howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!
I hope ya'll aren't too tired of the bull riding series to read about one
more extraordinary professional bull rider by the name of Maggie
Parker. She's the only professional female bull rider that we have.
There are only 35 pro bull riders period(gee I wonder why) so it's
a small club.
There ARE a growing number of female bull riders though, but
the sport is not exactly exploding in growth for the females. Is
anyone in my audience saddened by this fact?
here is a group at an amateur rodeo:
source
I don't know what you have to do to earn that bull patch on your shirt
but I bet it ain't pretty. These women are tough, I gotta hand it to
them. If you haven't seen my previous posts about the dangers of bull
riding here are a few reminders:
source
source
source
this is painful to look at:
That top photo freaks me out. The height that these bulls can get up
to is astounding. Of course, they've been breeding them for years to
be the biggest, meanest, most athletic bulls in the world and they
prove it in these rodeos.
Okay well now that you see how crazy dangerous the sport is, you can
see why there are only 35 riders in the professional ranks, 34 cowboys
and 1 cowgirl... Maggie Parker. She was living in Michigan when a
friend took her to see a rodeo and she was hooked.
source
She moved to Texas(smart move) to work on ranches so she could
learn to be a cowgirl and that's exactly what she did, came as a
teenager and by the time she was 20 she reached her pro status.
Maggie's also broken alot of bones including her back twice! The last
time it was a broken vertebra. Just millimeters away from paralyzing
her but she did make a full recovery.
source
Her story is an interesting one. Unlike Myrtis Dightman from my last
series who was riding against racism and to prove that black cowboys
were just as good as white cowboys, Maggie isn't riding to prove any-
thing. She isn't a feminist and isn't trying to prove that cowgirls are
just as good as cowboys.
She just loves to ride, it's what she wants to do. And she's good too
with an average riding percentage of 35-40% which is the national
average for men. So while some women might see her as riding for
girl power and all that, she isn't. She does admit to being addicted
to the excitement, the crowds, the traveling and the lifestyle of a
professional bull rider however. I can see that.
And I kind of like the idea that she isn't out there trying to get other
girls and women on those monsters! By the way, as far as just strictly
looking at the money, professional bull riders make really good
money. And earn every penny!
I have no idea if their medical bills are covered by the Professional
Bull Riders Association but I would hope so because they spend alot
of time recovering from injuries.
Well guys that wraps up my series on professional bull riders, I hope
it was interesting and a little entertaining. By the way, as mentioned
in my last post..the bulls are pampered, very well cared for and are
also treated like stars!
They are worth a fortune and their owners make a bloody fortune
breeding them so that there can be even more big, mean, deadly
bulls! lol.
Thanks for reading folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy Texas
the gentleman redneck
ps- ya know...you might just be a redneck if:
The tobacco chewers in your family aren't just men!
When my kids were little, we would go to a rodeo when it came to town. I can remember the only women were usually the barrel-racers; maybe a rodeo clown... but I cannot recall ever seeing a female bull-rider.
howdy goldendawne! yes Ma'am there probably wasn't any. But I don't recall ever seeing a female clown either, that's pretty impressive because another crazy occupation too!
So watching those riders didn't make you want to get a horse or become a cowgirl?
yes yes yes....
i did the 1st comment on your post
haha! yes you did anon9 you're very quick, thank you so much for reading and commenting!
You are welcome
@janton
This makes me think of the ancient Minoans and their "bull leaping", very cool pictures, looks like some awesome brave people and good fun. =) Very nice photos too.
Here you can see the Minoans giving it a try!
image source
oh my gosh friendly-fenix! ha! and I thought we invented bull riding, that is really amazing! thank you for sharing that! how did you know about that?
@janton
I am really into ancient cultures, religon and spirituality... The bull was worshipped and maybe what you are doing now in Texas is related to these ancient practices somehow... What do you think?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_bull
Sacred bull
Numerous peoples throughout the world have at one point in time honored bulls as sacred. In Sumerian mythology, Marduk is the "bull of Utu". In Hinduism, Shiva's steed is Nandi, the Bull. The sacred bull survives in the constellation Taurus.
howdy again friendly-fenxi! well as far as our bull riding here, it was started in the late 1800's during the old Wild West Shows where cowboys would demonstrate their roping and riding abilities but they wanted to draw more attention and excitement so they started riding bulls and that's how it started here.
