When the Chutes Were Wood

Description

Back when I was riding, the chutes were made of wood—rough and splintered, just like the life we chose. This piece takes me right back to those days. The bull’s got his back legs kicked high, and I’m right where I need to be—one hand locked into the rope, the other flying high like I’m daring that bull to buck harder. My chaps are flaring out, matching the bull’s fire, and you can almost feel the tension in the dirt and dust.

This bronze is a self-portrait and a reflection of a time in my life when eight seconds felt like an eternity and a blink all at once. It’s the kind of moment every bull rider knows—the adrenaline, the grit, and the hope that you’ll stick it out until the whistle.

When the Chutes Were Wood isn’t just about me—it’s for all of us who’ve climbed over those wooden rails, knowing full well we might hit the dirt harder than we’d like. It’s about chasing the ride, not for the glory but for the love of it—because that’s just who we are.