For all ages

Three-time Professional Bull Riders world champion Adriano Moraes conducted a three-day bull-riding school at the local arena here.

Among the 21 students was James Joe, 38, of Phoenix, who traveled north with his wife Jennifer to take part.

"I just wanted to get the feel back again," he said. "It's been like 14, 15 years. Ninety-six was the last time I rode a bull. I'm the oldest one out here. Everybody here calls me cheii. These guys are all 20, or something like that."

He said he competed in bull riding in the '80s and '90s. On Saturday, he held on for one of the longest rides.

"That was fun," Joe said. "I hurt my groin area, but I need to focus a little more. I'm going to do it again before I get any older."

Moraes, 40, complimented Joe on his physical condition.

"He asked me how old I was and I told him 38," Joe said. "He told me I must really take care of myself. Well, I was 203 pounds and maybe 182 pounds now. I lifted weights, I ran, ate right, just to get ready for this. I feel good."

"I'm 40 years old and I'm too old for bull riding now," Moraes said. "But, yeah, he's fresh looking though. I had a 20-year career and he doesn't, but he's in good shape. He can probably ride for another two or three years. He looks good."

The youngest student was John Jackson, 9, of Naschitti, N.M. The outspoken youngster said he was excited to have somebody new to the reservation who doesn't have anything to do with basketball.

"At Naschitti nobody goes there," Jackson said. "We always have somebody coming out to do basketball and it's always somebody from our school, but this person wanted to come out here and show us bull riding.

"This cowboy is from Brazil and a world champ," he added. "People know him as a champion and this person wanted to come out here and he's happy to be here with us."

On Saturday, Jackson became a favorite when he rode twice. He was bucked off but drew some of the loudest applause.

Also drawing applause was this year's Lions Club Rodeo bull-riding champion Justin Silversmith.

Silversmith, 16, said Moraes' school taught him a new riding style.

"I learned how to ride Adriano's way," Silversmith said. "Mine's a lot different from his, so I probably be riding his way now."

Lane Ellsworth of Gallup was slammed to the ground on his first ride and was cut below his left eye by the bull's horn.

"It was cool," Ellsworth said after being examined by medical staff. "That was wild. I got hurt, but I want to go again. I wanted to try something new and this is a big difference."

His mother, Louise Portley, said she was concerned and nervous.

"The cut is so close to his eye," Portley said. "Every mother would be concerned, but he wants this. The bumps and bruises come with it and that's the name of the game. He knew that.

"He doesn't want to wear a helmet but maybe that would've prevented it, I don't know," she said. "I'm a bit concerned, but thank goodness he's fine and he wants to ride another one and I'm right behind him."

Also nervous was Johnny Perkins of Isleta, N.M., whose son, Tristen Perkins, was on his first ride as Moraes yelled out final instructions.

"I'm nervous for him, but he's at a point where he knows what to do," Johnny Perkins said. "So he's not as nervous as I am. He's been riding since two years old. He started with wooly riding, but with this, it builds up his confidence.

Dave Emerson, the event manager, said that the age didn't make a difference.

"Majority of our students were young and you see that, which is real good and it gets us back on track and it was the first step for them," Emerson said. "It was his message that Adriano talked about and it was an important step to developing their skills in the sport."

Moraes, who retired from competition in 2008, said, "It's all same thing. They learn every level and I believe that my techniques of teaching, it goes from six- to nine-year-olds and to a 38-year-old. That's good for everybody. It's for them to be able to enhance their performance and for them to get back to basics. That's how I do it."

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