Worshipping at the feet of bullriding marketers

[B.G.M_heidi]

I’ve watched many hours of pro bullriding and rodeo on tv here in Canada and it’s always impressed me how western sports have leap-frogged showjumping in its marketing, sponsorships, and prize money.

The advantage, however, of barrel-racing, bull riding, etc., is that it enjoys mass market appeal, cowboys are a part of American mythology, showjumpers are not. Showjumping is perceived as an elitist sport, western events are perceived as exciting events pitting man (stupid one at that, how you climb on a bull w/out a helmet baffles me) against beast. Even among pro barrel riders, the prize money is huge. There is a western event on television practically every night here in Canada. Equestrian events are broadcast on a weekly basis, perhaps, in the summer and monthly in the winter.

Like the sport or not - the marketers behind pro western events have succeeded where we have not.

[Kahuna]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Parminch:
Terri, Just wanted to tell you that Ed and I just came back from Las Vegas and the PBR finals! What a great bunch of guys. They really know how to put on a show. And even though my favorite did not win (Terry Don West ) or Ed’s (Chris Shivers) We loved watching Tater and the other 44 guys all five rounds!!!
We had so much fun and I “had” to buy beanie baby bulls of Red Wolfe, Dillinger and Rampage. Why didn’t anyone ever do a Gem Twist,or a Protocol or a Rox Dene beany horse? I stood in line to get those little rascals and when they retired the great bull Red Wolfe I got teary eyed … Just like a great show horse he is all HEART. Tell Murrey to keep up the good work. PBR is the Best.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just got back from PBR also and do they know how to put on a show! I think our show managers could learn a thing or two from this event. I had never watched it on TNN before I went out and now I am addicted!

Sounds like those of us who went to PBR had much more fun than those who went to Washington! I am already making plans for next year!

[Kennett_Square]

VTrider,

Please enlighten me??? I know all about Peter. He’s such a fun man. I took a clinic with Michael Matz and would love to spend more time with him but alas his wife Dee Dee might object. So I shall just gaze longingly at both and lust in my heart.

[Canter]

Isn’t that a call to action, girls!

[B.G.M_heidi]

Clearly should have changed the topic thread to ‘worshipping at the feet of the bull rider’…

Okay, so they don’t wear a helmet; surely they take some measures to protect other equally valuable body parts. Cactuskate, care to enlighten us?

[Canter]

I agree with what SLWarrior has to say. It’s very true…rodeo is more of a family activity with it’s down-homeness and all.

It’s certainly alot more straighforward and therefore much easier for the public to access and understand…even if you don’t understand how calf roping is judged spectators get the idea.

The same is not true of hunter or dressage.

Also I think the percieved economic barrier in the h/j world keeps the public away.

[jreventer]

Oh no, I think most women watch bull riding for the wranglers…

[Pepper]

Maybe the following tidbit inspired this topic, but I didn’t see it mentioned directly:

This Saturday the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden will feature Professional Bull Riding. This event, a first for both NHS and MSG itself, replaces the cancelled hunters. Bull riding will probably pull in a TON of people who otherwise wouldn’t have come near the NHS – so many we probably won’t even miss the hunters. After all the baseball hype, it’s pretty cool that New Yorkers will get to see a REAL bullpen.

On the helmet topic – I think some of those cowboy hats have protective helmets built in. Maybe they’ll cross over into the hunter/jumper arena . . . .

[VTrider]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kennett Square:
VTrider, Please enlighten me??? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

DMK and Duffy - Should we tell Kennett Square what (or who) she is missing out on?

[Paige]

Kennett Square, Kennett Square, I’m shocked. lol, wait, i’m not shocked at all. TexasDreaming and I might even be forced to raise you to the level of our offical corrupter, though!!!

[B.G.M_heidi]

I’ve watched many hours of pro bullriding and rodeo on tv here in Canada and it’s always impressed me how western sports have leap-frogged showjumping in its marketing, sponsorships, and prize money.

The advantage, however, of barrel-racing, bull riding, etc., is that it enjoys mass market appeal, cowboys are a part of American mythology, showjumpers are not. Showjumping is perceived as an elitist sport, western events are perceived as exciting events pitting man (stupid one at that, how you climb on a bull w/out a helmet baffles me) against beast. Even among pro barrel riders, the prize money is huge. There is a western event on television practically every night here in Canada. Equestrian events are broadcast on a weekly basis, perhaps, in the summer and monthly in the winter.

Like the sport or not - the marketers behind pro western events have succeeded where we have not.

