On the Cover - Pegasus (McCoy Rodeo) shows the athleticism that has helped him become one of the top bucking bulls in the industry after being chosen for the PBR World Finals and the National Finals Rodeo in 2025.
courtesy of BullStock Media.
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Well, the bull riding and rodeo world is in full swing. The PBR Unleash the Beast tour is in the heat of its 2026 season and has had some big stops including New York City, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Tamp as they head towards the World Finals in May.
The PRCA has kicked off the new year with the winter rodeos and is now hitting its full stride. Stetson Wright kept his hot streak going by winning the money at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver. The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is still working through the brackets and will wrap up with the Finals in the first part of February.
A lot of other associations are in high gear, as well. Many of them are starting new seasons while some are concluding the 2025 season with their association finals.
There is no shortage of great bull riding across the country. Make sure you get out and support the bull riders, stock contractors, committees, producers, and charities who benefit from many of these events.
We hope you enjoy this issue of Humps N Horns!
Until next time,
Terry
Reigning world champion bull rider Stetson Wright was one of two men successful in Semi-Finals 3 of the National Western Stock Show Rodeo. Wright rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Bar Fly for 83 points to win the rodeo and advance to Sunday’s championship round. NWSS photo by Ric Andersen.
Ya know, when I first showed up on the bull riding scene there were a bunch of Alpha Males who held you accountable.
If you are going to be a part of the most dangerous sport in the world, you can’t look for the soft landing. No, I wasn’t the greatest to ever compete but I was I the era of men who arguably were.
They held me accountable to having pride in my efforts. I’m just an old guy watching through a screen but y’all are missing something.
Don’t make excuses for the guys who will never step up, hold one another accountable. Some will hate you for it and others will love you for it.
Nobody gives a rip whether anyone makes it or not (especially the real bull riders). Have some pride in yourself and the guys riding against you.
Truth hurts but if you take it at face value you might end up in the history books. This is only coming from a guy who was held accountable and took it for what it was and changed my thoughts!!
Jesus Loves You! Cody Custer
By Kalli Barber
CAC Media Group
KB: Rostin, can you tell me how you got started with riding?
RS: I started out riding sheep and then moved up to calves and steers, and now I ride bulls. I have a cousin, Cody Snow, who is a team roper and has been to the NFR a couple of times. My dad rode bucking horses back in the day, and my mom did rodeo in high school, too. I had some friends who did rodeo, and I tried it one time, and I really liked doing it.
KB: So you have been around it a long time. What are some of
your favorite places that you have had a chance to ride?
RS: I’ve ridden in quite a few places. I’ve been to Iowa for Junior High Finals, Wyoming for the Rocky Mountain Regional Qualifier, Idaho, California, and a bunch more. I liked riding in Iowa for Finals because it was ten days of getting to see my friends from all over the country.
KB: That’s cool. Will you be going to Oklahoma next year for it?
RS: I plan to. It will be the first time I have ridden in Oklahoma. I am going to ride in Arizona this year, too, because if I go down there, I can get on horses and bulls. I want to start trying to ride bucking horses.
KB: How many guys in Nevada ride bulls in junior high?
RS: There are four guys who ride. We don’t have very many bull riders, but my dad and I are trying to change that. I have a bunch of mini bulls, and we buck them at the house and invite people over to ride. We also take them to clinics and rodeos.
KB: How many bulls do you have?
RS: We have around 20 bulls. Most of them are minis, but we have a few bigger bulls. I own five of them myself.
KB: That is a lot by mini bull standards! You don’t find them too often.
RS: No, we are some of the only people in Nevada to have mini bulls. These past couple of years, we have taken them with us to Vegas and set up a practice pen, so I can get on a few and work out what I need to before I ride. It has been really helpful.
KB: I have never heard of anyone doing that. Is that a common thing?
RS: I think we are the only people who do it, but we know a guy who lets us bring them in. He is right in town, about 15 minutes from the convention center, and being able to get on them during the week before I ride and it has made a big difference. Some of my friends come over if they have stuff they need to work on, too.
KB: That is really interesting. Have you been riding better out there since you started bringing in the bulls?
RS: I think so. This past year, I ended up third, but the year before that, I was reserve world champion.
KB: I guess it does help! How many years total have you ridden out there?
RS: This was my third year. My first year, I didn’t even make it back to the short round.
KB: What did you do in between to make yourself go from not making it to the short round to coming up second in the world?
RS: I got on a lot of practice bulls. We buck practice bulls two to
three times a week, and it has made me a more confident rider. If something isn’t going right, I can get on a few at the house and usually get it fixed pretty quickly.
KB: Who are you working with to help you get better? Do you have any coaches or mentors besides your dad that you are working with?
RS: I work with T.J. Gray a lot. He lives in Fallon, Nevada, and we take the bulls over there quite a bit. He works with a lot of the guys in our area. He even came over to the JNFR last year to watch me ride.
KB: Wow! That is really nice of him! And he had another great NFR this year, too. Have you been to the NFR to watch him ride?
RS: I went to the NFR the first year I qualified to ride out there. It is a neat experience. It definitely makes me want to ride there someday.
KB: What are some of the goals that you have for yourself now to help you get to that point?
