It's 'go,' not 'whoa' for young bull rider

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Chase Pittman of DeKalb has several wins under his belt. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

April 14, 2005 - The adrenaline rush of an eight-second bull ride is something every bull rider talks about, and 17-year-old Chase Pittman of DeKalb is no different.

At the age of 5, Chase began his career of wild rides by competing in mutton bustin' event. By the age of 6, he recorded his first title in the sheep riding event at the Youth Bull Riders Association.

Some 11 years later, the young man continues to put his riding skills to the test. In July, the bull rider will compete on the Region 4 team at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Okla.

During the years of competition, Chase hasn't slowed down except when health issues sidelined him. One "exception" lasted for two years.

"This is my first year back after two years out with back surgery. I missed the first four rodeos (of the season), but I'm sitting in third in the region," Chase stated. (Since the interview, he has moved to second place.)

Although his chosen sport is one that offers opportunity for injury, back surgery for a 17-year-old seems a little extreme; but Chase explained he was born premature and with a "messed up vertebrae." The early arrival also caused some problems with his heart.

"I've had open heart surgery and will have to have another surgery because I have a hole in the main valve of my heart. I take medicine twice a day," he explained.

The medicine is to keep his heart from enlarging.

The young bull rider has had his share of bumps and bruises, but his biggest wreck was getting stepped on when he was 13. He came away from the incident with a broken leg.

"You could hear the bones cracking. It was pretty nasty," Chase recalled the wreck with a hefty bull.

The bone break didn't stop the youngster. He managed to continue riding, putting his spur on his cast.

Dedication or crazy? Chase just smiles and states, "it is always something I have wanted to do."

The defects he was born with don't seem to hinder the young man either and, according to Chase and his nanny, Lanier Pittman, the doctors have "advised him to do whatever he wants to do."

What he wants to do is ride bulls ... and he has since an early age. His dad, Fletcher, rode bulls in high school and was the Texas High School bull riding champ in 1982, beating Jim Sharp (who, today, still rides on the professional circuit). Fletcher, when he was competing, attempted to ride Bodacious, the legendary Charolais bull of Sammy Andrews, at the Four States rodeo in Texarkana; but "the money played out" when it came time to continue riding for a living.

Today, Fletcher and Chase, along with 13-year-old brother Colton, who rides steers, studies tapes of their rides, so they can critique their styles.

So how does this bull rider prepare for a ride?

"Keep your mind on the game. I get nervous, but I don't get scared."

He also offered advice for someone who was interested in riding bulls. "If you want to be a bull rider just because your girlfriend wants you to, you better not because I have seen a lot of wrecks. You've got to have the want to and desire. You can't wake up one morning and decide that's what you want to do."

The high school junior does have future plans which include riding at the pro level. First, though, he will compete at the High School Rodeo Finals in Abilene in June. He also wants to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University on a rodeo scholarship and major in agribusiness, and possibly get a teaching certificate.

Chase is also a bull breeder and said if bullriding doesn't pan out, "I will raise bucking bulls." He has a grandson of Whitewater Skoal, a legendary bucking bull.

Lanier said Chase has a lot of try and some may think he's crazy for competing in the sport, but he loves what he does, and "I have to be supportive."

Through it all, Chase is thankful for his talent.

"I would like to thank God for giving me the ability to ride," he shared. He also thanked supporters 3 Sides Farm and Gary English, his nanny and his dad, Krystin Brown (a mentor who is "like a mom"), pro bull rider Mike White, and everyone who has helped him along the way.

Meanwhile, open the gate because this is one bull rider who is dedicated to busting out against adversity to win his ultimate goal.