Long John (bull) facts for kids
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| Long John | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Breed | American Bucking Bull |
| Brand | 58x |
| Sex | Bull |
| Color | Brown |
| Weight | 1,800 lbs |
| Born | 2010 Ardmore, Oklahoma |
| Years active | 2013-2017 |
| Sire | 009 Show Time |
| Paternal grandsire | Wolfdancer |
| Paternal granddam | AR 009 |
| Dam | Page 510/4 |
| Maternal grandsire | Mossy Oak Mudslinger |
| Breeder | D&H Cattle Co. |
| Owner | D&H Cattle Co. |
| Notable riders | J.B. Mauney, J.W. Harris, Fabiano Vieira |
| Died | February 21, 2017 (aged 6) Ardmore, Oklahoma |
| Awards | |
| 2015 PBR World Champion Bull 2015 PRCA Reserve Champion Bull |
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Long John #58x (born in 2010 – died February 21, 2017) was a famous bucking bull. He became the best bull in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) in 2015. This means he was the PBR World Champion Bull. In 2016, he tied for the top spot with two other bulls, Bruiser and Pearl Harbor. However, his half-brother, Sweet Pro's Bruiser, won the tiebreaker.
In 2015, Long John also earned the title of Reserve Champion Bull in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He came in second place that year. In 2016, Time Magazine named Long John one of the 100 Most Influential Animals. He was placed 50th on their list. Long John was loved by both fans and bull riders. After he passed away, the PBR CEO, Sean Gleason, said, "Long John was an amazing athlete with the heart of a champion."
Contents
Long John's Story: From Birth to Champion
Where Did Long John Come From?
Long John was born in 2010 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He was born on the Rockin P Ranch. This ranch belongs to the D&H Cattle Company. Dillon Page and his son H.D. Page run this company.
Long John's father was a bull named 009 Show Time. His mother was Page 510/4. Show Time's grandfather was Wolfdancer. Show Time's grandmother was AR 009, who was the daughter of another famous bull named Bodacious. Show Time himself was a finalist in the PBR World Finals twice.
Long John's mother's grandfather was Mossy Oak Mudslinger. Mossy Oak Mudslinger was also a bull from D&H Cattle Company. He won the PBR World Champion Bull title in 2006. In 2017, the PBR honored Mossy Oak Mudslinger for his great career. Long John is the half-brother of Sweet Pro's Bruiser. Bruiser was also a PBR World Champion and Bucking Bull of the Year. They both had the same father but different mothers.
Long John's Amazing Career
Long John was also known as Sweet Pro's Long John. This was because he was sponsored by SweetPro Feeds. He competed in both the PBR and the PRCA events. His unique name came from a type of chocolate donut called "Long John."
Long John competed in the PBR for five years. Four of those years were on the top-level Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS). He won important titles in both the PBR and the PRCA. On the BFTS, bull riders tried to ride him 39 times. They were able to stay on for a "qualified ride" (8 seconds) only 7 times. Across all competitions, he had 69 attempts, with 9 qualified rides. This means he bucked off riders 86.96% of the time!
Long John was a very popular bull in the PBR. He was known for his incredible athletic ability. Even though he weighed almost 1,900 pounds, he was very quick and could kick like a much smaller bull. This made him very hard to ride. Three times, riders managed to score over 90 points on him. J.W. Harris rode him for one 90-point score. J.B. Mauney rode him for two 90-point scores. Long John and Mauney had a bit of a rivalry, meeting four times. They each won two of those matchups.
Long John's Best Year: 2015
The year 2015 was Long John's best season. He won the PBR World Champion Bull title. On the last day of the PBR BFTS World Finals, Fabiano Viera tried to ride him. Long John bucked Viera off in 7.41 seconds. He earned a high score of 47.25 points for his performance. This score helped Long John beat his brother Sweet Pro's Bruiser and another famous bull, Jared Allen's Air Time, for the championship. He scored 2 points higher than Bruiser. His owner received $50,000 and a new trailer for this win. In 2015, he had 10 scores over 45 points on the BFTS. He finished the 2015 BFTS season with 11 wins and only 3 losses. He did this even with some foot injuries.
Long John's Performance in 2016 and 2017
In 2016, Long John was the highest-scored bull twice. He earned a 46.75 bull score in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also scored 46.50 points in Billings, Montana. J.B. Mauney achieved one of his two 90-point rides on Long John this year. He scored 90.25 points in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Long John competed seven times in 2016. His buckoff rate reached 85.71% for his whole career by the end of 2016. For the 2016 season alone, it was 90.91%.
In 2017, Long John only competed twice before he became ill. In Oklahoma City, he bucked off Mason Lowe. He earned a 45.75 bull score for that ride. Then, in Kansas City, Missouri, he bucked off the former world leader Jess Lockwood. He received a 45.25 point bull score for that performance.
Long John's Passing
On Thursday, February 17, 2017, Long John seemed perfectly fine. His owner, H.D. Page, said he was "acting like a calf." However, the next morning, Page realized Long John was sick. He quickly took him to a veterinarian in Newcastle, Oklahoma.
Long John's health got worse even though he was in the hospital. He had complications and sadly passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. This happened the morning before he was scheduled for surgery. He was almost 7 years old.
Long John's Awards and Recognitions
- 2016 PBR World Champion Bull contender†
- 2016 Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential Animals - Long John Placed 50th.
- 2015 PBR World Champion Bull
- 2015 PRCA Reserve Champion Bull
- 2014 ABBI World Champion Classic Bull
†Long John tied for the championship with Bruiser and Pearl Harbor, but Bruiser won the tiebreaker.
Images for kids
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Long John in action
