By Olivia Jessup | Echo
Everyone knows that if you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
But that doesn't stop people from around the state from visiting Marion, Ind., every Friday night at 7:30 to watch as a number of people try to stay on a bull for as long as they can, risking injury or even death.
"If you bull ride, you can't be afraid to die," said Katie Murphy, a former bull rider, explaining the injuries she has seen during rodeo events. "It's a lifestyle. Our lives revolve around our horses and our bulls."
Last year, bull rider Caleb Tinsman died from injuries he received while bull riding. His family and memory were honored with a plaque on Friday, Jan.17. His family still participates in the bull riding events in Marion and supports the organization.
Although riding is dangerous, anyone can do it, according to bull rider Mike Borzych. "But no matter what happens, the rider always walks out," he said. "Someone might have to help you, but you don't get carried out on a stretcher."
"A lot of the guys don't know each other, but they treat each other like family," Borzych said. They work together inside the gate, which is more dangerous than the ring, according to Borzych.
Riders come from all over the Midwest to participate in the event, according to Scott Manwell, who helps run the series. They come from any number of places, from South Bend to Logansport to Monticello. Manwell noted that some had even come from as far as Florida.
The series is held each Friday night at the 4-H fairgrounds in Marion. The bulls are brought in from Celina, Ohio, according to Manwell, who helps run the series. The event lasts from 7:30 to around 9:30. The series has been going on for several years now, from the beginning of October to the end of March, according to Manwell. The event costs $8, but students who bring their photo ID will get a dollar off. All of the money from the series goes back into the Fair Association to support the upkeep and maintenance of the fairgrounds. For more information, check out the Grant County Bull Riding Facebook page.
