BrokenB

First the history... then the lessons :-)

The Mechanical bull was created by Fred Wagenhals for the movie Urban Cowboy.

Mechanical bulls have been in circulation for quite some time as a training device, as they enable a bull rider to enhance rodeo performance and refine skills without the risk and unpredictability of a live bull. The commercial use of mechanical bulls gained popular appeal with the release of the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy. Some folks started using them for amusement, and they were in a few bars, most notably Gilly's in Texas. With the movie "Urban Cowboy" came immense popularity and they were being used from Newport Beach to New York City. The mechanical bull featured in this movie was the El Toro brand of mechanical bull. This brand of mechanical bull is still in circulation, but does not carry the same safety features that are available on more current models.

Back in the 1970's, most mechanical bulls were manufactured by the El

Toro Company. Since rodeo cowboys were used to getting thrown around and landing on the ground, no one worried too much about the speed of the machine, padding on the ground, etc. The El Toro had two speeds: off and on. The bull started at full speed and stayed there. There were no air bags like today, maybe a little hay or a few mattresses or nothing. There were a lot of injuries. The danger of the machine, the lack of a soft landing and intoxicated riders and even operators were the culprits. Some companies were sued out of existence. Insurance was almost impossible to come by, and mechanical bulls all but left the entertainment scene. In the 90's several manufacturers came out with hydraulic powered machines that were totally variable in speed, both in the bucking and spinning motion. They added a better, rounded, padded body design. They also provided a continuous pressure air bag, like the air bags used by stuntmen in Hollywood. Insurance is now easily obtainable, though still not cheap, and most operators have never had a client injured. Operator training is now being more formally provided with some insurance companies requiring written training protocols for all operators.

Today You can still get hurt, but the chances are very slim; much less than back in the 70's and 80's. You can start off really slow and operators are good enough now to be able to gauge how fast to get you bucking. Then when you do get bucked off, it's onto a huge air mattress for a soft landing. Nothing close to what the real cowboys feel when they hit the dirt!

Go from beginner to pro with a few quick tips.

"Home of the Boys & Bulls Series"

As seen above and below there is an older "Bungee" style where people stood at 4 corners and pulled to change the ride at their own accord.This style made it much more random then the mechanical bull. Above could be one of the most creative mechanical bulls (or should we say barrels) ever made.

Click on the photo to watch the Cowboy Troy Video on You Tube

Now for the tips...

To ride the mechanical bull there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to impress your friends...

1. Drink Plenty of Alcohol. You're not going to want to feel it right away if you collide with anything on the bull. You'll be able to tough it out until you sober up.

2. Recognize your crowd. Notice any hot girls (aka "yummies," if using todays correct vinacular)? If so the goal is to ride hard regardless of whether or not you get rocked off. You will either have a great ride or you'll get bucked off in style. Don't worry real cowboys get bucked off too. Or at least that's what you can tell your friends.

3. If/When you do get bucked off, be sure to limp away. Your lucky cause in this case you don't have to worry about getting up as soon as possible and high tailing it to the fence or behind a clown to evade the bull. He's not going anywhere. Limping or grabbing any body part (maybe not "any") will create a sympathy effect without making you look like a wimp. Special Note * When anybody asks if your ok, even if you're not, you always reply with, "yea i'm good." Don't milk it. Wait til you get home to yell or even cry.

4. A few things not to do?

a) For starters don't put your hand up until your going fast unless your a girl. It just doesn't look right when a guy is arching his back; hand up in the air, when the bull is rotating/rocking at the speed of a glacier.

b) Don't wave at people while you're riding. Your not 8 yrs old on the ferris wheel for the first time. You are riding a bull. One of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Sign autographs afterwards.

This is Ryan at Daisy Dukes.

Click the Play Button to watch

how to get bucked off in style!