A Look at American Bucking Bull, Inc.

By: PBR

An American Bucking Bull is a registered cattle breed that is created through the careful reproducing of parents (Sires & Dams) with documented genetics. American Bucking Bull, Inc. (“ABBI”) is dedicated to unifying, developing and promoting the bucking bull industry through pedigree preservation; enhancement and promotion of bucking bull ownership, breeding, care and welfare; and development of programs and events showcasing the world’s finest American Bucking Bull animals. It is a registry set up to record and preserve the pedigrees of the world’s premier American Bucking Bull breed. ABBI works diligently to develop diverse and comprehensive programs and events that educate and familiarize owners, members, the general public and the media in the unique heritage, history and qualities of The American Bucking Bull.

ABBI started in 2004 and then began a rapid expansion of its business beginning in 2008 through the registration, verification and maintenance of pedigrees for the American Bucking Bull breed; the organization, management and promotion of programs and events benefiting stock owners; and providing incentives, benefits and opportunities to ABBI’s owners and members which enhance the value and integrity of the American Bucking Bull breed.

Events for younger bulls either 1 or 2 years of age will be bucked with a 15- or 25-pound dummy, as they are still growing, and it is also transition period to prepare young bulls and encourage the act of bucking without having them attempt to handle a rider in their first couple of years. A dummy is lined with thick, soft neoprene for a comfortable fit on the bull’s back when attached by a cinch. Safety is the first priority while having a goal to encourage a bucking bull’s natural desire to buck. In order to promote the best athletic performance, a proper fit and comfort is key.

 
Yearling and Futurity bulls are bucked for four seconds at a time under the dummy, which serves as a training method and teaches young bovines skills they will later need when they do face a rider. The release of a dummy, through a pin attached to the flank strap, rewards a bull for bucking, which in turn motivates bucking behavior.

A top-caliber bucking bull can be valued for upwards of $250,000, or even more in many cases. The bulls are treated as living, breathing assets due to the enormous investment these bovine animals carry – both monetary and emotional. A lot of time and labor goes into getting a bull to each level of competition and breeders/owners/contractors spare no expense when it comes to protecting their bovine investments – including the very best food, medical care, and transportation to and from events. A bucking bull between 3-4 years old can earn as much as $500,000 with the ABBI at competitive bucking events. As these athletes get older their earning power is primarily PBR round money and bonuses, as well as their genetic (semen and offspring) value.

YEARLING

Yearling Bucking Bulls are 1-year-old bovines that are just beginning their competitive careers. When it comes to a new bull calf, breeders and owners anticipate the first step on the competition ladder – the ABBI Yearling competitions. All bucking bulls that compete are age-verified by ABBI-certified veterinarians. Once these bovines are cleared for Yearling competition during their 1-year-old year, they can then compete at a multitude of ABBI-sanctioned 15-pound dummy events held across the U.S. ABBI offers both Yearling Bull and Yearling Heifer competitions, although heifer competitions have taken a back seat with more stock contractors choosing to breed their heifers earlier rather than compete with them. In 2018, ABBI also introduced a Fall Yearling Series that will be included again this season to supply our contractors with more opportunities to place their stock and bloodlines on display and compete for an ample amount of winnings.

FUTURITY

The next step for these bucking bulls is during their 2-year-old year as they compete in Futurity events. As mentioned before, 2-year-old bulls buck with a 25-pound dummy during events. The extra weight in the dummy compensates for the growth difference during their Yearling year, while still managing to guide these bulls in their transition to bucking with a rider once they are older. Several ABBI Futurity events are offered throughout the entire U.S. as well, with our top must-enter event being the American Heritage Futurity. In dramatic fashion, a bull entered in the American Heritage is required to be entered during the year they are born, with sustaining payments made until they compete. Essentially, contractors are betting on the bloodlines of their animals and risking it all in hopes of having the winning bull in the Futurity event that typically takes home a check for more than $100,000. It’s certainly a bet that can pay off big time. Since the conception of the American Heritage many things have changed, but it is still the largest bucking bull futurity in the country with the largest regular-season payouts.

The event was created almost 20 years ago by Dillon Page of D&H Cattle for the breeders within the ABBI to have a place to compete with a calf solely on pedigree with a chance at a very large payout, and was designed by then-ABBI President Joe Merrick following an AQHA horse program. The first official American Heritage took place in 2006 with Outa Da Bleu from Circle T Ranch earning 86 points for a $50,000 payday.

To give breeders and contractors an additional pair of higher payout opportunities, two more Heritage events were added to the schedule in 2015 to focus on the eastern and western part of the United States. The American Heritage East takes place in Archdale, North Carolina, at Jerome Davis’ Ranch and Arena, while the American Heritage West took place in Los Lunas, New Mexico, until this year when ABBI modified the event to the American Heritage South in Decatur, Texas, at the NRS Arena.

 

DERBY

This phase in ABBI competition is the transition from bucking with a dummy to bucking under a bull rider. When ABBI bulls graduate from the Futurity system, they are then classed as 3-year-old Derby bulls. These bovines will then begin the process of learning to buck with a rider. The transition can sometimes be a tricky one considering these bulls can be like gangly teenagers at this stage of their development. Buck them too early under a rider and there’s a chance they aren’t ready for the challenge and won’t perform to the best of their ability. Some stock contractors wait half a year or so to truly make the transition and even attempt to buck their Derby bulls with a rider. Once the bull is ready for a rider, owners look to match them up with equal caliber talent at lower level PBR competitions to help build the bull’s confidence while they are learning the ropes of bucking under a rider.

CLASSIC

Classic competition stage continues and solidifies a young bucker’s competitive career and welcomes both 3- and 4-year-old bulls to participate in these events. These bulls start and finish their Classic career under PBR riders at ABBI competitions held in conjunction with the PBR Unleash The Beast Tour, Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and Tour Pro Division events. At the end of the regular Classic season, the Top 40 bulls (based on earnings) qualify for the ABBI Classic World Finals in Las Vegas. Those Top 40 bulls will compete in two rounds of competition under the top 40 PBR riders in the world for a chance to win the ABBI Classic Champion title and $100,000. This bull will be decided from his Top 6 scores headed into the Finals, in addition to his two performances at the PBR World Finals. The ABBI World Finals Classic Event Champion will earn the title and $100,000 from his two performances at the PBR World Finals.

MATURITY

For bulls that have “aged out” of ABBI’s competitive formats, the Maturity events were created. After a bull’s 4-year-old season, the only thing left is for him to buck at PBR events, where these is not a chance of earnings any longer besides money that the bovines are paid per out at each event and potential bonuses for being the high-marked bull. In addition to bulls that are 5 years old or older, other bulls that are ineligible to compete in other ABBI events for various reasons may also compete in this format.

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