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He Trains Bulls For Rodeo Clowns
Craig Ferguson, Dover, Minn., raises and trains Brahman bulls that rodeo clowns use in their acts.
Ferguson, who has a background in training horses, got into the bull-training business while competing in rodeos throughout the Midwest. His ability to train Brahman bulls has caught the attention of rodeo clowns t
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He Trains bulls for rodeo clowns AG WORLD Ag World 16-5-20 Craig Ferguson, Dover, Minn., raises and trains Brahman bulls that rodeo clowns use in their acts.
Ferguson, who has a background in training horses, got into the bull-training business while competing in rodeos throughout the Midwest. His ability to train Brahman bulls has caught the attention of rodeo clowns throughout the U.S.
One bull trained by Ferguson, Bubba, became famous in the rodeo world after Ferguson sold it to rodeo clown John Gil-strap, of Nashville, Tenn., five years ago. Gilstrap has been the World Champion Clown every year since.
Ferguson started his bull-training business with five Brahman calves and a bull from Florida. His herd is now big enough that he can be selective when choosing a bull for training. "We look for big floppy ears, a neck that comes down quite a bit, a good-sized hump and lots of color. Brahman bulls aren't easy to train because they're either too stubborn or too wild. It takes about five years to complete training. This is just a hobby for me. I wouldn't want to do it for a living. I'd starve to death," says Ferguson, who also runs a welding shop and trailer sales business.
He starts training calves when they're about two months old. It takes about two months to determine if a bull is going to workout. Mature bulls weigh 1,500 to 2,000 lbs.
Ferguson is currently working with a 1-year-old calf named Boso. He used a bottle to wean Boso so the calf would get used to him. Then he taught Boso to be led and to get used to the weight of a saddle - and Ferguson - on his back. Ferguson is now teaching Boso to bump clowns from behind and to bow and lay down on command.
"The Walt Disney Euro-World theme park in France is interested in using Boso for its Wild Bill Hitchcock show," says Ferguson. "Soso weighs about 1,000 lbs. now. Disney wants him when he reaches a weight of 1,400 lbs. Once in a while I ride Boso to town and give kids rides. I can even ride Boso alongside railroad tracks. He's not scared of trains or cars."
For more information, contact: FARM SHOWFollowup,CraigFerguson,Box 114, Dover, Minn. 55929 (ph 507 932-5695).
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