Reaching the goal of a bucking bull being a seasoned professional athlete may be achieved by understanding them psychologically.
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem. Quote by A. A. Milne, author of "Winne-the-Pooh".
Animals are very perceptive to the interactions of life. The popularity of bull riding had added many new people as they are drawn to the adrenaline and excitement in raising bucking bulls. Bull riding brings an attraction to danger. People want to see a classic David and Goliath matchup. They want to see a 150-pound cowboy go up against a 2,000 pound animal. Bulls are intelligent animals with their own personalities. Psychology Today reported a study by Lori Marino and Kristin Allen that found livestock can quickly learn how to complete different tasks, have long-term memory, and can tell people apart. Plus, bulls also learn their routine and will know when to expect to be fed.
Dr. Temple Grandin PhD, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, has made the Time 100 list of the people who most affect our world, and is the subject of an Emmy Award-winning HBO film. Dr. Temple Grandin has revolutionized animal welfare, particularly the production animal industry. She reminds all of us animals are highly emotional, sensitive beings, and that understanding their behavior can help us better serve them as stewards which includes veterinarians.
Bulls have an exceptional level of awareness meaning that they can understand situations. They are so attentive that they can pick on other people's emotions through body language, voice, or just the general vibe you give off. This type of awareness can lead to much more positive experiences with and for bulls.
Here are some experiences bulls will remember forever!
PLACES
Bulls have quasi photographic memory, meaning that they can remember places very clearly. It can be positive or negative, depending on the experience they had in a particular place. Imagine your bull witnessed a very traumatic event.
Excessive mishandling in the working chute and hurrying them, hot shots, or being hit. Most likely he will never forget the place or event and move away from that area. If your bull seems hesitating to go somewhere, listen to him, comfort him and trust him, he knows what he's doing.
PEOPLE
As bulls have an almost photographic memory, it's no surprise that they remember people by their faces. They can read our facial expressions and remember them for later, too. Your mood when training or handling a bull is important. Being calm and quiet the first time meeting or working with a bull leaves a good impression. A bull's learning curve will be enhanced in training by using a calm voice, working slowly, and daily repetition. Your voice will validate the process is not stressful and begin a level of trust. ADDING calm music will bring more peace to their environment. Successful stock contractors or owners often interact with a bull and wash or groom them depending on their comfort level with people. Bulls often become part of the family due to their individual personality interacting with people. Bulls understand they are special when treated that way and spoken to of their abilities. A lot of bulls enjoy being pampered and rubbed on their backs to demonstrate kindness/genuine caring toward them which is a positive form of bonding. Oftentimes the bond between contractor and bull becomes so strong that the animal is thought of as a member of the family. Stories abound about the extravagant lengths to which some contractors go to pamper a prized bucking bull. One owner would give his bull bottled water because the animal wouldn't drink water from a hose. Many retired bulls that competed professionally live out their days in comfort. Some bulls achieving star status in the PBR or NFR then return after their career as a breeding bull, and when the bull dies he's given a headstone.
EMOTIONS
Besides places and people, bulls have an innate ability to recognize human emotions. Bulls have a tendency to perceive body language, even the most subtle, which helps them determine a person's feelings. If we are feeling stressed, sad or angry, our physical appearance tends to reflect this. Same goes when we feel happy or excited. Bulls don't just read emotions, they also remember a person based on the last emotion they felt
from their last interaction. Example: Daily greeting them at feeding time by talking in an upbeat happy tone and energy to tell them "Good Morning!". Example: When hauling to an event many times the bull's handler offers a positive "pep talk" before the performance reassuring the bull of his abilities to buck with intensity and score high. Encouraging them to showcase their skills. Reminding them they only have to "work" for 8 seconds or less. When hauling bulls to an event and one is disappointed in the performance score and show frustration by verbally shouting out one's anger at them directly brings a negative energy to the bull. It is your choice... choose wisely and speak positive words.
