Because he rode the most dangerous bulls, he became a legend. This caused him to break his neck.

Houston, Texas — STEPHENVILLE On J.B. Mauney’s property, the black bull is standing in an upper field like a blot on the face of the green ryegrass that is in the distance. His black behemoth sits atop a high rise, staring down on the iron chutes and hay buildings with tin roofs where Mauney is toiling away at his labor. As the cowboy itself pours feed into buckets, Mauney transitions to the dissonant music of creaking gates, unending wind, and snorting animal exhalations. This music is accented by the cowboy’s own laconic profanity. As Mauney makes his way up the hill and enters the meadow to fill a trough, the bull watches as he does so. In a tone that is reminiscent of affection, he mutters, “A-poorhole.”
For his part, Mauney also creates a dark outline. From beneath a cowboy hat made of felt that is black in color, hair that is darker than coffee drips down to the collar of his black shirt. His blue eyes, which are the same color as his pants, and the crease in his smile that results from his habit of smiling around a Marlboro cigarette help to alleviate the sense of severity. As a result of years of performing outside chores, smoking, having a raucous sense of humor, and having pain that was relieved by shots of Jagermeister, this face is stunning. This is a fitting tribute to a man who was unquestionably the most physically powerful rodeo bull rider in history and who never gave in to any form of authority. That is, until a bull shattered his neck.

The statement that he makes is, “I always knew that something like this was going to have to happen.”
When something similar like this occurred, it had been less than six months before it had occurred. On September 6, a bull by the name of Arctic Assassin sling-shotted Mauney (pronounced Mooney) into the dirt squarely on top of his hat, thereby bringing an end to the most legendary and valiant career in rodeoing. The event took place in Lewiston, Idaho. Immediately following the emergency surgery that was performed to secure his head on his shoulders, Mauney withdrew to his ranch, which is known as Bucktown XV, in order to recuperate with his wife Samantha and their son Jagger, who is five years old. He is still adjusting to his sudden retirement. He makes the correction, “Forced retirement.” He continues by saying, “If it weren’t for her and that little boy, I would never have stopped.” He is referring to his wife and son, who also happens to be a striking former barrel racer and a toddler with hair that like flying corn silk.

While Samantha is retrieving the child’s shoes and clothing off the ground, the boy takes off his shoes and clothing like a bird dropping its feathers. Samantha follows after the boy. It is she who says, “He is my boss.” Her only jewelry consists of a pair of earrings and a diamond ring, both of which she wears with loose-fitting trousers, a hoodie, and Converse sneakers. There is a story that J.B. enjoys telling about that.