They Raise Mini-Bulls For Young Riders

They Raise Mini-Bulls For Young Riders FARM HOME recreation As a 10-year-old Roland Smith climbed aboard an unhappy bovine for his first rodeo ride That ride five decades ago led to a career that now includes raising miniature bulls for young riders around the world Smith and his wife Georgie are the owners and operators of S&S Mini Bucking Bulls in Rainsville New Mexico They care for an interesting collection of 25 cows and 40 bulls Roland Smith’s interest in mini bulls came from his own experience as a young rider “Back then we started out on steers which are smaller and less temperamental than bulls ” Smith says “When I was about 13 or 14 I started riding bulls and found the transition really tough Bull riding is an entirely different experience and many young riders get injured during those first 2 to 3 years of learning ” The Smiths thought young riders would benefit from riding smaller bulls which rode like regular bulls so they started breeding a collection of mini-bulls The term “mini-bull” is relative of course The smaller bulls are 36 to 48 in tall at the shoulder and usually weigh 750 to 1 200 lbs Regular bulls average 1 500 lbs The Smiths’ breeding experience began in 2008 with when they acquired 4 miniature Zebu cattle a breed that contains Brahma genetics Brahmas developed the bucking trait as a defensive mechanism to throw off predators Smith says “I bred the Zebus with a low-line Angus and developed what I called a ‘Brangus’ which are just like regular Angus but with shorter legs ” The Smiths began showing their Brangus bulls at rodeos and they worked fine except each one was black like an Angus with a hump like a Brahma People needed some color variety so they added Dexters into the mix a smaller and reddish Irish breed For even more variety they bred in some tan colored long-haired Scottish Highland cattle The Highland bulls spin to throw riders off their backs With those genetic crosses the Smiths had spinning bucking colorful bulls The Smiths put their bulls through basic training so they get used to people and travel They cull out bulls that turn on a rider who falls off They have 160 acres of alfalfa for feed and add grain during travel to help reduce a bull’s stress level      In 2011 the Smiths joined the Miniature Bull Riders Association MBR which was started a year earlier The Smiths travel to rodeos throughout the South and West Roland says the bulls require a lot of work especially when travelling but he and his wife enjoy it They rent bulls to rodeos for a small fee which sometimes covers expenses and once in a while they sell a bull to a family The Smiths say there’s no real money to be made in the business “We do it for the love of the sport and to help the kids ” says Roland Contact: FARM SHOW Followup S&S Mini Bulls Roland & Georgie Smith P O Box 154 Rainsville N Mex 87736 ph 719 429-4650

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