RS: I want to start working out more, and I want to keep getting on a lot of practice bulls. I have a drop barrel at home that I use sometimes, especially if I am getting bucked off a lot, but I like to ride the practice bulls more than my barrel.
KB: What about some of your longterm goals? I know you are still in junior high, but where is all this headed?
RS: I would like to get a college rodeo scholarship someday. I think it would be cool to rodeo in either Texas or for the Cal-Poly rodeo team. After I finish with my rodeo career, though, I want to come home and take over our ranch. We raise cattle and crops in northern Nevada.
KB: That is an awesome goal! Hopefully, that works out for you. Alright, Rostin, let’s have you answer some fun questions, so our readers get to know you outside of bull riding. First up, since it is February, what is your favorite
Valentine’s Day candy?
RS: I like chocolate. Anything Hershey’s chocolate is good.
KB: I like chocolate as well. What podcast can I catch you listening to?
RS: I like to listen to Rodeo Time with Dale Brisby. He is really funny.
KB: Who is your favorite person that he has on as a guest?
RS: Probably J.B. He is always good.
KB: I like the ones with Ky Hamilton. He’s funny. What are some of your hobbies outside of bull riding?
RS: I play basketball, and I like to snowboard. I am the point guard for our junior high team, and we played in the championship game the day before I rode in Vegas. We had to drive all night to get back. I haven’t had a chance to snowboard this year yet because we haven’t had much snow in the mountains.
KB: Those sound like fun hobbies! If you could travel to any state that you haven’t been to and ride bulls, where would you want to go?
RS: I am excited to go to Arizona and Oklahoma this year.
KB: Alright, last question. What are you
going to name your first NFR bull, and why did you pick the name?
RS: I would name my first NFR bull Hazen’s Pet because that is the name of my favorite mini bull. He is a red and white spotted bull, and he is the best.
KB: Well, hopefully someday you get the chance to have a bull that competes at that level. Alright, Rostin, thank you for chatting with me, and good luck with your 2026 season!
For more information about junior bull riding, you can check out the National High School Finals Rodeo page or the Leal’s Junior NFR Page on Facebook. Be sure to look for a new rider featured in our Rider Rundown piece next month.
Kalli Barber is a high school senior and a member of the CAC Media Group. She lives on a farm in Eastern Iowa, where she and her two siblings have a dairy show string that they compete with at national shows around the country.
In this issue of Humps N Horns, we introduce another very important person who works behind the scenes. He does not work with either the livestock or the riders, but instead Andrew Lance deals with the production side of things.
Most people do not realize all that is involved with putting on an event of this caliber. They arrive and think, oh, they just had to put down some dirt. Yes, that is true, but there is so much more behind that. Read on to get Andrew’s perspective.
“I work more on the backside of things,” Andrew told us. “I deal with the production. I coordinate the load-ins when we get to the venue. That includes putting our video walls up, as well as all of the speakers and lighting up. It is a task, believe me, but we do it
very well. We have one of the best production crews on the planet, if you ask me.”
With all of the traveling involved when working for the PBR, it would not be surprising if maintaining a regular full crew might be difficult. Andrew explained that was not the case.
“We keep a pretty steady crew around here. Most of us have been here for several seasons. As for myself, this is only my sixth season, so I am one of the newer guys. Interestingly, I came here with no production experience at all. I actually got lucky landing this job. My friend is the sound engineer here, and he asked me if I needed a job.
“I told him that I did need work, so he brought me over. He taught me everything that I would need to start, but along the way I have learned a lot! This is my sixth season, so my third year, and I have already moved up into a management position.”
Andrew has been a fan of bull riding his entire life. He grew up in Texas, in a small town called Quanah, which is where the wife of the late Lane Frost, Kellie, was also from. He was raised in the lifestyle of Western sports.
“My cousin and I were team ropers growing up, and I did a small amount of bull riding back in the day. Certainly, never to the level we see here,” he laughed. “You put me on one of those and I’d be in trouble! I have to say that I like doing this job, and I have really found a place, and I truly enjoy being here. I love this lifestyle.”
Being on the production crew is not just long hours, it is long days. The production crew arrives at each location two days before the event starts, and the day before the event is when they start doing the load-in. As the Stage Manager, Andrew is second-in-command. It is his Production Manager who gets everything ready to go, then he comes in to make sure it all happens.
“That is when we start putting our production in place. We can do our production load-in in about six hours. That sometimes entails turning a hockey rink into a dirt arena, like here in Anaheim. So, in those six hours, we
have an arena pretty much ready for the dirt to come in.
“Day of show we come in early in the morning and finish up all of the odds and ends to make the show happen that night. Things like tuning the PA system, programming lighting, stuff like that. Those people who do that are way smarter than me (we doubt that!), but I get to supervise them and make sure they do it right. I have developed an eye for that.
“Day of show, I am also the Live Director’s right hand. If it happens on the floor I am there for anything he needs; entertainment, activations, working with the VIP groups, the National Anthem singers, color guards, things like that.
“This week we had the Border Patrol, and they repel from the ceiling. I always ask them if I get to go up with them. They say that it might be a safety hazard,” he said with a laugh.
As much as he loves his job, the travel is the hardest part of it for him. He is married with a daughter.
