Buying a Good Bull (or Horse) is a Deliberate Process

Dr. Roy Burris, Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky

 

It's finally springtime and many beef producers are looking for a good herd sire. We've been poring over breed magazines and now we have plenty of bull sale catalogs to study. We begin the process of considering EPD information bloodlines, body types, etc. We are about to make a cool, calculated, informed decision. Right?

Well, something happens to normally rational folks in the excitement and speed of the sale ring. We sometimes abandon our carefully thought-out plan and get lost in the moment. It's always interesting to see what we actually come home with.

I understand. Been there – done that! I was looking for a cow horse several years ago when I was in Mississippi. I did all the things that cattlemen do when they are looking for a good herd bull. I poured over the information in the catalog, circled some possibilities and looked them over. The sale started and the bidding was lively. The horses that I really liked went for more than I was willing to pay. I had to readjust my thinking in an instant.

A mare came into the ring that was a late addition to sale – she wasn't in the catalog. The price was in my range so I got into the bidding and took home a quarter horse mare called "Show Me". She was a sorrel with a blaze and three stockings. Looked great but was she well-broke like the auctioneer said?

I couldn't wait until the next morning to try out my "impulse purchase". I got up at daylight on Sunday morning and saddled her up. To my surprise and satisfaction, she was just fine. I rode her into a pasture full of hay rolls and couldn't believe my luck. She had a good handle and plenty of speed around the maze of hay rolls. I put her up and got ready for church feeling unusually thankful.

I couldn't wait for Monday morning when we had to work cattle. I would join Frankie and Brad, who worked for me, as a regular cowboy. I had been in the pick-up since I sold Pokey – my outlaw horse. Frankie and Brad were skilled horsemen and both were pretty good at calf roping.

We saddled up and took the horses out to move some cattle. There was one sick calf that looked like he needed a shot and Frankie started to twirl his rope. I said "wait a minute this horse really trails the cows, I think she's a ropin' horse!" I borrowed Frankie's rope and took off after the calf. Things just kept getting better – I caught the calf!

I dallied-off and backed Show-Me up to take up the slack, Frankie got a syringe and Brad came over to admire my horse. I was feeling rather smug and was, in fact, downright proud of myself.

All of a sudden my own little world exploded. The calf darted around Show-Me and jerked the rope up under her tail. She started bucking up a storm. She would throw me up on her neck then flip me back in the saddle. I was hanging on and grabbing for something to hold on to. Meanwhile, Brad was standing there applauding my efforts but making nary a move to help me. I got too far over to the right and my foot slipped through the stirrup. My life flashed before my eyes as I was flailing away and kicking desperately in an attempt to free my foot before I hit the ground and was possibly dragged around the pasture. One last kick as I bailed off freed my foot. I hit the ground, caught my breath and tried to regain my composure.

I was really upset with Brad for not helping me out and intended to tell him so – but a funny thing happened. He began yelling excitedly "Man that was a great ride. You were rakin' her and lookin' good. I think you stayed on the full eight seconds".

Three possibilities came to my mind – (1) I could tell Brad what I thought about him for not grabbing the horse, (2) I could explain that I wasn't actually rakin' the horse but was desperately trying to get my foot out of the stirrup, or (3) I could learn to take a compliment and keep quiet. I chose the latter.

We got back to work and I began to enjoy being one of the cowboys. I would let Frankie do the roping from now on. He seemed to enjoy it more than I did. Although Brad really encouraged me to try it again.

Show-Me turned out to be a pretty good working horse and actually was pregnant with a foal that I sold for more than her purchase price. All of this just reminds me of the old saying that "God takes care of crazy people", but I wouldn't count on it. Plan your purchases and don't do any impulse buying – like I did!