But hey, they could start a bull leaping event too!
Maybe this is what Carl Jung talks about with certain archetypes, maybe the whole bull leaping/bull riding, is something engraved in our genetic memory or collective-subconscious... Like something that certain daring humans who are around bulls, just spontaneously likes to do for some weird reason...
/FF
haha! well that would be an interesting study to do, I think you should start working on that! But I don't think I would ever spontaneously do bull leaping or riding! lol. but i guess I can't say for sure because I'm not around them!
nice post and how are you?
haha! I'm fine. right now I'm thankful I'm not a professional rodeo bull rider. how are you?
Wow... she is one tough cookie. I admire her for chasing her dream... but it just looks like a really easy way to get yourself killed very young to me. That said, you could probably say the same about most adventure sports I guess! Fab post!! E x
oh howdy there eveningart! so good to hear from you.. Yes Ma'am I have to admire her too because even these serious injuries didn't stop her. I took her 6 months to heal up from the last broken back but she got back into the riding circuit.
When I was researching this post there were 2 teenage writers who got killed by bulls, one got kicked in the chest and one got bucked off and kicked in the head.
thanks so much for reading and commenting. I'm safe to assume that you'd never get on one of those 2,000 lb monsters? lol.
That's some crazy shit there; I'd never get on a bull like that, I'd never get on a bull full stop, I prefer motorcycles, although you can come off of one of them pretty hard if you're not careful...
haha! yes motorcycles can be harmful as well but you don't get on them expecting to be thrown! good point Wales! I think you might enjoy one of the big rodeos, they're very entertaining, especially the bull riders! lol.
I could live without that kind of excitement...
hahaha! you have enough excitement in your life cecicastor! well I can see everything except getting on the bull! I could work at setting things up or working the sound or lights or something.
Interesting and very entertaining. That third picture....wow. Great action picture picks! These folks, guys and gals, are lucky they don't break their neck. Look at the way she is falling in that last picture!
I know! well I know that isn't where she broke her back because they said she had her helmet on which probably saved her life but she did fall on her head when she broke her vertebra, just amazing. thanks so much for commenting!
I'd say men are afraid to go on a date with her! There would be nothing left!!
😂. On a serious note, id say she's one tough cookie. Fair play to her!
howdy today blanchy! yes I agree, she's alot tougher than she looks, no one would believe she's a bull rider from just looking at her in street clothes. thanks for reading and commenting!
Even though she is not trying to prove anything, I think it is implied :) And although your post does not say so, it still proves that some women can be as tough as men :) I would love to watch bull riding but it would probably be traumatizing to see someone get hurt in the process. It makes me cringe imagining it.
howdy sir leeart! yes it is not a sport for everyone just like the Matadors and bull fighting. Women are just as tough as men and I was going to say that but forgot! lol.
Tough women. They are more manly than I am. And I’m 6’ 4” and muscular. I don’t see myself doing that lol.
haha! they're more manly than I am too cosmiccrimes! yeah in this case I think the old saying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" is correct. I think most cowboys are smaller and wiry and can land nimbly. thanks for reading and for your comment!
My hats off to those women.
yes sir cosmiccrimes! I agree because men wouldn't even dare such a thing.
lol right.
Always interesting posts @janton. i suppose when she is too old for this she could become a stunt woman. Being a housewife will be too boring for her.
howdy this evening sir cryptoandcoffee, that's very good thinking because a stunt woman get work for alot longer than bull riders and there is still the adrenaline rush and she'd be around be productions. very good point sir!
hahaha I tried chewing tobacco once ... very quickly spit it back out :) That's about as redneck as I get lol
Men or women, I think they're all a little crazy, hopping on the backs of those beasts! I'll tell you what irritates me though, the picture of the line up of those girls; why is their backsides to us? Can you imagine a row of cowboys doing that pose?:) Wouldn't happen, I don't think.