[jreventer]

Gotta not mind the infamous walk…come on anyone who has been around bull riders knows what I mean about how they walk

Who ever mentioned them not being very sensitive I gotta disagree about one bullrider in particular I know. He quit a year ago when he got married but he is very sensitive in the way he handles horses. He has the gentlest hands I have ever seen and is very patient. He never loses his patience with a horse(even some that would drive the most patient of people crazy). Of course he can’t get bull riding out of his system and still judges them all the time(plus good money). I have decided their urge to strap themselves to 2000 pound crazy bull is purely a male macho thing, women are smarter than that

[B.G.M_heidi]

I believe we’ve inadvertently stumbled onto something here - rodeo ‘cowboys’, bullriders are SEXY. I cannot for the life of me name a singularly sexy showjumper.

[Parminch]

Terri, Just wanted to tell you that Ed and I just came back from Las Vegas and the PBR finals! What a great bunch of guys. They really know how to put on a show. And even though my favorite did not win (Terry Don West ) or Ed’s (Chris Shivers) We loved watching Tater and the other 44 guys all five rounds!!!
We had so much fun and I “had” to buy beanie baby bulls of Red Wolfe, Dillinger and Rampage. Why didn’t anyone ever do a Gem Twist,or a Protocol or a Rox Dene beany horse? I stood in line to get those little rascals and when they retired the great bull Red Wolfe I got teary eyed … Just like a great show horse he is all HEART. Tell Murrey to keep up the good work. PBR is the Best.

[B.G.M_heidi]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pepper:
[B]Maybe the following tidbit inspired this topic, but I didn’t see it mentioned directly:

This Saturday the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden will feature Professional Bull Riding. This event, a first for both NHS and MSG itself, replaces the cancelled hunters. Bull riding will probably pull in a TON of people who otherwise wouldn’t have come near the NHS – so many we probably won’t even miss the hunters. After all the baseball hype, it’s pretty cool that New Yorkers will get to see a REAL bullpen.

On the helmet topic – I think some of those cowboy hats have protective helmets built in. Maybe they’ll cross over into the hunter/jumper arena . . . . [/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Indeed, this was the source of inspiration for the thread. Who would have thought in the glory days of the fall winter circuit (Washington, New York, Toronto) that bullriding would replace the hunter classes in New York? This is a very, very odd development. On the other hand, perhaps it’s an indication that the same old, same old approach to mounting horse shows in North America is in need of some serious rethinking.

I’d like to think there are some creative, fundamental, infrastructural solutions to what currently ails the sport - without showjumpers and hunters having to resort to cowboy hats and Wranglers. Not that there’s anything wrong with cowboy hats and Wranglers, mind you. Lovely man and talented rider he may be - I guess I’m just not ready for Hap Hansen in Wranglers.

[Kennett_Square]

Do you mean the fair Harold Chopping of the most intense blue eyes this side of the Mississippi? WOO WOO WOO!!

[jreventer]

I agree they have succeeded where we haven’t. I live where there is tons of bullriding, barrel racing, team penning, etc. The lower levels don’t have much money in it, but the higher level…I have friends who do barrel racing at the national level. On a pretty regular basis they win saddles, $$$, and even trailers. Even young kids win saddles and such. Now coming from eventing I thought hunters and jumpers won a lot of prizes and $$ until I talked to these people. I have began to team penning and win as much as $50-60 a round at backyard team penning competitions. I’m just doing it for fun, but some people do it every weekend and win some pretty good $$.

[Canter]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jreventer:
[B]Gotta not mind the infamous walk…come on anyone who has been around bull riders knows what I mean about how they walk

Who ever mentioned them not being very sensitive I gotta disagree about one bullrider in particular I know. He quit a year ago when he got married but he is very sensitive in the way he handles horses. He has the gentlest hands I have ever seen and is very patient. He never loses his patience with a horse(even some that would drive the most patient of people crazy).[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don’t think LCR Scott was referring to his gentle “hands” when talking about not having alot of feeling, if you know what I mean.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, I wouldn’t want a date with an 8 second cowboy.

[This message has been edited by Canter (edited 11-01-2000).]

[jreventer]

Sleepy, not too young…I just choose to ignore it Although I had to mention my friend because it suprised me how gentle he was with the horses coming from the bull riding world.

Baymare, I gotta agree with you, I love going to the bullrides ever wednesday…do I actually watch them ride the bulls…how can I tall, muscled men in tight wranglers! ok, let’s all keep our minds outa the gutter

[L_Scott]

I was tired and working and typed before I thought about it. Sounded much more innocent in my head than it looked all typed up.

Anyone want another look at the cowboy life read Annie Proulx, Stories of Wyoming(short stories).

Canter, We’ll talk later. I don’t need to get banned from this board.