The Texas Tech horse mascot, known as the Masked Rider, has a long-standing tradition and has become a beloved symbol of the university. The Masked Rider is one of the few live animal mascots in college sports and adds a unique and exciting element to game days. The role of the Masked Rider is to charge onto the field before football games with the university's official flag, sparking excitement and cheering from the crowd. The tradition dates back to 1954 when Joe Kirk Fulton became the first Masked Rider, and it has continued ever since. Handling the horse for the Masked Rider is a great responsibility and requires extensive training and preparation. The horse must be well-trained and able to handle the noise and excitement of a game day atmosphere.
Texas A&M has Reveille, a Border Collie. A properly trained dog who is acclimated to large crowds seems like the best live animal choice possible, if the animal is to appear in stadium during games. If she's anything like my dog, she's thrilled to receive human attention and can't get enough of the stuff.
A properly trained dog who is acclimated to large crowds seems like the best live animal choice possible, if the animal is to appear in stadium during games. A properly trained dog who is acclimated to large crowds seems like the best live animal choice possible, if the animal is to appear in stadium during games.
The horse must be well-trained and able to handle the noise and excitement of a game day atmosphere. The horse and rider must also be in top physical condition to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. Texas Tech takes the handling of their horse mascot very seriously and has strict guidelines in place to ensure the well-being of the animals.
Horses, Cougars, Cattle: In Defense of Live Animal Texas Mascots
The University of Houston's live animal mascot recently died. Shasta VI, a cougar, was euthanized because he had a couple of progressive diseases and it was the humane thing to do. But should a Texas college even have a live cougar as a mascot? Should any Texas school have any live animal mascot?
I'm sure there are plenty of folks with very firm, very heart felt opinions on this matter. But I think its an issue best thought of with nuance and grace. It is important to be kind to animals, but traditions matter too.
It should boil down to a couple things: what kind of animal is it, and can the animal be cared for at all times properly?
Luckily, the most recent Shasta lived his life in the Houston Zoo. Shasta as a live mascot also provides an opportunity to educate the public about cougars and hopefully endear them to cougars as well. Shasta was orphaned when a hunter illegally killed his mother. Clearly, UH has come a long way in their treatment of their mascot:
Shasta V was the last cougar on campus for years because of liability issues. She was declawed and had her fangs removed, but she occasionally bit her handlers
UH has not decided if they will have another Shasta, but they have stated that if they do it will again be in partnership with Houston Zoo.
But what about other live animal Texas mascots?
Texas A&M has Reveille, a Border Collie. A properly trained dog who is acclimated to large crowds seems like the best live animal choice possible, if the animal is to appear in stadium during games. If she's anything like my dog, she's thrilled to receive human attention and can't get enough of the stuff.
My alma mater Texas Tech University's mascot is an animal/ human assemblage, The Masked Rider. Horses are animals that have been bred for centuries to handle human interaction and even crowds. The human part of The Masked Rider is a student that is passionate about riding and takes exquisite care of the animals they are responsible for. This isn't to say that horses don't get spooked and that nothing can go wrong. You may remember the tragic incident in which a horse did get spooked and died after hitting a wall. I strongly feel this was simply a freak accident and not a reason to discontinue the program.
Baylor University in Waco has an actual bear, Judge Sue "Lady" Sloan. Lady is kept in an enclosure on campus and does not attend games. I think this is akin to the lions at MGM Grand in LAs Vegas. They seem very unbothered by the observation of people around them, and they are not forced to do anything they don't want to do. Having a bear on the field would be dangerous and irresponsible as bears cannot be domesticated. One mark of cruelty does exist for the bears- they no longer get free Dr. Pepper:
In 1996, the school stopped feeding their bears Dr. Pepper (a Waco staple) at games. “To be honest, soft drinks make the current bear really, really hyper,”
But what about the most famous Texas college mascot of all time, Bevo? Let's be honest, Bevo, in all his incarnations, looks intimidating, tough, and actually quite beautiful. An enormous, long-horned bull just screams "Texas" to me. I know I shouldn't be hyping up my alma mater's rival but I give credit where its due.
Bevo got into a some trouble after he charged Uga the bulldog. Bevo and all bulls can be dangerous animals- isn't that why rodeos exist? However, I would argue that cattle are domesticated animals, and if properly handled, can make public appearances safely. I'm just glad UT stopped eating him:
The first Bevo made his only appearance at a Thanksgiving Day game against Texas A&M University. He lived for less than four more years, and was cooked and served at a banquet.
Animals have always had the power to evoke strong emotions in people. Whether they filled us with a sense of power, awe, beauty or love, experiencing animals is one of the best things about being human. I don't feel that excluding animals from human activity is the right answer, so long as the animal's safety and well-being are paramount.
But what about other live animal Texas mascots?
The horse must be cared for properly, receiving regular veterinary check-ups, proper nutrition, and ample rest. The university also provides a team of experienced handlers to assist the Masked Rider and ensure the safety of the horse and rider. The role of the Masked Rider and the handling of the horse has become a source of pride for Texas Tech fans and alumni. The tradition is deeply rooted in the university's history and adds an element of excitement and tradition to game days. The horse and rider embody the spirit and pride of Texas Tech, representing the university both on and off the field..
Reviews for "Training secrets: how the Texas Tech horse mascot is taught to handle its duties."
- Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really excited to see the Texas Tech horse mascot handle, but I was quite disappointed with what I found. The handle felt cheap and flimsy in my hand, and it didn't have the solid, sturdy feel I was expecting. Additionally, the design of the horse mascot was not very detailed or realistic, which was a letdown. Overall, I was not satisfied with the quality of this product.
- Jacob - 1 out of 5 stars - I have to say, the Texas Tech horse mascot handle was a huge disappointment for me. Not only was it poorly made, but it didn't even resemble the actual Texas Tech mascot. The colors were off, the shape was wrong, and I couldn't believe how cheap it felt. I expected better from a product representing such a prestigious university. Save your money and skip this one.
- Samantha - 2 out of 5 stars - As a Texas Tech fan, I was excited to get my hands on the horse mascot handle. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The quality of the handle was subpar, with the paint chipping off after just a couple of uses. The overall design of the horse mascot was also lacking, with a generic appearance that didn't capture the spirit of Texas Tech. I was really hoping for something more impressive.