howdy today Lynn! so good to see you here. well...the line up of girls, I don't know who posed them that way, it was an associated press photo, they didn't look like they were being forced to and I didn't even think about their pose until you said something.
is that offensive? should I take it out?
no no not offensive at all @janton; and it's something most people wouldn't notice (guys especially), and that's not a slam either. I think we are culturally so used to seeing things that we just don't notice, but like I said, could you imagine a line-up of male bull riders like that? Seriously. Could you? because perhaps I'm off altogether 😅 It's been known to happen haha
oh no, not about this anyway! lol. No the men would never pose like that ever of course! how's it going for you this week? slow start huh? It's almost Wed I guess you shouldn't even try. That's okay, we understand, this can just be another semi-retired week for you. we all love you anyway and some of us even put up with you.
I've taken enough psychology courses to realize that's fear in your voice @janton 😎
hahaha! dream on! where did you get those classes someplace in socialist Canada? hahahaha!
Classic deflection @janton 😎
ROFL I saw the picture and thought the same thing. WTH if your going to show you arse take off some of that gear. That's the fault of the person taking the pictures. Those girls lined up to show the patch not be exposed like that. SHitiiy thing there to include the magazine.
Thanks @wolfhart! See @janton, it's not just me😎 but again, don't take it out ... it's not "offensive", just made me go "hmmm"
they worked hard for that patch and proud to show it off. That's what they lined up for. but that was deceitful
Don't get me wrong. I will check out a nice arse. @assman007a here :)
hahaha @wolfhart, nothing wrong with a nice arse, and I'm guessing the girls knew what they were doing as well. Just shows the differences still between men and women in 'sports' like this.
Random: I remember a guy from Canada making it on the David Letterman show years ago, simply because his name was Dick Assman lol
thank you sir Wolf, I agree.
yes Ma'am I see. I just looked at those patches not anything else but I see now. the girls were showing off the patches like Wolf said.
That's it exactly @janton 😅
well they are girls so you never know what they're going to do. especially bull riders. they probably do whatever they want.
haha I'm a girl and I don't even know "what they're going to do next" :)
Yep, I think those bull riders will do exactly as they please!!
How often do they have shows? Because if there’s only 35 people and some of them are out on recovery, I just don’t see how they could have them every weekend or whatever.
Ick, chewing tobacco.. My grandpa was a chewer and I didn’t like that smell. My husband also chewed before we started dating, and I told him he had to stop. He stilled chewed once in awhile for a couple years, but he has now quit for good.
ha! yes chewing is so nasty! and all the men used to do it. haha..bunch of filthy beasts!
I don't know how often they have rodeos, it's not like everyday but I've never looked up the schedules, I could go to the RCA site and get it probably, why..what do you care? lol.
were you a prosecutor or investigative reporter or something?
Now, Maggie will probably end up bringing more women to the sport of bull riding because she loves what she does, and is good at it, than someone who was in it for the agenda. Enthusiasm and love for anything is more infectious and more inspiring than doing it so a race or a sex or a nationality can have a representative in it. Not every woman is ever going to want to do this, just like every man isn't going to want to do it either. Even if it means I am the lone hold out. :)
sir Glen! does that mean you would never do it? maybe when I was younger I'd try one of those training bulls, you know because they have all these different classes and levels of bulls, danger levels...lol.
I would get on a beginner level bull, not the champion ones that can jump nine feet straight up! lol.
I agree though, her love for the sport is inpiring other girls. I say girls because it's a young, practically a kids sport. by the time they get to 25 they're almost retired from it!
They probably should. More limber when you're younger and potential to heal faster and without further complications, depending on the injuries, obviously. Still, I don't know if I'd be in favor of my granddaughter getting on a bull at any age, so there's that. Of course, at this point, she's kind of a daredevil, and would probably want to try it. :)
re: ride a bull
No, not really. I don't see the point. Nothing against rider or the bull. I'm just not that much of a thrill seeker. Don't like rollercoasters either. Or drops from heights.
hhhaha! you know how boring you sound? lol. no I hate the out of control feelings of rollercoasters. The bull riders...that's why there are thousand of professional rodeo cowboys and only 35 of them are bull riders!
