bull, and the meanest of bulls get a mythical reputation. Such was the case with the meanest bull in Texas Rodeo history, “Bodacious.” Let’s explore the bull’s mythical legacy and examine why he’s such a strong point of interest to many people.
The Roots of The Rodeo
Let’s learn a little about the context that allowed Bodacious to flourish as a rodeo bull. It might seem like the rodeo is just something that happens in rural America. The further south one goes in the United States; The more likely one is to get acquainted with big-time rodeos like the ones Bodacious participated in. Rodeos give off a “Wild West” vibe more than an ancient Olympic one. However, Bull sports go a long way back. We’re talking more than 5,000 years back.
Bulls of Antiquity
It’s hard to overstate the importance of bulls in human civilization, both in terms of utility and cultural significance. Five thousand years ago, even the Minoans had a rich culture involving bulls. They famously created the sport of “bull-leaping,” which is arguably more dangerous than bull riding. People still practice this today, and the goal of the sport is to get as close as physically possible to a charging bull without being gouged by its horns or bucked by its forceful frame. In doing so, the athlete leaps, flips, folds, and bends beautifully to the tune of an audience’s applause. These displays of danger likely happened ever since humans domesticated the aurochs, which is the species from which cattle descend. Cattle are domesticated animals, not reflecting the size or behavior of their ancestors. Aurochs were significantly taller and larger than modern cattle. Since the Stone Age, when we started domesticating these animals, bovine animals have been center points in our mythologies and religions. Many of the world’s religions, past and present, feature bulls and cattle significantly in their mythologies. The practices of the Minoans may very well have been the roots of European bullfighting which can be traced back to Rome well before the Common Era. The point is a bull-like Bodacious would have been revered at nearly any time in history. His aggression and style were symbolic of the virtues and natural beauty that bulls have come to symbolize for many cultures. Bodacious was downright mean and nasty, which is why we’re still talking about him today.
Bull Riding History
While bull-related sports go way back into human history, bull riding as we know it stems directly from cattle ranching in Mexico. The skills of taming and rangling cattle evolved into the pastimes of Jaripeo and Charreria. Early iterations of these sports were more brutal than bull-riding, typically ending in the bull’s death. Jaripeo is a bull riding style from southern and central Mexico. It’s more than 500 years old, and the communities that practiced this sport often used it as a central and important cultural practice. In the early days, bulls were ridden to death. Today, bulls are ridden until they’re tired and stop thrashing. Charreria is a slightly broader and wider-practiced discipline that emerged around the same time as Jaripeo. It began by pushing livestock until death, but modern displays of Charreria are also much tamer than they once were. By the 1800s, the sport of charreada involved riding a bull until it gave up and ceased bucking. Before that, many bulls died during the events. These are the general origins of practices utilizing bulls for sport. Traditions surrounding these sports are unique depending on the region, the community, or the individual that practices them. Naturally, the culture of bull riding traveled wherever practitioners moved and lived. That meant things shifted northward over the course of a few hundred years, and that’s where the first rodeos started popping up.
From Then to Now
It’s not clear where the first “rodeo” really took place. The home of the rodeo is claimed by areas in Colorado and Wyoming, respectively. In any case, rodeos started around 1870 and evolved from competitions held by neighboring ranchers. The sports changed as they became more popular and palatable to large audiences. You can imagine how it might have gone: two neighboring ranchers seeing who could ride a bull for longer. Then, you needed someone watching to prove that you rangled a bucking bull. Naturally, the rest of the people in town wanted to witness the event; it sounded pretty entertaining. By 1935, rodeos were held under electric lights and could withstand large crowds. This was a turning point in the legitimacy of bull riding. Shortly after, in 1936, the Rodeo Cowboy Association emerged. It would later become the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association which is still a significant entity in the rodeo industry. It’s important to note that Jaripeo and Charreria are still popular sports in parts of Mexico and the United States. These are beloved pastimes for various cultures, and the events are still similar to rodeos in many ways.
The Greatest Bull Ever to Buck
“Bodacious” is a synonym for blatant, unmistakable, relentless, and impressive. In the case of the bull Bodacious, all of these terms come together to mean “unrestrained.” Bodacious was a yellow bull weighing 1,900 pounds. His muscles were clearly defined, making him look like an embodied Greek sculpture. His face even looked the part, dissipating any potential for the “cute cow” image. Instead, his eyes and nose painted the picture of an angry father protecting his children. Imagine walking in a field, only to spot a female grizzly bear and her cubs in the distance. Now, imagine the moment she recognizes you as a threat. The look she gives is the same one that Bodacious wore almost all of the time. Not only did he look the part, but he also played it naturally. Right out of the pen, he would leap and contort his body as though possessed by a rodeo demon.
