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A World Title Was the Last Thing on H.D. Page’s Mind When Sweetpro’s Bruiser Fell Ill in August

By: Justin Felisko

LAS VEGAS – H.D. Page does not use the word “scary” often, but that was the case in late August when he waited nervously at the Boren Veterinary Medical Hospital at Oklahoma State University.

Page had woke up in the morning to check on SweetPro’s Bruiser and see the reigning three-time YETI World Champion Bull out in his pen. About two hours later, Page noticed something appeared seriously wrong with his prized animal, and he immediately knew he had to rush Bruiser to Oklahoma State.

It was there that Dr. Robert Streeter explained to H.D., Mesa Pate and H.D.’s daughter Karley that Bruiser was in rough shape.

“I don’t want to give you the wrong impression,” H.D. recalls Streeter telling him, “but don’t be surprised if we call you in the morning and tell you he didn’t make it.”

No stock contractor or bull owner ever wants to hear those words, and Page was fearful of what may happen next.

Bruiser had developed a serious intestinal infection and a fecal impaction. Streeter, Dr. Bryan Weaver, and their team at OSU immediately got Bruiser on a series of antibiotics and IVs.

“He was really sick,” Page said. “You just don’t see animals get this sick very often. I don’t know. It was scary. It was so scary, too, when there was a point in time where the world title and all that was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t give a shit about that.”

Bruiser spent more than a week at Oklahoma State, receiving 24-hour care and treatment before eventually being released.

“They wouldn’t have saved him if not for that,” Page said.

The 8-year-old legend lost up to 250 pounds because of the illness, Page estimates, and through most of September and early October there was uncertainty as to whether or not Bruiser would ever return to competition.

However, Bruiser continued to fight and battle his way back to full health. Bruiser has since made a full recovery, according to Page, and he is set to buck during Round 2 of the 2019 PBR World Finals on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena.

 
“He fought through that deal and he is on the upswing now,” Page said. “He has gained a lot of weight back that he lost. He had gotten into really bad shape. Now he seems to be good. He looks good. He feels good. I haven’t bucked him. Physically he may not be perfect, but he might be, too. I don’t know.”

Bruiser lasted bucked at the Music City Knockout in Nashville, Tennessee, disposing of Rookie of the Year leader Dalton Kasel in 7.7 seconds for a 45.5-point bull score.

Page believed Bruiser was poised to make a push at a record-setting fourth World Championship this year following that out.

That was, until Bruiser became ill, putting an end to his regular season.

Bruiser begins the World Finals sitting fifth in the YETI World Champion Bull standings with a World Champion Bull average of 45.38 points. No. 1 Smooth Operator is marching toward his first world title with a 45.84-point average.

“He would be coming in here winning it if that did not happen,” Page said. “He was just starting to hit his stride, but whatever. I know I have pride ownership issues. I definitely think it would have been a different story if he comes in here with four more events on his belt. Who knows, though. That is all campfire talk about what would have happened.”

Instead, Page is happy his bull is healthy and back to being himself again. Bruiser could still make a run at the $25,000 YETI Bull of the Finals title as well in Las Vegas this week.

 
“Nothing about those Pages surprise me when it comes to their bucking bulls,” two-time World Champion and CBS Sports Network analyst Justin McBride said. “They know more than anyone. I hope he can have a really great Finals because he is one hell of a bull. Every time you talk about bucking bulls, a lot of credit goes to the Pages. Everybody follows what they do. They have set the standard. They were the first ones to do it at the level they did. They are the best to me. Chad (Berger) has won a lot of awards and he has done it in a different way than H.D. has. He is the best at what he does, but the Pages are the best at doing it the way they do.”

Bruiser squares off against 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel in Round 2. Bruiser is 3-0 against Teel, including a 6.15-second buckoff in Duluth, Georgia, last season.

“I need to keep square and keep my feet down,” Teel said. “Do the basics and little things right, you have to ride him. He is such a desirable bull to draw. If you stub your toe, he will buck you off. I am just excited to go at him. I have an idea what he really feels like. I will try to use that and get 8 this time.”’

Bruiser has a history of overcoming the odds in Las Vegas. Just last year, Bruiser won his record-tying third World Championship despite missing the final four months of the regular season with a minor stifle and back issue. In 2016, Page and Pate spent most of the World Finals up late at night wrapping Bruiser’s hocks to help deal with inflammation and swelling as Bruiser went on to win his first world title.

The D&H Cattle Company bovine star is 7-3 in 10 outs in Las Vegas with an average bull score of 45.48 points.

“I wouldn’t doubt that bull knows he is in Vegas,” Teel said. “He is so smart, and he feels the energy. He rises to the part every time. I am excited to have him here. All I see is a really good opportunity to do something great.”

Teel was unaware of Bruiser’s severe illness this summer, and he certainly will not be taking for granted the chance to attempt to ride the living legend.

“I definitely am excited to have him again,” Teel said. “It has been on my mind this year that they may be retiring him soon. I have wanted a chance to have him again and ride him. What better place to ride him than Round 2 at the PBR World Finals?”

Page said on Wednesday during Round 1 of the World Finals that he is not leaning toward retiring Bruiser just yet.

However, it will still depend how Bruiser looks and feels at the World Finals this week and at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas next month.

“I am going to play it by ear,” Page said. “As of right now, I can tell you I am planning on winning Bull of the Year next year with him. But I am going to play it by ear, and it is going to be up to him. If I feel for one second that he doesn’t have the ability or it will be asking him for too much (then I will retire him).”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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