“It is hard being away from home,” he said. “When I am home, I am only there for 24-48 hours a week. I do both tours, the UTB and the Teams, and sometimes I help out when needed. They might call me and ask if I can be somewhere, and I always say, ‘Yep. Sure can!’
“Most people don’t see that three days
ago this was a hockey rink. Now you walk in here and see a million pounds of dirt, and a whole lot of steel going around the place, and many, many flashing lights. We are a rock show with live animals, and that brings in a younger audience.”
That comment brought on a discussion on how much the PBR has changed since its inception in 1992, and while we both agreed it is now very different, Andrew recognized the need for the change, and he is right.
“It is just like anything else, it has to change with the times, and you have to stay relevant. If you don’t stay with the times, it will fade away. And believe me, the last thing I ever want to see is for this sport to fade away.
“It’s like the Teams. Rather than watching a bunch of bull riders against each other, you get a team base to become a fan of. You have great coaches, and the good, young bull riders get a chance to learn from them and shine What an opportunity!”
Suffice it to say that Andrew has learned his job well, and is always there to make sure everything goes properly. He is confident that he has the knowledge to make that happen, and when you watch an event, whether live or on television, it is obvious that he is absolutely doing all the right things. He is also a huge fan, and that makes him love his job even more.
Frustration. Disappointment. Defeat. These are words often associated with failure and what we think about ourselves when we fall short of achieving a goal. When we fail, the world tries to discourage us, while God tells us that failure is a part of growing.
When was the last time you failed at something? It was likely very recent. Humans tend to avoid things that pose a risk. We are full of pride. We make countless mistakes. The idea of failing is a concept that people try their hardest to avoid, but God uses failure to teach us.
The world generally defines the concept of failure as a lack of success. For example, not getting the promotion you wanted at work. Similarly, heavenly failure is seen as the spiritual “lack of success,” as in not carrying out God’s purpose for your life. These two viewpoints can both can agree that failure is what happens when you don’t complete a desired goal. What makes the two different is that they have two different ideas of what the goal is.
The world says that the goal of humanity is to positively contribute to society and be happy while you do it. God says that our goal is to share the gospel and spend our lives believing in him. These two conflict when a person tries to serve both God and the world.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV
When evaluating your goals and how you want to work to achieve them, it is important to look at what you are ultimately working toward. Is it to live a fulfilling life here on earth, enjoying earthly pleasures and following your own fleshly desires? Or is it to use your God-given gifts to point people to Jesus and set an example of Him?
Letting the fear of failure drive your life can create discontentment and even depression. Having a mindset that your failures bring resilience is a perspective that can change the way you look at your personal disappointments.
Times when we are disappointed in our lack of worldly success can lead to seasons of uncertainty and distrust in Gods plans. This fear shifts the focus onto the things that humans can achieve instead of what God can achieve, which is vastly different. Reflecting on failure is important because you can then choose to grow from it or have it hold you back in disappointment.
It is easy to fall into frustration of failure, but God has a plan for every moment. He hears every cry, and He answers every prayer.
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20:5 NIV
The Bible offers much wisdom on failure — encouraging us to use it as an opportunity to grow in our trust in God. God has a purpose bigger than what you can imagine. Who are we to sit and question the creator of all things? One way to surrender the fear of failure to God is to acknowledge your weakness and give Him control. Go to Him in prayer and ask your brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for you as well. Do not be ashamed of your weaknesses.
Lean into the Lord’s grace, and He will give you peace.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3–4 NIV
Now that it’s February, life has settled down for most of us, at least a little bit. One month ago, many people were looking at the new year and thinking about all the things they wanted to do, setting big goals and expectations. But, according to Fisher College of Business, 43% of people have already given up on their New Year’s resolutions. In fact, 23% had quit by the end of the first week in January.
A lot of people have a negative view of New Year’s resolutions because of those statistics. I think, though, that many of us just go about accomplishing goals the wrong way. Changing for the better is something I believe every person wants, but not many people know how to actually achieve it. Most people go into the new year with a false sense of reality, putting too much on their plates and not expecting adversity. While these are all major issues with New Year’s resolutions, the overarching issue is that many of us try to accomplish our goals and our New Year’s resolutions on our own.
When I think of goals and New Year’s resolutions, one piece of scripture comes to mind. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” This is one of my favorite verses because of how applicable it is to everything we do. It doesn’t say “commit to the Lord some things” or “commit to the Lord these things” but commit to the Lord in WHATEVER you do! This could be your resolution to go to the gym twice a week or start a business.
Often in my life, I’ve kept my bull riding goals and my faith separate. But after truly diving into this scripture, it made me
realize how silly that is. My view on bull riding is that it’s a desire given to me from God to advance the Kingdom of Christ and enjoy doing it. While yes, my overall goal is to glorify God through my bull riding, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have other goals like winning a world title or riding 60% of my bulls. By committing these things to the Lord, my strength, purpose, and intention grow exponentially. Now, I am not trying to accomplish these things on my own strength, but I have God’s strength on my side. All the trials of working towards my bull riding goals, all the rough patches that make me question my path, all the troubles I encounter, I now have the strength of the Lord to help me through.
Going back to Proverbs 16:3, it’s important to remember that yes, we are committing what we do to the Lord, but HE will establish our plans. When setting goals and making plans, it’s crucial to remember that having those goals or plans is not a bad thing, but at the end of the day, God does what is best for us, and he will put those things into fruition for us. This probably means it’s not going to look like what you had in mind. There may be a few more trials, a few more rough patches, but what He has for us is greater than anything we could ever imagine.