Even THEY ain't that stupid! I guess I shouldn't call anyone doing that stupid but I think it's kinda stupid.
I'd say that there needs to be some kind of trait or skill or desire to make someone get on one of those, and hopefully there's a healthy dose of respect for the bull too. But there's probably some things like wanting to prove you can do it, or that you're better than the bull or some other rider, the accolades and admiration of the crowd, the money, the belief you won't get hurt or killed—there's got to be some mixture of some or all of that.
I don't have that mix. At this stage in my life, I don't want that mix. I wouldn't mind getting behind the wheel of Camaro SS or bigger and stopping on the gas, but I wouldn't get on a bull.
no sir I wouldn't either but there do has to be the mixture of those things you talked about that creates an addiction because when you get your back broke and know that you almost got paralyzed and you still have to do it?
that's something powerful, I'm sure her family tried to talk her out of it.
hey what to you know about The Alliance?
I've heard the name. That's it. I'm not even sure who to refer you too. Someone mention it to you or trying to recruit you? It may be a writing community of some kind with it's own set of standards you have to meet to get in. That's about it. I see some people have the alliance graphic at the bottom of their blogs. I haven't really ever inquired. Why?
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STOPNo amount of money...I've seen what a mama cow can do. Let alone a crazy bull. Death isn't on my list of job side effects!
ahha! job side effects! lol. hey you only live once, put some thrills and danger in there for memories! Hey you know they have all kinds of levels of bulls, as far as danger levels. You could just get all suited up and they'd put you on the beginners level bull...and you just better pray they don't get them bulls mixed up! lol.
Oh my gosh what terrible injuries to sustain bull riding @janton. I am going to stick with walk and bike riding!
haha! I'm with you angiemitchell a bike is about as dangerous as I want to get!
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STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
I have always said that there is nothing more dangerous than the Female of the species! I tip my hat to this one, and freely admit that she is tougher than I am!
WOW Girl, be careful; more importantly, enjoy the ride!
:)sir smithlabs I couldn't agree more, maybe when I was younger I'd get on one of the trainer beginner bulls but not on a championship bull!
With age comes wisdom, ROFLOL! Or some sembalance of wisdom anyway (being Texan, LOL)!
:)well yes sir smithlabs we have to make certain adjustments for people in different regions of the country. yes sir, you are so right.
I am Right? I have to write this down on the calendar. This could start a trend....
:)yes you're right about something, don't let it get to your head!
I'd go tell Debbie, but she wouldn't believe me, LOL!
:DSo I better just put it the Calendar, ROFLOL!Looks pretty rough. An old saying springs to mind
You play with the Bull until you get it's horn up your ass
Never been to a Bull-Ride before. Do they do it for the money, the love of the Sport or to 'prove their worth' as a Cowboy/Girl?
Wondering what the longevity is for this sport too?
haha! great saying but these guys sure ain't playin with these monsters, they've been bred to be killers so they have alot of respect for them.
As far as motivation, Maggie Parker admitted that she was addicted to the excitement, the lifestyle, crowds and traveling, the whole experience.
But they make really good money so that is a big part of it for some of them. The longevity is short, if you're 30 you're definitely retirement age but I doubt if most make it that long.
thanks so much for reading and commenting!
I have to say I didn't think I could love bulls (and cows) anymore than I already do (being a Taurus of course LOL) but I now do. Hey I don't think I have ever told you, or Steemit for that matter, that Cows are my favorite animal. They always have been. Just figured now is a great time to share. and...right on to Maggie - you go girl~!!! <333
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ha! you don't think she's crazy like everyone else does? she came so close to being paralyzed. I grew up raising cattle and cows, milked cows every morning and evening.
so everyone else is shocked at these killer beasts and those photos make you like them even more???