Bovine Acrobatics
He would whip his massive frame in unthinkable ways, lifting his hindlegs so high above his forelegs that crowds could see his stomach point upwards. The force required to whip a 1,900-pound body in that way was never-seen-before. Bodacious would jump to incredible heights while straddling his wide and muscular back, a terrified human being would grip for his dear life. All who dared ride him were whipped off, and many of them had to go to the hospital afterward. The whiplash of Bodacious acrobatics wasn’t the most dangerous part. If you were lucky enough not to land on your neck, you were still cursed with a close-up view of the bull’s hooves and stomach heaving downward at your face. One misplaced movement could leave you with damaged internal organs, broken bones, or a cracked skull. This is the case with all rodeo bulls, but Bodacious took it to a new level. Much like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, or Babe Ruth, there was something special about Bodacious. It’s hard to define his power with words. The bull’s personality and physical power struck unprecedented fear and awe in the rodeo world.
A Sterling Bucking Record
There aren’t exact records on Bodacious’ career, but the best estimates claim that people rode him (or tried) around 135 times. His career spanned 6 seasons, running from 1992 through 1997. Note that a rider must stay on for eight seconds to achieve a “qualified ride.” If the rider falls before that time, they’re disqualified. Only the most skilled riders would dare to ride Bodacious. Of those talented riders, only three chose to ride him more than once. In 135 appearances, only about 10 riders made qualified rides. He was an excellent adversary. The numbers don’t tell the full story, though. It’s important to remember the sheer size, strength, and impression this bull left on riders.
The Meanest Bull in Texas Rodeo: Personality
We forget that cattle can recognize people—these intelligent animals with personalities with, good memories and strong emotions. It’s easy to imagine that bulls are simple animals without much going on between the horns. This is a convenient myth that we attribute to most forms of livestock. Reality tells us otherwise, and Bodacious is a perfect example of this. His personality contributed greatly to the way people revered him. Imagine you cross paths with two men who are both 7 feet and 9 inches tall. They’re both built like Olympians. The first man gives you a look and a gentle smile as he passes you on the street. You think, “I’d like to get to know that gentle giant. He seems like a good guy.” The second man gives you a similar look with a glance and a grin, only this one is different. The second look gave you the distinct impression that you should not bother this man. In fact, you feel this instinct deep in your gut. Further, you get the feeling that this was the way the second man wanted you to feel. The combination of size and grim intelligence leaves you feeling uneasy. Bodacious had the personality of the second man. It wasn’t just the size that made him scary, it was his aura. Riders report getting glances from him, knowing deeply that Bodacious understood the deal.
Awards & Legacy
Bodacious was taken out of the ring because his owner was afraid he might kill someone. He’d also been in the ring for a long time, and rodeo bulls don’t last forever. Bulls typically have a 5 to 10-year career. During that time, they’re looked after exceptionally well, especially if they’re successful. Their treatment isn’t very different from a human athlete upon whom big branding deals and ticket sales depend. Bodacious was sponsored by Skoal Tobacco and Dodge Ram at various points in his life. During his illustrious career, Bodacious achieved some of the highest honors that professional bull riding organizations offer.
Awards
PRCA Bull of the Year of the National Finals Rodeo for the 1992, 1994, and 1995 seasons
PCRA Bucking Bull of the Year for the 1994-95 season
1995 Professional Bull Riding World Champion Bull
ProRodeo Hall of Fame (1999)
Bull Riding Hall of Fame (2017)
Professional Bull Riding Brand of Honor (2019)
After Bodacious retired, he was nearly summoned back to the ring one more time. Terry Don West, a rider with an extremely rare 2-2 record against Bodacious, wanted to break their tie once and for all. Bodacious had been out of the ring for some time, but West recalls looking into Bodacious’ eyes and sensing that the bull still knew exactly what he was supposed to do. In his words, Bodacious was saying “Don’t get no closer. You’ll pay for it.” Unfortunately, West was injured on a ride a week before he was scheduled to ride Bodacious. From then on, Bodacious was permanently retired. He spent the rest of his days lounging in the pasture and producing many more little baby Bodaciouses that would go on to be trained as rodeo bulls. As for Bodacious himself, we’re sorry to say he’s no longer with his. It’s said that he’s bucking cowboys in the nightmares of cowboys around the globe.
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