Philippians 4:13 might be one of the most famous verses, but if you haven’t heard it before, Paul states, “All things are possible through Christ who gives me Strength.” I think this is one of the most famous verses for a reason, but I also believe many people misconstrue this verse. A lot of people interpret this
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By Kelly B. Robbins
247 Pegasus is an amazing bovine athlete, whose raw power and energy have carved out a reputation that precedes him into every event. Being named after a mythological beast certainly implies dominance, chaos, and almost supernatural strength, and further symbolizes intelligence, speed, and the ability to overcome earthly limitations. There is a certain poetic justice that is apparent as Pegasus makes riders “fly” when he hurls them into the air. Riders get “wings” whether they want them or not!
Pegasus is a top tier bucking bull owned by McCoy Rodeo. His name commands respect in both the PRCA and PBR circuits. His intelligence, consistency, and athleticism set him apart and points the way to legendary status.
Pegasus was crowned “Bull of the 2025 NFR” in December. His explosive left turn out unseated eventual bull riding champion Stetson Wright in round five in 4.99 seconds, for a bull score of 45.75. He bested Tristen Hutchings in round ten in just 2.03 seconds, for a bull score of 46!
“To get Bucking Bull of the Finals was a huge honor,” owner Cord McCoy shared. “Just to make it to the NFR is about as big an honor you can get in rodeo, in my opinion. I had my eye on Pegasus, and we bought him from Pete Carr between rounds five and ten at the 2024 NFR. I saw his intensity and athletic ability, and his perfect size for a bucking bull. He weighs just a shade under 1700 lbs. I checked out his pedigree, and his sire is Buckeye and his grand sire is Panhandle Slim. He has all the ingredients of a champion bucking bull.”
“We were as excited to add Pegasus to our gene pool as we were about adding him to our bucking pen,” Cord revealed. “We collected his semen right away, and we’re pretty pumped about how many people have reached out and bought semen after the Bull of the NFR crown. We are offering Pegasus’ semen for sale at $500 per straw. We’ve priced it so that more people will use it.”
Eight-year-old Pegasus lives at the McCoy Ranch in Lane, Oklahoma. There he is considered an elite or special bucking bull. “Pegasus is pretty special,” Cord admitted. “He has his own
schedule. We treat him just like we did Ridin’ Solo. He never has to fight for feed. He gets along okay with the other bulls. Pegasus is fed with a blended high protein, performance geared grain. He doesn’t really need any kind of exercise program. He is scheduled on the road so much, that when he is back at the ranch, we let him rest and recover.”
Cord revealed that Pegasus has had a recurring horn infection since they purchased him. It has occasionally sidelined him from some events as they have worked to heal the infection. Initially they tried antibiotics. Just before
the PBR Finals, they cut off half of the horn to eliminate the infection. After the PBR Finals, they cut off the rest of the horn.
“If we can put together a complete, healthy season, I think Pegasus is a contender in any association you buck him in,” Cord said. “We’re very selective where and when we buck him. We treat him like a Cy Young pitcher who only has so many pitches in him. To be eligible for a bull championship in the PRCA, you need at least twelve outs. To be eligible for the PBR bull championship, you need at least eight outs. We don’t want to just buck him anywhere. We want him contending for a bull championship every time he bucks, whether it is the PRCA or the PBR.”
I asked Cord to describe Pegasus in one word. “Intense!” he answered immediately. “I wouldn’t consider him mean, but he handles fast. He is at full speed whatever he does. Everything goes fast for him; there is no slow motion to him. You don’t just walk in on him in the pen. He’s not a pet. It’s not that he doesn’t like people, he just stays in his comfort zone. You don’t carry feed or water to him and leave the gate open. If the gate is left open, he just feels like he’s supposed to go somewhere.”
Cord is not currently commentating on the PBR Unleash the Beast TV broadcasts. He and wife Sara have an extremely busy schedule, often hauling bulls to separate events on the same weekend. They recently hosted the OKC Pro Rodeo presented by Tractor Supply Company at the OG&E Coliseum in Oklahoma
City in January. Pegasus bucked at that event.
Next up for Pegasus is the historic Bullnanza Bull Riding presented by Tractor Supply Company on February 6 -7 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Two full nights of actionpacked “Man vs. Beast” entertainment for all ages, hosted by McCoy Rodeo. Later this spring, on April 10-12, McCoy Rodeo and Pegasus will be at the Hondo Rodeo Fest at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
“Pegasus’ next scheduled PBR Unleash the Beast event is in Jacksonville, Florida on February 20-21,” Cord shared. “We do think that Pegasus is going into the best year of his life. With the horn infection under control, his intensity, consistency and athleticism create a dominant force. We are truly pumped about his chances to contend for a championship this year, either in the PRCA or the PBR.”
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verse as saying that they can literally do anything they want because Christ gives them strength. But when I read this verse in context, Paul is talking about going through hard circumstances and being able to go through them because of where his strength comes from. This verse is good to reflect on when you’re going through those trials and need the motivation to keep going. With Christ as our strength, moving forward is now only the first step!
