What A Ride, What A Rush

FJN Sports Editor Taybor Miller Chronicles His First Experience Entering A Bull Riding Competition During the Jefferson County Fair in July, FJN Sports Editor Taybor Miller, who has been around a farm his whole life, decided to seek the thrill of riding a bull for the first time. This is his chronicle of what it is like riding a few thousand pounds of fury. Bull Riding: Journal: First RideFriends running into each other in a town as they’re watching the sport of bull riding in front of them is how it all started.Following the exchange of pleasantries of “how you been?” and “what’s new?” and as simple as my friend Kane nonchalantly saying, “It’s a shame I’ve got to work tomorrow, otherwise I’d be riding tonight.”Turning to Kane in a state of bewilderment and asking, “You’ve got the gear for it and you’ve been bull riding before?”A confirmation on the gear, how many times they’ve done it, seeing the video evidence of their best and worst ride they’ve recorded and then a question was returned, “Would you want to do it, if I let you borrow my gear?”It’s not something I’ve been asked too often, in fact I’d probably only need one hand to count the times, but if someone would ask if the thought to attempt riding a bull ever crossed my mind I would say, yes.The driving force behind wanting to be riding a bull?Honestly since saying yes to that idea I’ve been wondering the same thing. So in doing research as if the tips people could read online or in a book would save them from the worst outcomes, I found time to reflect on the life I’ve lived because in eight seconds it might be done with after.Any rider who gets on a bull knows that, and anyone whose never done it can tell you the same thing it’s the most dangerous eight seconds in sports. Maybe it was that uncertainty and the challenge that comes with bull riding that was pushing myself to do this. Could be seeking an adrenaline rush or wanting to prove that I’m a country boy, I can face a fear, though I’d never imagined I’d be taking myself seriously to say yes to the idea.It’s one thing to watch it on TV, it’s a different level to see it in person, but to actually do something like bull riding is hard to fathom. Ask someone whose been bull riding plenty of times and it’s no big deal, bones heal, bumps and bruises come and go.Tell a co-worker you’re going to do some bull riding and you’ll get a response along the lines of, “You’re stupid and it’s been nice knowing you.”So when asked if I wanted to ride a bull, it was the simple thought of actually finally having gear that is designed to protect the riders and with that seemingly being enough, it was as all I needed to know as I responded, “If you’ll let me borrow that, then I’m all for some bull riding.”Immediately my mind is filled with all these thoughts that are going through my head at light-speed, but as the thoughts are interrupted as my friend would say, “Honestly you hold on tight, react and before you know it you’re running because it’s over.” Easy to say for someone whose done it, but those words were what I needed as a sense of relief and overwhelming gut feeling told me that I had to go through with this at that moment.As a sports editor and growing up around sports my entire life from the perspective of competing, being a spectator and son of parents whom had taken up coaching in numerous sports, I’ve either participated or watched every known sport to people in some form or another. There are some exceptions to participating in some sports, and bull riding is one of them, for a moment it was.A week out from riding a bull and it had been the main focus I had on my mind since saying yes. Watching all that I could and reading to learn and understand that bull riding is not a fight, but a dance. The best riders anticipate the animal’s actions and move in sync with the bull, appearing to be in complete control, but they’re not. So with five days left, after telling friends and family about the experience that’ll be coming to fruition in due time.Many asked have I practiced on anything, or done anything similar to get a feel. Aside from riding a mechanical bull, friends and I had been unable to get someone to lend us some cattle to practice with so essentially, I was going into riding a bull for the first time totally new to it all. As nervous as I was, the excitement in my gut kept building. The only thing I was hoping for was to have a ride that lasted longer than people’s expectations.What those expectations were was to each of their own, but the bottom line of all those would be to see if I’m able to walk away from the whole ordeal. With three days out, I had reserved a spot, double checked on borrowing the gear, and everything was a go. There’s no backing out, and in my mind I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I didn’t go through with this.I had been thinking about two important people in my life that won’t be there to see me go through this experience in person, and it’ll be on mind the day of because they were the type to throw themselves into anything all in with an energy that was infectious, but I know they’ve got the best seats and would be encouraging me to go out, have a fun time, and remember to take in the moment.Well I took in that moment, closed my eyes, said another quick prayer for their help, and as I slid up on the bull shaking my head, with the gate-man knowing “yes, I’m ready, open the gate and lets go riding” I was hoping I’d remember this. Too often the moments pass faster than expected and before you know it’s over. I never would’ve guessed I’d find the courage to get on a bull’s back to go for the wildest ride of my life, but here I was. Single, young, and have no kids to worry about so if I was wanting to do something that’s reckless and dangerous I really don’t have a reason or anyone to tell me no.I guess if I had to boil it down to a reason, as a sports editor, I just didn’t feel right to be writing about a sport that I’ve never got to do and I needed to change that.I’m glad I did because that was something else. Sure I didn’t last as long as I had hoped, but for a first time riding a bull, I’m just happy that I followed through with something while being able to walk away relatively unscathed.However, after doing that and being able to reflect on everything that happened in that time span of waiting for that ride, I can say this: Rodeos are much like families, far from perfect, there will be bickering, nagging, encouragement, support, jokes, and much more. The atmosphere very sibling rivalry in the sense you want to see someone do the best they can, but you’re going to do better than that.Age diversity and experience was humbling as I had met a 15-year-old bull rider, a year-and-a-half into the circuit. Some just turned 18 but had been riding for six years already, and some even longer. Plenty of stories to tell, scars to show, but all-in-all a willingness to get on a beast and be ready to go. They told me once I’m done with my first ride I’ll either never want to do that again, or that fire to go again will grab a hold of me.I can confidently say that ride won’t be my last as I’m too competitive with myself to not see how much better I can get. My first bull ride was a fun learning experience that was happening so slow yet ended so quickly that I’m certainly looking forward to the next chance to do it again.

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