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To earn a chance at the $10,000 one contestant must first earn the right to ride the legendary bull. The rider with the highest score Saturday night qualifies for that chance to ride the white and black speckled bull after the first round of competition is completed. With over 100 outs, no one has made a qualified ride on the 1,500 pound, 6 year-old bull. He is the only bull to ever go to all three finals in Las Vegas in one year. He is the 2008 Championship Bull Riding (CBR) Bull of the Year. He was the 2007 PRCA Bull of the National Finals Rodeo.
Tut Henry who deals with the bull on a daily basis has great respect for the temperamental animal. Tut said, “Until he was about 2 you could pet him like a dog then overnight, he decided to hook, suckered me in and, nailed me. Now I don’t turn my back on him. He is smaller than a lot of bucking bulls so I don’t pen him with the other animals. He has his own pasture.” Other traits of the bull include, being a finicky eater. Tut continued, “He’ll eat one kind of food one day and the next turn his nose up at it. He just never eats the same. He’s a spoiled eater and I constantly have to make sure I have something he likes. Some days you can put out 5 kinds of feed and he’ll make the decision to eat one that day. The next day he won’t eat what he liked the day before.” He continued, “The only time I really never worry about him hooking me now is when I load him in the trailer to travel or unload him after I get where we’re going. He seems content when he is going somewhere.”
Asked what his attitude in the arena is Tut explained, “He will hook anyone who gets in his way or sight. After he throws off a bull rider if the riders in his path he’ll nail him. Then, as if on cue, after bucking off the rider, and scattering the rider and bull fighters he makes a victory lap around the arena so the audience can get a good look at him. That usually sends bull fighters and photographers scrambling for a fence. He actually looks at the audience as he gallops around the entire arena fence before he leaves through the exit gate as if to say, “Yes it’s me. Yes I bucked off the best. Look at me, the champion bucking bull because here I am.” Tut explained, “(That strut and posturing) is not something you can teach a bull. He is just an exceptional bull with attitude and he sure lets everyone know it. He has a ton of fans.”
When asked by bull riders what’s the best way to handle him in the chute while preparing to ride, Tut tells bull riders who draw him, “At first he gets agitated in the chute. They just need to snug their bull rope and let him know they’re there. Then he’s okay to get out on and doesn’t usually fight the rider or waste energy in the chute, but make no mistake, he’s ready.”
Bull riders have their opinion about Cochise. There seems to be a consensus among most riders that he is “honest” meaning he doesn’t have tricks like belly rolls or is trying to get the rider in a position for him to head butt them. Most agree, he just bucks and bucks hard. Bull rider Tate Stratton currently ranked in the top 30 in the CBR and number 6 for a PRCA World Championship said, “I’ve never been on the bull but I’ve watched him buck a lot. He is just a bucker. Can be a bit touchy in the chute but that’s just because he’s nervous. When he comes out he tracks (has the same bucking pattern) the same every time. Guy’s (I’ve talked to) say he feels good, just real quick and explodes out of the chute. I would love to earn a chance to get on him at the George Paul and win $10,000 in bonus dollars.”
Bobby Paul, producer of the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding said, “When I saw Cochise buck in Las Vegas at the CBR World Championships I knew instantly I wanted Del Rio fans to see this great bull. Then I saw him again at Tuff’s event (the Tuff Hedeman Challenge) in Ft Worth in March and just wanted him to be in Del Rio that much more. I’m real glad that Tut, Tuff and I could work out a chance for Del Rio to see this great bull in person because, I understand this is the last year he’ll be on the road.”
Saturday night May 2, 2009, one bull rider will have a chance to get on a bull that has reputation, attitude, and confidence and makes an impact on riders and audiences. Cochise may not be the biggest bull in professional bull riding, but like a dangerous explosive, a big explosion usually will come in a tightly wrapped small package.
Two questions remain. Who will get a chance to ride him and will he? To find out the answers be at the 32nd George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, Saturday night, May 2, 2009. Title sponsor for the event is Ram Country Dodge in Del Rio, TX with co-event sponsors Budweiser and Fred Loya Insurance. The 32nd George Paul Memorial Bull Riding will be held Saturday, May 2, at 7:00 PM and Sunday, May 3, at 3:00 PM. Ticket information can be found on the webs sites georgepaulmemorialbullriding.com and CBRbull.com or, by calling the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding office at 830-775-9595, located at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds. Follow George Paul Memorial Bull Riding updates weekly. (By John Ludlum, 32nd George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. All rights reserved)