When committing everything we do to the Lord, we now have a new sense of purpose as well. 1st Corinthians 10:31 Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” In my opinion, this is one of the most motivating verses in the whole Bible. Many of us in life have a desire from God, which is what we love to do, but this doesn’t mean we always want to put in the work or actually do the thing some days. Before I was made new in Christ, I was riding bulls to be the best, to win titles, to win money, and to get famous. These are all very selfish desires. When these things are our focus, we have a shaky foundation and an emotional attachment to the outcome. But when our purpose becomes to “do it for the glory of God,” we now have a fulfilling purpose that truly brings us joy. This joy becomes the emotional fulfillment we crave. We no longer need that “big win” or that big check, but now we are competing freely and for a purpose that lasts forever. When
email: bred2buck@gmail.com
our purpose is greater than ourselves, it makes the late nights and long workouts more meaningful to not only ourselves but to Jesus Christ.
Overall, I do not believe New Year’s resolutions are a bad thing whatsoever, but I do believe there is a specific way to go about them. While “losing weight” or “riding 60% of my bulls” are not bad resolutions, as followers of Christ, our most important focus should be on growing in our relationship with Christ. I encourage you to use the tools and topics I wrote about to not only achieve more in what you do, but also to achieve more in who you are! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5.
My name is Riggin Pearce, and I’m from Sheridan, Wyoming. I am a follower of Christ who’s blessed with the ability to ride bulls and use that as my platform to share the Good News. I am incredibly excited to have the chance to do that through my youth ministry program, Next Step. I can’t wait to encourage and help y’all get to know Jesus for the first time or take the next step in your relationship with Him.
Some bulls buck. Some bulls build legacy. But only a few are a ray of dominant sunshine, the kind that beams into your eye with vengeance but still warms your face.
Cool Whip was that rare light. From the moment he stepped into the arena, he brought with him a force few could match. He was a fan favorite, a rider’s riddle, and a living legend whose spirit now rests high above, watching over the men he bucked off and the memories he left behind.
He was as sweet as his name and as fierce as any bull alive.
By the numbers, Cool Whip’s legacy is etched in the record books. Forty-eight consecutive buckoffs. Nine outs scoring 46 points or higher. Four world champions, countless contenders, including at the time world No. 1 Brady Fielder, left in the dust. From 2022 until last year, no one could touch him.
At the 2024 PBR World Finals, Cool Whip carved his name in history by tossing Claudio Montanha Jr. in just 1.18 seconds, surpassing The Bushwacker’s previous record of 42 straight buckoffs. A new bar was set.
And even then, he kept going.
Not since Joao Ricardo Vieira managed a qualified ride aboard him in Tulsa had anyone solved the puzzle. It would take nearly three years and the very best of Sandro Batista, who finally made the whistle for 89.75 points in Sacramento last February, to bring the historic streak to a close.
“This bull is hard to get by, and Sandro had an answer for everything he was dishing out today,” 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis said after the out. “You can’t expect a guy to put out more effort, either.”
Still, the streak stands in PBR’s history books, and while Magic Potion may have been the one to finally break it, Cool Whip will forever be the one who raised the Bushwacker bar.
He didn’t do it with flash or fury. He did it with a go-towork mentality: deliberate, athletic and consistent. He was the bull that other bulls looked up to in the back pens and the one riders looked down on from his back, praying for eight seconds.
And outside the arena, he was even more unforgettable.
Cool Whip was a big dog. He loved scratches behind the ears, adored children, and his favorite lullaby was “You Are My Sunshine,” softly sung by previous co-owner Staci Addison before every out.
She called him “Sweetie Pie.” “Big Boy.” “Stud Muffin.” She showed him game tape to build his confidence and told him before every event, “You’re a gentleman.”
And then he’d go out and buck like a wrecking ball, because even big dogs have teeth.
“I’ve always said that Cool Whip has more heart than any bull I’ve ever known,” Addison said. “And he has consistently and continually found a way to stay relevant.”
But on a ranch in Oklahoma, far from the bright lights, the world lost a little sunshine.
Cool Whip’s final chapter unfolded last week in the beautiful fields of Oklahoma. As PBR CEO Sean Gleason shared on Facebook, “The PBR family is deeply saddened to share the passing of Cool Whip, one of the most famous and beloved bulls in PBR history. Earlier this week, at owner H.D. Page’s ranch, Cool Whip died following an altercation with several younger bulls, something that happens in nature among herd animals. During the same tragic occurrence, H.D. Page, true to who he is, stepped in to protect his animals. He was hooked by Cool Whip, completely out of character for a bull notably playful outside the arena, and severely injured,” suffering a fractured sternum, broken ribs, a broken jaw and ankle injuries.
Page was airlifted to OU Medical Center with serious injuries. He is now home, beginning a long road to recovery.
Cool Whip was not as lucky.
The loss leaves a bull-sized hole, not only in Oklahoma but in the hearts of everyone who ever watched him buck, scratched his ears or whispered a prayer from his back.
But even as that sunshine fades, the warmth of his brightest days lingers in the moments and memories he left behind.
And for the ones who had to climb down onto his back and try their luck, the memories run even deeper, a blur of adrenaline and utmost respect.
