ANDY CAREY
"Humps N' Horns article"
BY: BILL COSS
Back in the days when the Steiner family name reigned high in the rodeo arena, "Short Legs" Lawrence Carey, recently inducted into the "Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame," managed the XS Rodeo Company ranch in Austin, Texas. Carey, once a member of the Cowboys Turtle Association, was All Around Cowboy riding bareback, saddle broncs, bulls and his favorite event, steer wrestling, with his famous horse, Trixie. He married Louise (Beckett) and together had a daughter, Debbie, and son, Andy. This story is about the "Bull Man" Andy Carey.
Andy's dad from Mineral Wells, Texas, was riding as soon as he could sit in the saddle. His dad instilled the traditional lifestyle and cowboy way of life into Andy and that keeps the old man's spirit alive and well on the ranch today.
Andy has been buying and selling bulls since he was 15 years old. He has the ability to look at a bull calf and tell by its disposition whether it has the heart to tough it out and become a working bucking bull in the rodeo arena. Genetics are becoming more important since there are more futurities and the inception of the Rodeo Stock Registry. Andy still contends that you can find good bulls at the sale barns, providing you know what to look for. Andy's success and expectations of choice bulls range well above 90 percent of his pick. "I can tell just by the way they look, act and their personality if they're going to buck and be a star," Andy said.
It is the opinion of many that bulls are no different today than they were thirty years ago. Freckles Brown, a long admired, great bull rider, covered Jim Shoulder's bull Tornado at 46 years old. He didn't quit, he continued to ride, well into his fifties. Was the money great? No, nothing like it is today. He loved to ride and love the rodeo life. Anymore you ask a rider to ride your bull, his first question is "how much will you pay me?" Not, "is he good?" Might as well just pay the $1,200.00 for a good dummy. At least the bull will get some good practice.
"It's hard to find a person that wants to work today. Used to be, you'd offer a roof over their head, good food and drink and that was all a cowboy would want. People are getting soft," Andy said. "I guess we all need to look back at where we come from and what direction we are going." Don't ever forget where you come from, no man is better than the next." Andy would say.
After' Andy's father's death, his mother thought it necessary to move from Mineral Wells. It was her desire to live in town, closer to her daughter, Debbie, who lives in Austin, Texas. For Andy, it wasn't advantageous to keep his holdings in Mineral Wells, so he found land closer to his family, in Lott, Texas. Here in Lott is where Andy has taken virgin land and is building a ranch.
Nothing's gonna happen overnight, but with the moral support of his daughter, Ashley, and grandson, Alex, the labors and support of his better half, Rhonda, accompanied by their two kids, Colton and Kayli, a ranch is being born.
Colton said, "When our bull business gets as big as Andy's heart, it will be the biggest one in Texas," and "That's the bottom line!" as Andy would say.
Kay Thurman, Brent Thurman's mom, reflected over the first time she ever saw Andy as a young boy working the Steiner ranch with his dad. "I saw a jeep coming down the Steiner road and I got scared. I didn't think there was anyone driving that jeep. At 12 years old Andy as so small a kid. I couldn't see him behind the steering wheel of that jeep. I really didn't get to know Andy well until his early twenties. Most important to our relationship is what he was to my son Brent. They shared a relationship and Andy instilled the heart into Brent to be the best, both in and out of the arena. If your ever down and need somebody, you can always count on Andy. Of course he can be a "butt head" at times, but that's part of his charm." Brent Thurman was an exceptional bull rider that tragically lost his life due to a traumatic head injury that he sustained in the 10th round at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994. His memory is loved and cherished everywhere you look while in Andy's presence. "Andy misses Brent so much, but, I really feel he still keeps an eye on Andy, he's everywhere you look on this ranch." Rhonda would say. Every year there is a Brent Thurman Memorial Bull Riding, and three out of four of those years "AC Bucking Bulls" has won Stock Contractor of the Year.
If you're looking for a good pen of bulls, Andy's record stands for itself. Back when Andy was in business with Terry Rhoades, Cody Lambert wrote, "I would recommend T-R Bulls to anyplace in the country that wanted top bucking stock." Jim Sharp shared, "All the bulls I've seen at other jackpots have been really good. He has some bulls that are really outstanding." In reference to Bull Mania, Tuff Hedeman recorded, "Bulls that buck hard and score high. A great even pen of bulls." Leon Coffee said, "Outstanding bulls, made the short round at the Bull Mania. Very Good. The whole pen is not a drawing contest. I think the bull riders like them." All great testimonials, made by great men, in and around the arena floor.
"Andy Carey is the best bull man I have ever seen, both in and out of the arena. They called him the "Bull Man", lots of patience and pride in his working with bulls. He would flank a bull just right and tell you which direction the bull would go, due to the way he would flank them. Andy is the most enjoyable person I have ever been around. During our seven plus years together, we bought bulls and sold bulls together. I got run over once by one of our bulls, Psycho, and broke my legs. Due to Andy's quick reaction and thinking, it wasn't any worse. He would study bulls, but would never cuss a bull due to superstitions, 'If you cuss a bull, you're going to get hurt,' Andy would say. There ain't a better man in the bull business and you can take that to the bank." Terry Rhoades said.
You'll find contractors and bull riders mingling around Andy's rig behind the chutes during any given event, large or small. I was able to visit with some exceptional men during the PBR U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Challenger Tour in Weatherford, Texas. Bull rider Brian Piatek (Boy Baggett), PBR Stock Contractors Bo Davis, Roy Carter, Rob Parker and Thomas Taylor. All of Andy's stock is available, providing the price is right. "I ain't in the business of giving my stock away." Andy said.
What kind of bloodline can be found at AC Bucking Bulls? For starters, Andy Carey's bloodline. You can find the daughters and sons of the greatest bulls in the registry today, including sons of Alligator, Blueberry Wine, Panhandle Slim, and Gunslinger. They have sons of Die Hard, DMD (Dap Me Dog) (deceased) and Cody (S7), still being a stud.
Sensational grandsons and great grandsons of Die Hard are currently available at AC Bucking Bulls. In all, the bulls go back four to five generations of bucking stock.
I want to thank AC Bucking Bulls for an enjoyable, and educational week helping to build a ranch. Should you be interested in buying some outstanding bucking stock, you can contact Andy or Rhonda.
I reckon it's time to move on, so ya'll be safe, join in the spirit and enjoy the ride, God Bless.
This article was written and published by "Bill Coss", Contributing Writer for Humps N' Horns. Bill stayed with us for a week and we soon come to know and refer to him as a friend. I truly believe it takes longer that a day to get to know someone. I would like to thank Bill for taking the time to visit with Andy, our family and friends long enough to come to the above conclusion. I hope that you enjoyed the article as much as I did. I couldn't have described Andy, and the pride he takes in raising his bucking stock, any better myself!
Sincerely,
Rhonda