Exactly Cowboy! I admire her fearlessness and seeing just how high a bull can jump inspires me. This Taurus is gonna be the Cow that flew over the moon LMMFAO! <333 :)
haha! well okay Taurus are bulls and they don't come any more fierce or determined than the 2,000 pound rodeo bulls!
and beautyfull LOL
source
This comment was made from https://ulogs.org
hahhaha!
right I couldn't resist that one. there were a few that I really liked and even a couple gifs that made me horrified & even cry. I will spare you the awfulness that I endured LOL
@janton....I want you to know that I sincerely appreciate your prayers and I can already feel & see a difference. I was going to DM you but I haven't entirely figured that out yet...I went to send you a friend request thing in discord and it told me I got your handle wrong...can you please send me a request so we can link up? Ty again and much love 😊 (look at that! @jerrytsuseer taught me how to do proper emoji's today! YAY~! Ty again Jerry!!!)
ok I asked you something on discord
Just wrote back 😊
Not at all saddened by the fact! Rather puzzled actually. While I guess some really like the adrenalin rush I don't think you can be too sane to get into this .... um ... sport. Whether a man or a woman!
haha! I know buckaroo, I almost hesitated calling a sport also but it is, just not the typical type. It does take something special to get on those things and apparently it becomes addictive but I don't think I could get addicted to it. I don't need any more excitement do you?
No sir! I'm sure it's an adrenal rush. I'd rather get my buzz having a cup of coffee
ahaha! I'm very boring I guess. I get excited enough just by having my coffee sitting in the shade listening to the birds.
I really admire her , I hope there is more women who take up this sport ( is it classed as a sport I don't know ) I am glad she recovered from that injury x
but winchestergirl doesn't it bother you to see them get hurt? why would anyone want risk their life or paralysis on a sport? yes it is classified as a sport. I'm not disagreeing with you and I admire her, I just don't understand it. how did you like those wild pictures of those bulls jumping about 9 feet straight up??!!!
why yes of course it bothers me that there get hurt , but at the end of the day there know what there getting into , like boxing I don't understand why there do that as there is a big chance there can get seriously hurt , even brain damage , I don't like it but its there choice and if there is a audience and a need for it , it will still go on. as for the pictures there were awesome , who took them was it you ? I forgot to ask x
howdy winchestergirl! yes I agree it's something we don't understand and the analogy to boxing is a great one, thanks for coming up with that!
the photos:
No these were mostly from a newspaper in Wyoming, do you know which state that is here? anyway they have alot of rodeos up there, it's also cowboy country.
without cheating - no I don't !!
oh well it's one of our Northwestern states, straight North of Texas about a thousand miles and turn West. beautiful country, sparsely populated, very cold winters. I could live there though.
sounds quite nice and it would be quiet x
Yeah, we Michigan women can be pretty tough at times. :)
haha! tough and a little crazy? do you think that's nuts or just brave?
Well, all bravery can look like "nuts" to an outsider. I mean, having babies unmedicated at home looks like nuts and bravery, but it's not particularly either if you've been there.
In this case, though...I think she might be brave and nuts. Once you've broken your neck, it would seem like just walking would be too precious an ability to risk again.
I couldn't agree with you more lturner..she broke her back twice so that's getting to a point that I can't comprehend it! lol. so that's what I think too, a little nuts and brave!
They sure do look better in chaps!
ahhaha! yes sir but some would call that ..what? not a racist comment but something like that..oh a sexist comment that;s it! lol. but I agree. I was just looking at those patches they were showing off and then someone else thought it was bad that they were made to pose like that but I hadn't even noticed.
I don't think it was really posed...much....
i am waiting for you next beautyfull post.
oh thanks well today I didn't have any time so my post today is a simple one but thank you so much.
you are most welcome :)
Hi @janton. Those people are crazy. Both the men and the women. That’s one dangerous sport. We have a professional rodeo clown that has now retired, but his son is now a clown too. They have both taken a beating. You have to admire their tenacity.🐓🐓
howdy this fine Friday mother2chicks! I agree but also admire their courage. but yeah rodeo clowns take a beating too and you don't hear as much about them guys, they're crazy brave too.
do you have any idea how much they make? better be good money!
Pretty brutal stuff. I would be worried about my neck for sure.
yes sir I agree. I think it's crazy but at the same time I have to admire her! she's much braver than I am that's for sure, thanks for stopping by sir, I see alot of your posts and they are really interesting, many times with great scenery!