OTHER BULLS
Humans aren't the only ones who can leave an indelible imprint on a bull. Bulls can remember and recognize other bulls from their social network/herd. Whether it takes a few years or decades, one bull will not forget its relationship with another. This doesn't mean as much they will pair up with each other if they ever get together. One bull will react to another if the bond they had was particularly strong. If he knows a bull from a previous encounter, he may treat it differently than others. Example - separating a bull from the social herd to haul to an event can be a big stressor due to the loss of his "buddy bull". Therefore this may bring "separation anxiety" reducing the desire to eat or excessive pacing in the pen. Upon returning bull to the herd they rejoin with much excitement to return "home" back to their familiar bull group. Example - a bull being hauled extensively spending mega miles on the road for extended weeks. A bull needs to take a break and return to his "home"/pasture for a rest and comingling with the herd again. It hopefully brings restored energy and plus weight gain returning for a pasture R&R (rest and recreation).
Other important bonds between bulls, like the one that unites a Dam and her bull calf, are known to last a lifetime. As bulls also remember smells, this can help a Dam recognize her baby calf, even years after separation.
WORDS
Bulls are able to understand words much deeper than we thought, but not in the traditional sense we give words. They understand the words by tone, height, and length of voice. Words with fewer syllables tend to stick better to bulls. Bulls can recognize their owners. Not only are they able to recognize their face, but also their voice. They can tell when someone is insulting them and when someone is complimenting them. Don't underestimate their intelligence, because there's a good chance they're listening very attentively to every word you utter. Simple positive words are powerful. Example quoting this memorable line from "The Help" movie by Aiblieen Clark: "You is kind. You is smart. You is important". Example: You are a star with the purpose to buck becoming a PBR / NFR bull. You are healthy and strong. You are a gift from God and your gift is bucking off bullriders. The written words by the creator of the universe state in Proverbs 12:14 "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth..."(KJV). Your words are powerful and speaking them consistently is important. Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard over my mouth Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." The words you speak hold immense power.
Nebraska rodeo clown/barrel man, Alan Svoboda, who works bull riding at rodeos stated, "They are beautiful animals -the bulls- well, the Professional Bull Riders bull of the year, I have a video of his wife and daughter giving him a shower, but you should see him buck." He added, "The bulls are the STARS. We're just the supporting cast. Even the cowboys are the supporting cast. People who don't think animals are intelligent or have a personality have never been around these animals," he said. "In rodeo, we take care of the animals because they're more valuable than the cowboys, but we don't want to see anyone get hurt."
Bulls are incredibly gifted animals, and should be treated as such. Good bulls are powerful but the great ones are also smart. Red Rock #007, one of the few bulls inducted into the 1990 Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, went unridden in 309 attempts because he reputedly always bucked away from the hand the cowboy used to grip the bull rope, making an already difficult ride more challenging. Bulls with that level of intelligence are rare and a wonder to watch in action. PRCA statistics: NFR 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. There are bulls that will buck in the same pattern their whole life, but then you get a bull like Bushwacker (ABBI 10058008), and people ask what he's going to do? Bushwacker doesn't even know what he's going to do until he leaves the gate he is so smart. Their intelligence is to noted by people. This super star was a 23 point bull with 82 outs - showcasing his amazing talents by being a PBR World Champ, ABBI Classic Champ, 6 times at PBR world finals, and one of the Top 10 bulls rated.
Having an idea of the memories bulls hold with them forever will allow you to understand and communicate with them even more deeply. Whatever the experience, good or bad, you can be sure your bull has felt it fully. Do your best to speak positive words to them plus give them a good memory, and they will surely do the same.
Dr. Jane Goodall the English scientist that set standards on behavioral studies with wild chimpanzees simply stated after years spent with animals, "You cannot share your life with a dog or cat and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings."
Bulls have high social cognitive skills towards humans, which may explain in part the fact that humans and bulls have a collaborative relationship today.
Therefore, understanding communication traits in bulls can enable us to create stronger bonds and ultimately, make us better caregivers and better trainers.
