Anyway, amongst the stock to be loaded was a bull name "Pretty Boy". Now, this bloke (the bull) had the biggest set of horns you ever did see in your life! He was a crowd favourite at rodeos as he was meaner than a cut cat. He would almost always off load the rider and THEN had a habit of "going" (attacking) anything that moved in the yard! He was probably about 1200Kgs (I dunno what that is in Lbs.... a bloody lot, let me tell you) of muscle and bad manners!

    Now, whilst his handler/owner was in the yard with us, he was gentle as a lamb! Now, since John and I were not rodeo folk, we just kinda regarded him as any other bull..... to be treated with respect, sure, but not to fear in any way! We sure didn't have any idea of his reputation!
 
    After we had loaded the other cattle, it came time to ummmmm encourage Pretty Boy that he should walk into the trailer! A simple task one would think for a couple of experienced stock carters!
 
    There was just a couple of little problems!

    Firstly, just as we were about to load him, his owner got a call over the P.A. that he had a phone call and, naturally enough, went to answer it! The departure of his "boss" seemed to be a signal that Pretty Boy should start to display the temperament for which he was renowned! Secondly, he just did NOT like the idea of getting into that stock crate!

    Now, I am 6'2" and have an arm span of about the same. I can ASSURE you that Pretty Boy's horns span was MUCH greater.... and they were REAL sharp looking!

    Upon the departure of the "boss", he started to snort and carry on! I guess he figured this was a rodeo and we were a couple of clowns! He was quite correct about the second!

    John and I both had our electric sticks (cattle prodders) and we started to TRY and usher this great mountain of meat towards the ramp! Pretty Boy had other ideas! With a snort, he turned back on us and made a half hearted attempt to charge! As John had no idea just WHAT temperament this huge beast had, he did what most anyone would! He extended the prodder towards the bull and "zapped" him on the nose!

    Talk about wave a red flag at a bull! All hell broke loose! NOW we had on our hands one VERY powerful and VERY angry bull, that knew ALL the tricks learnt in the rodeo arena over many years!

    First he "went" John, whom, I guess, he saw as his tormentor! To try and protect John, I let out a bellow and distracted his attention! BIG mistake!

    He stopped, turned on sixpence and turned his attention on me! I have to tell you, it was NOT the sort of attention I like to have! Flat strap, he charged at me, roaring and raking his horns.....I thought that this might be a good time to kinda remove myself from his presence!

    Now I am not scared of man nor beast, but this was ONE time that I thought that discretion was the better part of valour, so I bolted as quick as I could move for the rails. Over the top I went, seemingly clearing the top rail (at about 7') in one leap! All thought of preserving my prodder were LONG forgotten! There was only one small problem!

    JOHN figured that the same rail on the SAME fence at the SAME time was a good place for HIM to be as well! Over the top he went! Now, Pretty Boy never actually got EITHER of us, but I can tell you that I was very dizzy for about an hour where John's boot came into contact with my head on the way over the top!

    I think the mark where Pretty Boy hit the rails behind us is still there!

    By the way..... we DID end up getting him on the truck! We sat and waited for the "Boss" to return. He simply walked up to him, told him he was a bad bull and PUSHED him by hand into the back of the trailer!

    I have to tell you we were two very embarrassed stockmen!
 

Copyright © Ian (Indy) Rosser
Po Box 140
Griffith NSW 2680
Australia
8th August 1998
(Updated 20th August 2023