“I don’t think I had a combined 8 seconds between all the times I got on him,” said Clay Guiton, smiling at the memory of his own battles with Cool Whip. But even more vivid in his mind was a moment from Tacoma in 2025, one of the only times anyone ever made the whistle.
“Hudson Bolton rode him. It was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen,” Guiton said. “We all threw our hats, and that was pretty cool. I jumped in the arena.”
That moment in Tacoma, where Bolton became only the second rider after his streak to make the whistle on Cool Whip, stands frozen in time.
“I already had my bag packed,” Bolton said. “They asked me if I
wanted to get on and I said, ‘Hell yeah.’ I had like 10 minutes to get ready. I felt like I was tied to a freaking semi truck”
John Crimber sprinted from the locker room to watch the heavy weight battle.
“As soon as I got up there, the gate opened,” Crimber said. “I threw my hat from the steps. That was the coolest moment ever.”
Moments like that don’t happen often, and they’re what define the bond between rider and bull at the highest level. In Tacoma, Hudson Bolton’s ride wasn’t just a personal triumph, it was a shared athletic achievement with Cool Whip, a bull that demanded a rider’s best and gave it back tenfold. When Clay Guiton, John Crimber and others rallied to celebrate that eight-second win, it wasn’t just for their buddy Bolton. It was for their teammate, Cool Whip, the four-legged phenom who made greatness possible. Crimber’s notorious hat tosses. The yelling and celebration as if they had just won their own world title.
These young athletes will go on to ride many bulls in many arenas, but that memory with a legendary bull will remain a moment they will remember for their entire careers.
His sunshine won’t be replaced. It will be remembered.
In the game film Addison would play for Cool Whip. In every cowboy who drew him, rode him or fell just short. In the fans who didn’t need to know a thing about bull riding to love the giant marshmallow looking bull with the sweet name and recordbreaking bite.
And in the locker room, as the cowboys swapped stories about Cool Whip, the outs, the moments, the magic, the conversation always found its way back to H.D. Page, with years of handshakes, practice bulls and advice being the main subjects.
They spoke about the kind of man who treated his animals like family, who gave everything he had to the ones in his care, and who would do anything for anybody without hesitation. A true cowboy in every sense of the word.
As they honor the legacy of a legendary bull, they’re also pulling for the man who loved him like family, wishing H.D. Page strength and a speedy recovery.
For those who want to stand with him the same way he has always stood with others, support is being gathered at GoFundMe.com/f/ hd-page-bucking-bull-legend.
Because when a legend like Cool Whip is gone, the memories and the people who made them carry the sunshine forward, and somewhere above the chutes, that same ray of sunshine is still kicking up dirt.
Article courtesy of PBR.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media.
*-Added Money Amount Is For Each Night Information Subject to Change Without Notice
Date Location Added $ Open Time Call-In # Assn/Event
BULL RIDING EVENTS
FEBRUARY
Feb 3 Abingdon, VA
$1,000 1/26 12pm gosebra.com SEBRA
Feb 5 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Feb 6-7 Muskogee, OK Bull Riders, Inc. National Finals
Feb 6-7 Salt Lake City, UT PBR Unleash the Beast
Feb 6-7 Ottumwa, IA Bullriders of America Finals
Feb 6-7 Hampton, VA PBR Velocity Tour
Feb 6-7 Grand Forks, ND PBR Velocity Tour
Feb 6-7 Verndale, MN
Feb 7 Moab, UT
Feb 7 Columbus, OH
Feb 10 Abingdon, VA
$8,000 1/26 5-8pm 651-248-2663 NFPB
$5,000 1/26 & 2/2 970-639-0150 Bull Wars Bull Riding
$60,000 Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo
$1,000 2/2 12pm gosebra.com SEBRA
Feb 12 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Feb 13-14 Battle Creek, MI 2/4 nextgenrodeo.com SEBRA / TK Pro Rodeo
Feb 13-14 Pittsburgh, PA PBR Unleash the Beast
Feb 13-14 Lexington, KY PBR Velocity Tour
Feb 13-14 Everett, WA PBR Velocity Tour
Feb 13-14 St Paul, MN
$60,000 Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo
Feb 13-14 Dade City, FL Elite Bullriders Association
Feb 14 Kissimmee, FL
$5,000 2/2 9am - 2/6 6pm T 904-333-5910 Elite Bullriders Association
Feb 14 Raphine, VA Mon prior gosebra.com SEBRA/Begoon Brothers Bucking Bulls
Feb 17 Abingdon, VA
$1,000 2/9 12pm gosebra.com SEBRA
Feb 19 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Feb 20 Wauchula, FL
$2,500 T 941-713-9396 Elite Bullriders Association
Feb 20-21 Jacksonville, FL PBR Unleash the Beast
Feb 20-21 Reno, NV PBR Velocity Tour
Feb 20-21 Sedalia, MO
$4,000 2/9 6pm 417-924-3591 NFPB
Feb 20-21 Johnson City, TN SEBRA
Feb 21 Corsicana, TX WPBRO
Feb 21 Toledo, OH Professional Championship Bull Riders
Feb 22 San Antonio, TX $35,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Feb 24 Abingdon, VA
$1,000 2/16 12pm gosebra.com SEBRA
Feb 26 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Feb 27-28 Bridgeport, CT PBR Unleash the Beast
Feb 27-28 Youngstown, OH PBR Velocity Tour
Feb 28 Whitewright, TX 2/23-25 817-296-4766 Dodson Bull Bash (Open, 35+, Junior)
Feb 28 Raphine, VA
Feb 28 Navarre, OH
$750 Pro Mon prior gosebra.com SEBRA/Begoon Brothers Bucking Bulls
$1000 Pro 6pm gosebra.com SEBRA/Buckin’ on the Ridge MARCH
Mar 5 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
*-Added Money Amount Is For Each Night Information Subject to Change Without Notice
Date Location Added $ Open Time Call-In # Assn/Event
Mar 6-7 Little Rock, AR PBR Unleash the Beast
Mar 6-7 Reading, PA PBR Velocity Tour
Mar 6-7 Chatham, VA True Grit Rodeo / Extreme Bull Bash
Mar 12 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Mar 13 Austin, TX
$35,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Mar 13-14 Vernal, UT PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Mar 13-14 Tallahassee, FL PBR Unleash the Beast
Mar 13-14 Louisville, KY
Mar 13-14 Brooksville, FL
$60,000 Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo
$3,000* 3/9 727-359-2044 Elite Bullriders Association
Mar 14 Bakersfield, CA PBR Velocity Tour
Mar 17-18 Mercedes, TX PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Mar 19 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Mar 20-21 Palm Desert, CA PBR Velocity Tour
Mar 21-22 Indianapolis, IN PBR Unleash the Beast
Mar 22 Vero Beach, FL Elite Bullriders Association
Mar 26 Fort Worth, TX PBR Stockyards Showcase
Mar 27-28 Fresno, CA PBR Velocity Tour
Mar 27-28 Macclenny, FL
Mar 27-28 Ivins, UT
Mar 27-28 Du Quoin, IL
Mar 27-28 Laughlin, NV
$1,000* 3/23 6-9pm 904-334-2378 Elite Bullriders Association
$40,000 PRCA Xtreme Bulls
$7,500 3/16 405-320-2077 NFPB
$60,000 Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo
Mar 27-29 Albuquerque, NM PBR Unleash the Beast
YOUTH BULL RIDING EVENTS
FEBRUARY
Feb 21 TBD T 832-233-4625 TOYBR Southeast
Feb 28 Whitewright, TX 2/23-25 817-296-4766 Dodson Bull Bash (Open, 35+, Junior)
MARCH
Mar 21 TBD T 832-233-4625 TOYBR Southeast
Mar 22 Saginaw, TX postmarked by 3/16 817-822-1108 Texas Youth Bull Riders
BUCKING BULL EVENTS
FEBRUARY
Feb 7 Midland, TX ABBI
Feb 7 New Location in OK ABBI / ClaimABull
Feb 14 Ada, OK ABBI / Bar O - LJ’s Maiden Derby #2
Feb 21 Oklahoma City, OK ABBI
MARCH
Mar 6 Little Rock, AR ABBI
Mar 7 TBA ABBI / ClaimABull
Mar 7 Chatham, VA 2/22 9am - 3/1 5pm 434-509-8530 ABBI / True Grit Futurity
Mar 14 Abilene, TX ABBI
Mar 21 Ft. Scott, KS ABBI / BJ Cattle
Mar 21 Indianapolis, IN
Mar 28 Ada, OK
*-Added Money Amount Is For Each Night Information Subject to Change Without Notice
/ Bar O
Bracket 6 was one for the bulls at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Pro Rodeo Tournament. Only two riders were successful in each round and it happened to be the same two. None were better than Tristen Hutchings from Monteview, Idaho. He finished at the top of round one and finished that up with the same result in round 2. Hutchings rodeo the Rafter G Rodeo bull named Moostache for 88.5 to win the bracket’s opening round. He advances to the Semi-Finals with $8,000 in earnings. FWSSR photo by James
Bruno Carvalho from Alvares Florence, Sao Paulo, Brazil was the only rider successful on three bulls at the Professional Bull Riders Denver Chute-Out. His final ride on Smokin Hot from Double S Bull Company/Cervi was worth 88.7 points to earn him the title at the National Western Stock Show. NWSS photo by Ric Andersen.
