'WALK THIS WAY' - A TALE OF A BULL
As Told To
Susan Kanode

My name is 'Walk This Way'

And I AM a bull with 'Baditude'
PBR photo by Andy Watson

       By Susan Kanode

            What a great time I had in Colorado and Wyoming. We went to the Pike’s Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs after Steamboat Springs.

            That arena at Colorado Springs is so pretty, nestled right in front of the Rocky Mountains. Chicken Fry had brought me to Steamboat Springs and dropped me off. He is usually the guy that takes care of us. He had other obligations, so he didn’t get to stay at the rodeos with us, so I got the main man Mack Altizer as my coach.

            There is an art to flanking bulls, and for me there is a lot more to it than just getting the flank right. Those guys talk to me and scratch my back and it sure helps me keep my adrenalin under control. Mack was pretty excited when he found out that Jarrod Craig was going to ride me at Colorado Springs.

            Jarrod was the 2006 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Champion and qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year. He’s ranked in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings, so we are thinking I drew pretty good.

            I’m in the chute and Mack puts the flank on me. I know it’s time for some business and I need to make an impression on the crowd and the bull riders there. They are talking to me, my ears are twitching and I’m ready. Jarrod nods his head and the rest is history. They marked me 45 points and I know that both of us are disappointed because if he kept his seat we would have had a 90-point bull ride.

            Harry Vold is the stock contractor at Colorado Springs and Cheyenne. The Volds showed us all kinds of hospitality and I’m sure glad they invited us to these great rodeos. Bad Company Rodeo had all of the bulls at the second performance at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and some of my young buddies were real successful.

            Howdy Cloud rode Pretty Vegas for 88 points to tie for the first round win. Steve Woolsey rode Super Freak for 84. They brought some of us back for the finals and Dave Samsel stuck it on Super Freak for 88 to win the whole shebang.

            We finished there and went on north to Cheyenne. When we get to our pens, they have plenty of hay and some Vitalix protein tubs for us. We definitely get an athlete’s diet with everything in it to help us perform. And, it tastes good. This is the fourth time I’ve been to the “Daddy” and I hope it’s not the last. It is a big, old rodeo that is full of tradition. They have three sections of bull riding at every performance and I’m out in the first section during the first performance.

            I try to take every ride one jump at a time, but I’m thinking that I need to set the standard and give those rodeo fans their money’s worth. If you’ve never been to Cheyenne for the rodeo, you really need to go. The arena there is so big they have two out gates.

The guy that’s going to ride me is Tag Elliott and while I’ve never had any personal experience with him, I’ve found out that he’s a rising star and he’s got the talent to ride me. Mack and I go through our routine and Tag takes care of his end.. So, Tag nods his head, I come out and go left. He has a seat on me but about four seconds into the ride, he makes a mistake and I take advantage of it. Another one bites the dust.

I’m feeling pretty proud of myself and I’m pretty close to that center let out gate. That was when I remembered the one at the far end of the arena. I’m pretty sure the fans haven’t seen enough of me yet, so I lope across the middle of the pen and let Justin McKee talk about me a little longer.

We had a day off, then were out again. This time it was Jake Littlefield that got on me. I hope it was just a bad day for Jake, because it might have been the quickest buck off I’ve had. Temperatures were pretty hot and this time I was ready to get out of the arena.

We got to spend a few more days in Wyoming before heading back to Texas. Mack hired Colby Hannum to haul us back and we had a nice little road trip home. We had the rodeo in Sonora, Texas, just a hop skip and 47 miles from the ranch.

Chicken Fry is back on flank duty and Brandon Reynolds is my cowboy. I got to watch Brandon at Colorado Springs. He rode my partner Pretty Vegas in the finals there for 84 points. They say luck is where preparation meets opportunity. I was prepared and took advantage of the opportunity to buck off Brandon.

I’m done with rodeos for a while. I went to the vet right after Sonora, got my physical and health papers so I can head to Chihuahua, Mexico for the PBR. I was the top bull at that event last year so I’m really excited about going back. I’m going to do my best to get that distinction again. I know I’ll have stories to tell.

I want to send get well wishes to Tag Elliott. After Cheyenne, he went to the rodeo in Salt Lake City where he had a really bad meeting with Flying U Rodeo’s Werewolf. He had over 10 hours of surgery but is making a great recovery and plans to ride again. I hope he gets another shot at me!

My name is Walk This Way and I am a bull with BADITUDE!

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