At his ranch in Black Pines, simply exterior Kamloops, B.C., Ed LeBourdais is aware of the way to get his bulls’ consideration.
Grabbing a five-gallon bucket, he provides it a number of agency thumps to summon his herd.
“All of them come when you beat the bucket,” he instructed CBC’s Dawn Kamloops host Shelly Joyce. “The older guys will certainly come first. The youthful ones, they’re going to observe once we begin [scattering grain].”
Among the many towering figures lured by the rhythmic thuds is Potlicker, a 1,700-pound bull who has made a reputation for himself in B.C.’s aggressive rodeo world.
Final week, four-year-old Potlicker was topped the B.C. Rodeo Affiliation’s 2024 Bull of the 12 months — a title voted on by skilled bull riders, and thought of one of many sport’s highest provincial honours.
For LeBourdais, the award is a testomony to his decades-long dedication to breeding top-tier rodeo bulls.
“It is an athletic award for these bulls,” he mentioned proudly. “You do not practice them to buck, it is bred into them.”
LeBourdais, a former skilled bull rider with 21 years within the area, mentioned he understands each the bodily and emotional calls for of the game.
“My physique is aware of I rode bulls,” he mentioned, pointing to outdated accidents.
Now, his focus is on elevating the following era of champions.
He began S&E Bucking Bulls in 1981 along with his childhood buddy Schaan Perry.
The previous bull rider mentioned every animal on the Black Pines ranch is given care, consideration and a reputation that displays its distinctive persona.
LeBourdais mentioned Potlicker’s identify took place organically.
“When he was a calf, my spouse, Alina, used to feed him grain in an outdated pot. He’d lick it clear each time.”
Whereas the prize bucking bull thrives within the highlight, his mom, Little Moo, is content material with a quieter life.
LeBourdais mentioned she was raised as a bottle-fed calf and is identified for her mild manner.
“You possibly can pet her all day, and she or he’ll simply stand there, consuming her grain.”.
A bull constructed to buck
Potlicker’s pure expertise has earned him respect from rodeo riders like Sukhveen “Veen” Barmi, who has climbed onto the bull a few instances solely to seek out himself on the shedding finish of its agility.
“He smashed me on the bottom so exhausting I could not stand up for some time.”
What makes Potlicker stand out, Barmi defined, is his unpredictability.
“With bulls, they’ve a sure sample which you’ll see and which you may make your recreation play with, however with Potlicker, it is utterly totally different.”
Initially from India, Barmi moved to Canada in 2018 to pursue larger training. He started using professionally in 2022, however mentioned regardless of his rising expertise within the area, each bull he faces — together with Potlicker — nonetheless fills him with a way of concern.
“If I cease getting scared, that is the day I cease bull using,” he mentioned. “It’s a must to be scared a bit bit, however you need to combat it off.”
For a lot of riders like Barmi, Potlicker is each a problem and a purpose, mentioned LeBourdais.
“Each bull rider needs to get on that man … they’re going to push themselves so that they win.”
Source link