“I hope to be a world champion someday,” – Muscogee (Creek) youth bull rider Blain Phillips
Lani Hansen/Senior Reporter
MORRIS, Oklahoma– Two Muscogee (Creek) youth have found themselves passionate over bucking bulls.
Hannah and Blain Phillips are the children of MCN Lighthorse Police Chief Richard Phillips and Vanessa Phillips. Hannah is a senior at Morris High School and Blain is in fifth grade at Morris Elementary.
Hannah is raising three bucking bulls of her own; she bought them in May 2021. By being the daughter of a former bull rider and watching the Professional Bull Riding (PBR) on television, she noticed and always thought the bulls were cute.
She said her dad would talk about the bulls doing their job and how they got there.
“When I was 14 I really got into the PBR bulls learning the pedigree, who the owners are, where they are from, how old the bulls are and their scores,” Hannah said. “That’s when I decided what I wanted to do. So I’m starting off with small bulls and hopefully later on get bigger bulls.”
She hopes that one day, the bulls she raises will be used in the PBR.
Hannah learned that the stock contractors and bull riders are interviewed, and starting out as a young stock contractor she hopes to reach that level.
Her bulls have been to one rodeo, but are mostly used in the practice pen for use of her little brother and his friends. Her bull’s names are Snot Rag, Patches and Tiny. Hannah takes care of her bulls by feeding and watering them. When it is time for a rodeo she loads them up onto the trailer and takes them to wherever the event is being held.
“They are looking pretty good,” Hannah said about her bulls. “When I first got them, two of them were not nice or gentle. My biggest one has turned into a puppy dog, and my littlest one is still hot. He does not let me near him.”
Younger brother Blain has been riding bulls since he was four years old. His dad also inspired him into riding and he started on sheep. As Blain got older, he moved up to smaller bucking bulls.
“My dad kept watching the PBR, and I love watching it,” Blain said.
J.B. Mauney is Blain’s favorite PBR bull rider.
As a Jr. bull rider, Blain has won several trophies, prize money and two belt buckles. His first belt buckle he won when he first started riding in mutton busting at the All-Indian Region Eight Tour Rodeo. He won his second belt buckle after winning two rodeo’s back-to-back this last season. In 2020 he won cash at the Warren Memorial Rodeo in Kellyville.
Blain has gone to Terry Don’s bull riding school and Ryan Dirteater’s bull riding school. He has entered in at least eight rodeos.
In August, Blain competed in the Wrangler Youth Bull Riders World Finals in Abilene, TX finishing 53 out of 84. He has qualified to compete in the national finals in Mesquite, Texas in October. Hannah’s bulls will also be going to Mesquite.
