PUEBLO, Colo. – Even the largest of legends adhere to Father Time, and with the recent passing of 2007 YETI World Champion Bull Chicken On A Chain, one of the sport’s most electric animal athletes, it’s time to say goodbye to a true PBR hero.

With the news being shared by the Robinson Bulls Facebook page earlier this week, Chicken On A Chain is sure to be on the minds and hearts of riders and personnel during this weekend’s action in Charleston, Spokane and Chicago and throughout the entire bull riding community as we tip our hats to the late legend.

There are many ways to honor the legendary bovine, but none seemed more fitting than learning more about the prized bull and chatting with his best friend and stock contractor, Jeff Robinson.

In the six months I’ve been in the circuit, it’s become apparent that stock contractors are big fans of their bulls. Rightfully so, but when Robinson managed to compare the legendary bovine to both a horse racing idol and the GOAT himself within the first 30 seconds of conversation, I began to realize the impact this bull really had.

“We sold a bunch of semen from him, but I’m going to be honest with you: Chicken was kind of like Secretariat,” Robinson said. “He was kind of a freak, and freaks don’t reproduce themselves. Have you ever heard of Michael Jordan’s kids?”

Both in paying my respects and now buying into the hype Robinson was throwing down, I began digging into the history books to look more into the specifics, and well, the hype checks out.

Damn near averaging a 45-point bull score through 99 historic outs (44.98), Chicken let his work do the talking. From first punching the clock in 2006 during a Built Ford Tough Series event in Uncasville, Connecticut, to ending his triumphant run in 2012, the warrior was arguably matched up against some of the best bull riders in history.

As far as top moments from his partner’s historic run, it was Chicken’s Bull of the Year honors, a few specific matchups, and his overall elite consistency that stood out.

“In 2007, Chicken won Bull of the Year when (Justin) McBride was the World Champion, and Justin was the only one who rode him, which should’ve been 96 or 97,” Robinson said. “When (Renato) Nunes rode him for 95.75, the fact that he made the Finals seven years in a row and was in multiple short rounds there, too.”

Robinson was equally impressed with how much mileage the veteran bull racked up over the years as Chicken toured around the country at various times with a few different caretakers.

“He’s bucked from Florida to Maine. All four quarters of the United States: Chicken’s been there,” Robinson said. “He’s been in Built Ford Toughs in Florida and Massachusetts; he was in a Touring Pro in Maine, and more Built Ford Toughs in Seattle and California and everywhere in between. I don’t know if a bull has ever put that big of a footprint on the map before.”

While there’s never a perfect way to ride off into the sunset, or into the retirement pen in Chicken’s case, there are definitely more glorious routes than others. Chicken deserved that much, so when good friend of the family, Chris Shivers, climbed aboard for a historic finale, a few tears were shed on several fronts. Getting his way as usual, Chicken dispatched his near-relative in 6.73 seconds, making a memory for all involved.

“That was really special for me, his last out,” Robinson said. “To see my good friend get on him, and that was Chris’s last weekend riding too, so that was a big deal for us. Kind of neat.”

While the average fan may be aware of some of the bovine’s best rides, wrecks and records, it’s peeling back those layers in retirement where the athlete may have truly shined brightest.

“When he first came on the scene, he was big and bad and mean, and by the time we traveled for seven years, he really mellowed out,” Robinson said. “He wanted to be rubbed; he wanted to be pet. My kids would feed him donuts. He was like part of the family. He loved attention; he loved a scratch, even when it was feeding time. It’s so strange because everybody thinks, ‘Oh, a bull doesn’t have a personality,’ but this one did.”

Not just part of the family from Jeff’s perspective either, but the entire Robinson family.

“My kids grew up with this bull every day,” Robinson said. “I’ve got six kids. My oldest son was nine when we got Chicken, so he was 12 when he won Bull of the Year. Three of my kids weren’t even born when Chicken won Bull of the Year. That’s just how long of a lifespan he had. He affected all of my kids. They either grew up with him, or he was there when they were born. It was always just Chicken.”

Further reflecting on the journey, Robinson offered an anecdote to help paint the picture of how endearing his friend eventually became.

“When you think about it all now, I think it’s crazy to see how he evolved,” Robinson said. “I just wish people could see how mean he was as a five-year-old to last fall, when I tried to get out in front of him to where he wouldn’t run up the driveway, which is a long driveway leading up to the house. I tripped and fell in front of him, and he did everything he could to not step on me or hook me. Didn’t bother me. He just went on, was more worried about grass than anything else.”

The former owner and operator of Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls wasn’t bullish on praising one of the sport’s biggest outliers and the impact it had on his family.

“We were nobody from North Carolina, but he went out there and he showed out all year, won Bull of the Year, and he kind of just became famous. He changed our livelihood,” Robinson said. “Our whole program was built on the foundation that he built. Like I’ve always said, it was great that he was a great big bull with great big shoulders because he carried us a long way.”

Robinson shared that nearly 300 friends and family members reached out this week via calls and texts, in addition to the tens of thousands of engagements across the former brand’s social media accounts.

“It’s unbelievable the amount of people who have reached out. All kinds of folks have. We really learned how important he was,” Robinson said. “He was twice as big as most bulls and just had that flare about him, plus his name. It was a really neat deal. When you put it into perspective, it was ten years in November the last time that bull bucked in competition. That’s how long that bull lived after his retirement age.

“I’d say what was amazing about him, for as many miles as he was hauled and as many miles he went, his legs were perfect. He was still in great shape as far as no knots, no bumps. He moved good, he walked good. You could tell he was really aging the last year, but I think he was just tired. He didn’t struggle, he just laid down and he was in the same spot the next morning.”

While all stories eventually come to an end, the main character is rarely as beloved and respected as Chicken On A Chain was, from throughout the community to within the Robinson homestead.

“The thing about Chicken was he was great, and he knew he was great,” Robinson said. “He could just tell.”

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media