Hangup Etiquette
Guest Editorial by -- Allen Nelson

One of the most frequently asked questions that bullfighters get when people are asking about the dangerous job we do is about "them guys tying themselves to those bulls", or hang-ups. In the press, it's one of the "glamour" things that bullfighters do. Second only to taking a hooking for the bull rider, it's one of the things that defines our job in the public eye.

Of course, most of the bull riders know everything there is to know about hang-ups and, no doubt, all of this will bore you to tears. However, I would like you true hands to bear with me and correct me here, if necessary. A lot of the younger guys who are riding bulls might actually benefit from this article, because, human nature being what it is, they won't ask about being hung up. They'll just fumble through it until someone tells them. So, perhaps by reading this they can learn something that they are not comfortable asking their peers about.

As I've said many times before, you guys are prone to thinking about riding, not dismounting, falling off, and certainly not hanging up. That's as it should be. However, part of the confidence of doing what you do successfully comes from knowing that you know what to do when things go bad. You can file those bad vibes away and ride because you know how to handle those inevitable BAD situations. So, if you more experienced guys will teach those younger ones how to handle themselves we all end up better off.

I'm going to begin with the bull rider's side of the hang-up, then go to the bullfighter's. We all know that when the rider bucks off away from his hand, his hand can turn over and get in a bind with the rope that can prevent his opening his riding hand and, thus, coming loose from the rope. Please understand that while I am explaining this, you are getting the "textbook" explanation, in as much as there is a "textbook" that pertains to the unlimited number of things that might happen when a guy attempts to ride a bull. Hang-ups are chaotic situations at best, and the more we can control the chaos, from the bull rider side and the bullfighter side, the higher the percentage of happy outcomes. Explaining this from the perspective of what each of us is typically trying to accomplish helps the other know what needs to be done.

That being said, upon realizing he is hung up, the first thing a bull rider should attempt to do is open his hand. With such intense concentration on keeping his hand closed, it is not really surprising that a lot of guys, especially young ones, hang up simply because they didn't open their hand. Second, the rider should try to pull his hand out of the rope with the arm that is attached to that hand. This action will either pull the open hand out of the rope or, failing to do that, will pull the rider up close to the bull. Third, if you are not already on your feet, get to your feet. You can, and should, do this simultaneously when pulling on your hand, one seems to help the other. Once you are on your feet and up against the bull, you can get your tail and free your hand by pulling directly away from you (wrap is straight across) or down and then away (split finger wrap). Last, but not least, get clear of the bull.

While all this is going on, the bullfighter(s) will be doing what is required. Upon seeing you are hanging up, the bullfighter needs to get the bulls attention, keep or get him out of a spin, and lead him off in a straight line so you can get yourself out. You got yourself into this, as an accomplished and knowledgable bull rider you should be able to get youself out. All the bullfigher is really supposed to do is keep the bull off of you so that you can get yourself out. Now, I know a surprising number of bullfighters that just have a knack for popping right in there, getting the tail, and getting right back out. That's great, when it all works right. But, if you are on your feet and have your tail, why should you have to fight him for it? And, while he is up there, who is keeping the bull off both of you? With two bullfighters working a hang up, one goes to the bulls head and gains control, the other positions himself on the opposite side of the bull from the rider so that if the rider is unable to get to his feet and get the tail, he can step in and help out.

Granted, there are all sorts of scenarios that can happen to change things around somewhat, but this is basic hang-up management from both sides of the bull. And, while any situation that get's everyone out safe and sound is great, we play the percentages for being successful when we manage a hang up in this way.

Now, let me describe some no-nos. Recently, I worked an event where a name bull rider hung up to a bull without any hook to him. The first thing he did was grab his tail without getting his feet. So, while dragging along the ground, the weight of his body pulling on the tail only made the bind on his riding hand tighter. Had he followed the steps I described above, he would get to his feet then grab his tail and work his way out. Instead, with the bull lined out, my partner launched himself up on the bull to find that it was impossible to get the tail of the rope, the rider had it pulled tight as he drug along the ground. To make matters worse, the stock contractor, arena director, and barrelman all ran to the bull then along side of it. The bull had no hook to him, so, this only hazed the bull down the pen. When I finally managed to get around and outrun all these guys and get up there myself, I found the same situation my partner had encountered. The tail was held tight to the bulls side by the weight of the rider. I finally fell off, the rider popped to his feet, and got himself out. All it took was for him to get to his feet. All the three extra "helpers" did was run the bull down the pen and get in the way.

One of the biggest no-no's is the bullfighter going in on the riders side. Yes, I know it happens successfully, but think about it. If you, the rider, are on your feet, the likelihood of tripping and falling has to at least double when someone else comes in on your side. And, if you are on your feet, you can get your tail. What is he doing there anyway? If you are not on your feet, there is a great chance he will trip over you before he can get the tail. When he is on the ground, who will help you then? Sure, it might take longer to go to the other side, but how long is it going to take when he trips and falls over you, then has to get up and start over? Oh, it looks special to the crowd, but percentage wise, it is not wise. A bullfighter has just as much chance of turning a bad situation into a worse one as he does of helping out.

So, basically, it is the bull rider's responsibility to resolve a hang up and the bullfighters responsibility to keep the bull off of you so that you can do so. If you are going to ride bulls, learn how to manage your own hang up. You'll live longer. Fortunately, you won't always have to do it yourself, because there are some great bullfighters out there that will go the distance for you if and when you need them too. On the other hand, there are places you will ride where the bullfighters may not know the first thing about helping you out. Trust me, they don't all go to schools and even if they do, not all schools teach hangup management. Of course, being the sport it is, there is always Murphy's Law to contend with -- but if you know what you are working towards and what the bullfighters should be doing, it improves your chances of weathering the storm.

And finally, the most dangerous thing about hang-ups may be that they don't occur very often. Think about the hundreds of bullrides you've witnessed and the amount of hang-ups that have occured. They tend to happen when you least expect them to and are mentally not ready. That's why it has to be automatic. Now think about the hang-ups you've witnessed and how long the average one seems to last. I find that the majority of hang-ups end when someone steps in and straightens the bull out. Fortunately, most just don't seem to last that long. However, when it's YOUR hand that's stuck in there, it seems like an eternity.

Allen Nelson has been dodging bulls and the I.R.S. since 1981 and joined the PRCA in 1988. He resides in Perry, AR.