PISGAH, AL - TIM COX, TCB, ANYTIME, CALL FIRST, 256-996-9426
NEW MARKET, AL - EC Hunt, 5:30pm Sun., 256-683-8169
BATESVILLE, AR - James Bechdoldt, Anytime, Call First, 870-307-9923
CONWAY, AR - Mark Lindsey, Ride & Shine Cattle Company, Anytime, Call First, 501-730-4557
ELFRIDA, AZ - D Davis Bucking Bulls, 4pm Sat., Call First, 520-642-3737
LINCOLN, CA - B Bar Ranch, B Bar Indoor Arena, Rain or Shine, All Rough Stock, 916-206-4059
MARYSVILLE, CA - PacWest, 5pm Wed., Steers & Bulls, Call First, 530-751-6643
FRESNO, CA - Toro Bravo Arena, Thur. by appt., Call First, 559-577-2445
ELIZABETH, CO - Tuff Garcia, Tuff E Nuff, 6pm Mon., Rain or Shine, 970-846-0788
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO - Tuff E Nuff, 6pm Wed., Apr-Nov., 970-846-6828/3354
ALDEN, IA - Circle C Rodeo, 6pm Wed., Rain or Shine, Call for alternate dates 641-373-3625
WOODBINE, IA - Tom & Kristina Kelley, every Sun. (weather permitting). Beginner - rank bulls. Call 712-5922493
KENDALLVILLE, IN - B Bar A Bucking Bulls, Heidi Speicher, 7pm Every Thur, Call First, 260-564-5864/Troy
JACKSONVILLE, IL - Lazy C Rodeo, 10am-3pm Sun., Rain or shine, Call First, 217-245-8280
JACKSONVILLE, NC - Aleck Barnard, Elite Cowboy Rodeo Assoc., Onslow Rodeo Arena, 6pm Every Other Sunday, Call First, 910-381-8597
CHANDLER, OK - JAM Bulls, 2pm Sun., 7pm Wed., Call First, 405-570-9010
SOPER/HUGO, OK - RBL Rodeo Bulls, Anytime with 4-6 hour notice, Rain or Shine, 307-461-1741
EAGLEVILLE, TN - BF Cattle Company, 2pm Sun., Jackpot, Call First, 615-336-4313
EMORY, TX - Oakes & Greene’s, 7pm Wed., 903-348-8630
LORENA, TX - Rocking S Ranch, Tue., Jackpot, Call First, 254-716-0779
MANSFIELD, TX - JC Knapp Ranch, 4pm Sun/6pm Wed., $5 at the gate to ride as many as you want, 817-223-3692
SIMMS, TX - Wilburn Bucking Bulls, 7pm Every Other Thur., 903-543-3025
PETROLIA, TX - Norris Dalton, 7pm Wed., 940-733-3020
DECATUR, TX - Cullen Calame, Denton Creek Farms, Call First, 940-393-3730
NOCONA, TX - 4x Arena, Call First, 501-944-1907
NOCONA, TX - Locke Bucking Bulls, Call First, 940-872-0733
WILLS POINT, TX - Austin Arena Bulls, Barrels, & Poles. $10 per ride/run or $25 for all you can ride. Bulls for all ages. 214-7265799
BATESVILLE, AR - James Bechdoldt, White River Rodeo, 870-307-9923
RAYMOND, IL - Randy Littrell, Shop Creek Cattle, 217-556-0551
MARYSVILLE, KS - Gary Hershey, 4H Bucking Bulls and Marysville Sale Barn, Call First, 785-292-4952
LAKE CHARLES, LA - Keith Strickland, Deep South Rodeo Genetics, 337-304-1493
SALEM, MO - Hwy 32 & 72, Salem Livestock Auction, 573-729-8880
HELENA, MT - Jim Horne, Bull Horne Ranch, 406-459-5706
FERNLEY, NV - Nathan Pudsey, Circle P Bucking Bulls, 775-750-2168
CLAYTON, NM - Justin Keeth, Lazy J 3 Bucking Bulls, 575-447-0877
BETHESDA, OH - 15 Miles off I-70, TCB Ranch, 304-281-4530
SOPER/HUGO, OK - RBL Rodeo Bulls, Anytime w/ 4-6 hours notice, 307-461-1741
BOX ELDER, SD - Gus “Duane” Aus, Lazy Heart O Ranch, 605-923-3426
BUCHANAN, TN - Parsons & Milam 731-642-8346
CLARKSVILLE, TX - Brian Agnew, BA Livestock, 903-669-9189
Your Ad Could Be Here! Call 325-500-2855 for more details
DUBLIN, TX - Mike Godfrey, Godfrey 4X Cattle, 817-235-2852
MANSFIELD, TX - JC Knapp Ranch, JC Knapp Rodeo, 817-223-3692
MIDLAND, TX - Ted Norton, Norton Bucking Bulls, 432-413-8433
DECATUR, TX - Cullen Calame, Denton Creek Farms, 940-393-3730
SIMMS, TX - Near I-30 Texarkana, Wilburn Bucking Bulls, 863-381-2799
CHEYENNE, WY - Floyd & Ann Thomas, TTnT Ranch, 307-778-8806
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By Kelly B. Robbins
Long days ridin’ in the saddle
Cause weathered thoughts to appear
Faded memories that somehow linger
Bringing smiles and sometimes tears
Memories of friends and days gone by
Can creep up at one time or another
Like the sweet hug you’d get from your mama Or hill climbs shared with your brother
That dance held at your neighbor’s barn
Where you stole your first kiss as a boy Or the sound of mighty pounding hooves
As your favorite horse ran for joy
Remember that first shot of whiskey
That burned your gut all the way down Or the best apple pie in the county
At Ma Blake’s restaurant in town
How bout that big fight with old Clancy
When he gave you a broken nose
Or that date with the green-eyed young lady
When you took her a cactus rose
Ah, memories bring a cowpoke some comfort
Times past and times spent at home
They help him endure the life he has now
As he guards the cow herd alone
Two-time PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood was the only rider to go 3-for-3 in Tampa to win the PBR Unleash The Beast event inside a sold-out Benchmark International Arena. Before this sweet triumph, Lockwood, who has openly discussed finding himself and God to overcome personal and physical struggles, last won an elite event in 2020. Lockwood is the youngest champion in PBR history, winning the title as a 20-year-old in 2017. In 2019, he became the youngest two-time world champion.