Sculpture of Bodacious

Perhaps no bucking bull in rodeo history was as feared as Bodacious, a 1,900-pound cross-bred Charbray that burst upon the scene in 1992. In four years, Bo was virtually unrideable. All muscle, the bull with the distinctive yellow coloring bucked off 127 of his 135 riders. For his efforts, Bo was named PRCA Bull of the Year in 1994–95 and top bull of the National Finals Rodeo in 1992 and 1994–95.

Bodacious was known for his explosive exit out of the chute. He started out with such force it was not uncommon to see his belly from the top of the back of the chute. His ability to buck riders off before they could even start their ride did not endear him to the cowboys – though it earned their respect.

Bodacious will forever be linked to the career of bull rider Tuff Hedeman. Bodacious already had a reputation when he and Hedeman faced off in 1993. After failing to ride him the required 8 seconds on two occasions, Hedeman rode Bodacious for a masterful, near perfect 95 points in November 1993. The ride was the best of both their careers. Bodacious was sidelined in 1994 with an injury, but he returned to the rodeo circuit in 1995 — more fierce than ever. On October 15, 1995, at the PBR Finals in Las Vegas, Hedeman randomly drew Bodacious again. Four seconds into the ride, Bodacious reared back and head-butted Hedeman, breaking every major bone in his face. After 13 hours of surgery and a remarkably fast recovery, Hedeman returned to Vegas in December 1995 to compete in the National Finals Rodeo. In the sixth round, he drew Bodacious again. Hedeman had promised his young son that he would never ride Bodacious again so he let the bull leave the chute without him. Three rounds later, Bodacious broke the face mask of another bull rider, injuring him as well. His owner, stock contractor Sammy Andrews, decided to retire him that December.

After his retirement in 1995, Bodacious made guest appearances at state fairs and rodeos throughout the U.S. His career was featured in Sports Illustrated and GQ magazines and profiled on Fox TV’s Guinness World Records Prime Time. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1999. Bo passed away in May 2000. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo provided a bucking chute to use as a memorial for Bo’s grave. The Bodacious legacy continues to live on through his offspring.