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Bull riding in Seneca

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These are just a few of the bucking bulls on the Curt Check property near Seneca. The top bucking bull of the group is second from the left.

 

Cowboy’s Arena holds bull riding on Saturday nights

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Cowboys, cowgirls and spectators have been having a great time in recent years at bull riding events at the Cowboy’s Arena near Seneca. The bull rides are held every Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. from September through May.

“We draw bull riders and spectators from all over,” said proprietor Curt Check, who noted that about 100 people attend the events each week. “They come from Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. We are the only indoor arena within 300 miles.”

Check said that there are three divisions. The Jackpot Division is for experienced bull riders and has the best bulls. The Rookie Division is for bull riders who are 18 years old or older and who have some experience and are starting to get good. The Junior Division is for riders 18 and younger who are less experienced. The Junior Division has up and coming bulls and bull riders, said Check. The Cowboy’s Arena attracts quite a few new bull riders each year, he said. 

Bull riders ride for prize money and for buckles. Riders can also fine tune their skills by coming to the heated, indoor arena and riding practice bulls. Check said that professional bull riders will usually rest awhile following their season and then come to the Cowboy’s Arena in order to get ready for the upcoming season on the professional circuit.

Once a year, Check said that the Cowboy’s Arena will hold the ever popular Bikini Bull Riding event featuring 15 girls riding real bulls. “It’s wall to wall people for the Bikini Bull Riding,” he said. Spectators can make money as well, said Check, who noted that a Calcutta is held in which a cowgirl and a cowboy are paired as a team and spectators can “buy” a team. Depending upon how the team does, the spectator can get half of the purse.

All bull riding events have safety measures such as helmets, bull riding jackets and, of course, bullfighters (rodeo clowns).

The Cowboy’s Arena bull riding events have several area sponsors including The No Bull Party Place, Greener’s Corners, Bloomington Livestock, Brockway Trucking, Roy Quick Concrete and AP Livestock. 

Helping Check with the bull riding enterprise is his fiance Jamie Oppriecht, Trey Check, Wrangler Check and Bristol Check. “Without Jamie I wouldn’t be able to do it,” said Curt Check. “She does more work than most men.”

Check noted that Jamie does the work on the property while Check is hauling bulls to bull sales and other such events. At the moment, there are 200 head of bucking stock on the property including bulls, cows and calves. Among the many people whom Check has met at sales is Jared Allen, a well-known defensive end for the Chicago Bears. 

There is a training process that prospective rodeo bulls go through as they grow from small to large so that they spin and kick well.

In addition to the bull riding events, Check has run a bull riding school for many years. Bull riding school usually begins the first weekend in May. There is also a bucking stock sale on Check’s property in May.

Food and beverages are available at the bull riding events at the Cowboy’s Arena and people can bring their own beer as well. 

The Cowboy’s Arena is located at 20652 Halls Branch Road in rural Seneca. For more information, contact Curt Check at (608) 412-1544. 

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