I dedicate this manuscript to the memory of Navajo Indian Bullrope Braider, Leon Billy, who was one of my first students. He tragically left our world in June 2005 near Dilkon, Navajo Nation, Arizona.

In my last articles I went over a lot of the challenges us braiders contend with and in one of my earlier manuscripts I had also mentioned that I felt not all people who braid were what I consider bullrope braiders. I got to thinking about this years ago, actually nearly twenty years, in November 1986. I was at the N.A.R.C. finals in El Paso, Texas, of the now defunct and ill fated North American Rodeo Commission in El Paso, Texas. I was doing an interview for their paper North American Rodeo News, as I had freelanced a few articles to them some previous months before.

I had been in a rodeo stock contracting partnership a year before in Weatherford, Texas. I had picked-up broncs all that year at our events and also for others so naturally I had an interest in picking-up. I was interviewing Butch Braden of Colorado who had been voted to pick-up at the year’s N.A.R.C. finals. During the interview, I had mentioned that I had picked-up quite a few broncs, how I felt it was the best job in rodeo and I enjoyed it. His reply was, “Yah, there’s lots of guys who pick-up, but very few Pick-up Men.”

That statement got me thinking, though, I immediately know what he meant. In my reflection, I can turn that statement to bullrope braiding also. There are a lot of people who braid, but very few “Bullrope Braiders.”

I had also stated earlier that I felt there were three types of levels of braiding, and each level had levels with in itself. There are the decorative braiders who can braid all the fancy knots, like the California Rawhide Braiders. I consider these individuals the most complete braiders as they can easily cross over to the art of flat (buffrope) braiding. Then, us custom bullrope braiders who take it seriously to come out with a quality product every time we work in our daily endeavors. Then there are the bobby braiders and that includes all others who braid occasionally. This last group makes it hard on us that make a living braiding, as they continually undercut the price of our work, and sometimes give us a bad name as they rarely can be motivated to redo their work, whether it is a faulty product or simply a re-order.

I receive calls every month from people who want to learn to braid. After I explain the price and what it takes, I get very few players. Most don’t want to put out the financial expenditures to learn what took me thirty plus years to obtain. They seem to not believe this is how we really make our living and pay our bills. In all these years I’ve been at it, I have taught several people to make bullropes. I might also mention that not one has continued on with the craft!??

So what is it that makes us keep braiding that rope the bullriders across the world hold on to for that stormy eight seconds? In preparing for the manuscript, I interviewed three others who I consider Braiders and who are or were at the top of the game. So we’ll get well rounded opinions, not just my view!

Carey Blanchard, who is a friend and a former braider gave his insights on this. Carey rode bulls for years and made his living making bullropes for more! He holds this distinction, in my opinion, as the finest bullrope maker there ever was. His ropes were not only functional, they were works of art. Carey no longer braids, being the artisan that he is, he is currently song decorative tooling of leather for some of the finest Saddle Makers in the business, today! He begins with, “Any one armed monkey can build a rope…but does he strive daily for a better product?”

“Booger Bryant and Hank Abbey (the two fathers of modern day bullrope braiding) neither one built a fancy rope, but it was a bullriders rope, a cowboys rope.” He then goes on to describe a well made rope. “I look at the uniformity of braid, the lace, and how everything fits together. Does it come together correctly? Is it done correctly? Or, has the lace & appliqué been put in carelessly? What I see a lot in today’s ropes is some are super tight, too tight and so hard that a rider is unable to hold onto and get along with. The handle and the riser are the most important parts, they must be hard, but they also must break down and give a little. Too many ropes today are just too super hard with no give.

“The biggest deal I see in someone I would call a (bullrope) braider is one who pays attention to detail. One who never believes he’s the best, but believes the rope he made today is good, even if the doesn’t like it, but believes the next one will be better!” he said. Carey then continues, “A good braider is someone who will push himself to get to the next level that is better. To the next level of excellence, he must continue to evolve, but not look for gimmicks!!” He then verifies this with his ending statement, “If every generation has to invent the wheel, we’ll never get anywhere!!”

Just look at the baseball bat and mitt. Through the years it has been improved upon, but the basics have stayed the same.

Bruce Gibson, who is also a good friend, rode bulls in the P.R.C.A. and occasionally still braids, made his living for years at the braiding post. Back in the late eighties and through the nineties he made ropes for many top bull riders and consistently sent ropes to the NFR. He had his opinions.

“A Bullrope Braider? Grit, it takes grit and determination with the feeling you are a winner inside. He has a high tolerance to pain and aggravation, as it doesn’t get any quicker or easier. Every rope is a new challenge.

“A true braider has no quit in him. He is someone who can get into someone’s head to figure out the feel that the rider wants in his rope. They don’t admit it but most don’t know what (feel) they want and 95% of the time we (custom braiders) figure that out and get it done.”

Bruce goes on to say, “My opinion of a Braider is someone who takes the time to be an Artisan, who cares about the person who is going to hold on to the rope and makes a living doing it (braiding). It is someone who also stands up for our art form, cause very few people look at it as so. They have the attitude of it’s not art its just a rope. Just a tool, so give it to me. It can’t cost that much because so and so make them for cheaper, but your’s look better so give it to me at so-and-so price!”

He continued on with, “It is the definition of isolation. No one can help or motivate you. It must come from within. We stay in our shop letting the outside world go by, concentrating on the one thing. Any outside help is nothing but a distraction.” Bruce Gibson then ends with his final statement, “Braiding (bull ropes) has made everything and anything else that I do inherently easier.”

Daine  Livingston is a young bullrope braider and bull rider who occasionally travels with World Champion Cody Hancock. I consider Diane a fine braider, a good person and is one of the hot Young Guns of today’s braiders. When I asked him, his immediate reply was, “Picky, Picky, Picky. Patience. Pay attention to detail and not get in a hurry!” I then asked what motivated him, he quickly said, “Oh! I enjoy it. I like being in my shop and braiding. I like it!”

Well, there you have it. I would have to say I agree with all the above. There is not a whole bunch I can add to their observations, only that I can stress that; it is also a person that daily strives for and truly tries to make a rope that feels good to a bull riders hand and is not doing it just to get the money.

I guess that is why there is so few of us true braiders around!