Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey
Encyclopedia
Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey (b. circa 1987) is a White-headed Capuchin
monkey known for riding a Border Collie
at rodeo
s across the United States.
. As Lucia raised the young monkey, he introduced him to balancing on a saddle
, then to the family's dogs. Over time, the dogs became used to carrying the capuchin.
s in North America and Europe. Since 2004, he has starred in a series of television advertisements for the fast-food chain Taco John's
. He has also appeared on ESPN, Good Morning America, and The Today Show.
On January 29, 2009, Whiplash was knighted in St. Paul, Minnesota, by the St. Paul Winter Carnival royalty at Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub near the Xcel Energy Center
.
White-headed Capuchin
The white-headed capuchin , also known as the white-faced capuchin or white-throated capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae...
monkey known for riding a Border Collie
Border Collie
The Border Collie is a herding dog breed developed in the Anglo-Scottish border region for herding livestock, especially sheep. It is the most widespread of the collie breeds....
at rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
s across the United States.
Early life
Animal trainer Tommy Lucia purchased Whiplash as a baby from the widow of an animal enthusiast in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. As Lucia raised the young monkey, he introduced him to balancing on a saddle
Saddle
A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures...
, then to the family's dogs. Over time, the dogs became used to carrying the capuchin.
Career
Whiplash has been riding since age two and travels with The Tommy Lucia Review, appearing at rodeoRodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
s in North America and Europe. Since 2004, he has starred in a series of television advertisements for the fast-food chain Taco John's
Taco John's
Taco John's is a Cheyenne, Wyoming-based fast-food restaurant featuring Mexican-inspired fast-food . The chain was founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and currently has more than 400 Taco John’s restaurants in 24 states....
. He has also appeared on ESPN, Good Morning America, and The Today Show.
On January 29, 2009, Whiplash was knighted in St. Paul, Minnesota, by the St. Paul Winter Carnival royalty at Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub near the Xcel Energy Center
Xcel Energy Center
The Xcel Energy Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named for its locally-based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy. With an official capacity of 18,064, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three general seating levels. The arena is owned by the...
.