It was the summer of 1994, and I was in Creedmore, NC and had drawn a bull named Black Jack in the amateur round. I had to ride without a protective vest and chaps because I could not afford them, and no one wanted to loan me their vest, so I rode without one.  All the cowboys behind the bucking chutes heard that I drew Black Jack and they were talking about how rank he was, and that meant I would have my hands full.

I was risking a lot by straddling the black bull because I had been working a steady job for a few weeks as head of shipping and receiving, and I liked it.  Things were going well, but I learned there was a bull riding in Creedmore, and I just had to go there and ride; I was not ready to give up on my dream to make it to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.  So, when I got off of work that day, I went home, grabbed a bite to eat, threw on my wranglers, my boots, a long sleeve shirt, my cowboy hat,  gathered my rope, bull bell, spurs and leather glove and I was off.  It took about an hour or more to get to the arena which was in the middle of nowhere; however, there was always a good crowd on hand.

This was not the first time I had ridden in Creedmore, but it was a great place to get experience because they had an amateur round for up and comers.  This would be the second time I had ridden in Creedmore, and this was the third time I had ridden a bull.  My boss said he was going to come watch me ride which I thought would be cool having someone I knew in the crowd cheering me on.  I also had some bull riding friends who encouraged me to have no fear when it came to riding bulls, but I still had some butterflies.

When my mother found out I was going bull riding she was not happy with me, and before I left she said “Don’t break your arm.”  I was excited to ride as the time drew near.  The weather was beautiful as there was a light breeze and the sun was setting as the American Flag was hoisted above the bucking chutes.  It was around nightfall when they ran Black Jack into the chute.  I stepped on his back to let him know I was coming to straddle his back.  As I sat on Black Jack, I got my rope ready and had a friend pull my rope for me; I had the rope tight in my hand when Black Jack tried to get me off his back, so I let go of the rope, and the chute boss and my friends and even other cowboys were yelling at me because it took more time to get me out of the chute… haha!

The chute boss wants things to run fast and smooth at a bull riding or rodeo, but it does not always work out that way when dealing with livestock.  I finally got settled in, and I gave the gate man a nod to let us out.  Black Jack came blowing out of the chute bucking high and belly rolling; he was indeed rank, but I stayed with him jump for jump.  During the ride, my hat started to fall off, and I grabbed it and held it in place; that meant I was disqualified because the rider is not allowed to touch the bull or his or her body.

After I grabbed my hat, Black Jack turned left and I stayed on for a few more jumps and made the 8 seconds, but then Black Jack threw me into the air and I landed awkwardly.  I got up as fast as I could and climbed the fence to safety while they let Black Jack back in the pen.  I automatically held my left arm up to my chest because it did not feel right; it hurt a little, but the adrenaline from the ride overwhelmed me.  As I was on the fence, I noticed a lady looking at me, so I just smiled at her because I was having the time of my life.

I started to walk across the arena when my bull riding friends came out to greet me, and they were all happy for me even though I was disqualified, and one of them asked me why I grabbed my hat?  I just smiled and yelled out, “It’s a new hat!”  I told them I think my arm is broken.  My boss got there late but saw me walking across the arena right after I rode.  I had to tell him I probably would not be at work tomorrow because I had to go to the doctor, and he said okay.

The next day my mother took me to the doctor where I got x-rays on my left arm; as it turned out I had broken my arm in two places: in my forearm and in my elbow.  It may not have hurt that bad when I broke it, but it sure hurt through that night and for the next several weeks.  I had to wear a cast from my wrist to past my elbow, and I had to wear a sling.  It was a pain in the neck, literally, and it still hurts sometimes to this day, but that is just the way it goes.

The best thing about that night was when I went to get a drink at the concession stand after I rode, and this older gentleman saw me and said, “Hey cowboy!”  I knew then I was living my dream; even though I did not know what would happen at work.  I will tell you what happened at work: my boss had to move me from shipping and receiving to the production line, and that was fine, but wearing that cast in the summer and working with one hand was not for me, so I ended up moving back to Concord, NC where I kept my dream alive.  Black Jack was not my last ride in Creedmore, but it was a great experience for a greenhorn like me; I will never forget that night.

Take care and God bless!

Chris