11-Bruce Green
62-year-old Bruce Green served as a board member at the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo
Association. He was considered a legend by many in the sport and assisted in any way he could,
even when he no longer participated. Green had joined the horse management committee in 1978 and,
since the early 2000s, had been trying to bring the local rodeo to its former glory.
Unfortunately, during an event in 2021, Green was charged by a bull and critically injured. He was
rushed to the hospital, where he died from the lacerations he had suffered during the attack.
10-Greg Meech
In 2007, Greg Meech was participating in a Queensland rodeo when he was thrown off a
bull and rammed by the massive beast. He was stomped on several times before he managed to
make his way out of the arena, badly injured. Before the incident, Meech had been an active
member of the National Rodeo Association board and was well-known in the local circuit, having
won several competitions. Meech was 33 years old and didn’t get to find out he’d been declared
champion cowboy. After his accident, he was rushed to the Ipswich Hospital,
suffering from severe internal bleeding. Meech died soon after, his condition deemed too severe
for the doctors to stabilize him. The association regulating rodeo activities in Australia told the
press there was nothing more they could have done to assure riders’ safety during events.
What is it?
Rodeo is a competitive sport that was born from the practice of herding cattle.
There are several different categories, including roping, steer wrestling,
and barrel racing. The most popular event, though, has become bull riding.
Since bulls can usually weigh anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, this is considered one
of the most dangerous practices within the sport. The term “rodeo” was coined after the same Spanish
word, which can be translated into “round up”. William Cody, popularly known as Buffalo Bill,
is credited with creating the first rodeo in 1882. Rodeo clowns, who are usually associated with the
entertainment aspect of the sport, are also in charge of aiding cowboys and wrangling the bulls.
9-Mason Lowe
In 2019, professional bull rider Mason Lowe fell to the ground during the National Western
Stock Show. Before he managed to jump back to his feet, the bull’s hind legs landed on his chest.
Though he had been wearing a protective vest, the sheer force of the animal striking his
body was too much for his body to bear. He was immediately taken to the hospital after
collapsing in the arena. Lowe ended up dying as a result of catastrophic injuries to his heart.
League officials explained that the bull Lowe had attempted to ride, named Hard Times,
would remain in the circuit. They considered the accident was “absolutely unintentional”.
8-Enrique Sanchez
Enrique Sanchez was often found in Browns Bucking Bulls, competing in bull riding activities. Like
the other participants, he attempted to cling to the large animal for over eight seconds.
At the time of his accident, he was 21 years old and had been participating in
events all over Fresno, California, since he was 13. In spite of his experience,
as he rode one of the local bulls at Woodlake Rodeo, Sanchez failed to hold onto it.
He fell off, with bad enough luck that his hand got stuck with the rope,
leading to disaster. Sanchez was struck on the head by one of the bull’s horns.
He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he remained in a coma. Though he managed to
regain consciousness, up to the recording of this video, his condition remained critical.
Where is it located?
This sport is practiced in countries all around the globe, from the USA to Canada, Argentina,
Colombia, the Philippines, and Australia. In Mexico, the rodeo is better known as
“charreada” and it includes roping contests. Rodeo is the official sport of two different US States:
Texas and Wyoming. Professional riders can earn up to $90,000
every year, provided they win enough competitions. Over the last few decades,
animal rights movements have demanded better treatment of animals involved in this sport.
This has led to a stricter standard of care and treatment to be implemented.
7-Rowdy Lee Swanson
In September 2020, Rowdy Lee Swanson, an experienced rider,
suffered a fatal accident that shocked the Oklahoma and Texas rodeo circuit. Swanson was
a 20-year-old animal science student and member of the OSU rodeo team. During a competition in Texas,
he suffered an accident that led to his untimely death. It occurred after he’d bucked off the
bull he was attempting to hold onto for the required 8 seconds. The organizations
he regularly participated in publicly expressed their sorrow over Swanson’s demise. The exact
injuries the young college student suffered from weren’t disclosed to the public.
6-Jessy Davis
In early 2020, Jessy Davis, a professional rodeo cowboy,
suffered a horrific injury while competing in the Lewis Field Bulls and Broncs. While in the
Utah-based event, his horse dropped to the ground, landing on top of Davis. He suffered from severe,
life-threatening injuries. His liver was crushed and he required surgery to remove half the organ.
Davis remained in critical condition after the procedure, but doctors are impressed with
the progress he’s made since his accident. He’s expected to eventually recover from his wounds,
though the long-term consequences of his accident aren’t known as of early 2021.
How Will It Kill You?
Considering a bull can be 15 times as heavy as a human being, riders often times suffer injuries
and hospitalizations. Many make a full recovery, but long-term consequences and even death are
more frequent than in other equestrian-related sports. There’s an average of one to two deaths a
year in US professional rodeo and several serious incidents, including spinal and brain injuries.
The average accident rate is 32 victims in every 1,000 competitors. Concussions, broken bones,
finger amputations, and sprains to the shoulders, ankles, and knees are the most common injuries.
5- Bradie Gray
Bull rider Bradie Gray was hospitalized after a horrific accident in Wyoming. Gray
was participating in the College rodeo finals and attempted to ride a bull known as Levi the Boss.
The beast stepped on his chest, and though he managed to stand up after the attack,
he had to be helped out of the arena. At the hospital, Gray was treated for broken ribs,
a bruised aorta, and even collapsed lungs. The last report of his condition was critical,
with doctors believing he had only a 60% chance of survival. He remained in a medically induced coma
in order to undergo several life-changing surgeries.
4-Jake Wright
Jake Wright was a well-known rider in the Colorado rodeo scene, having participated in the Wrangler
National Finals seven consecutive times, by 2019. His family has been associated with
the sport for decades, with over 9 members riding the circuit. One of his relatives,
Ryder Wright, is considered the youngest world champion. That year, however, he suffered a
life-altering incident that left him with a severe concussion and a fracture that required surgery.
He was lucky to survive after a bull known as Bucking Crazy stepped on his ankle and kicked
him in the head. He required over 100 stitches on his wounds and suffered a severe brain bleed.
Though he’d suffered plenty of other injuries before his latest accident,
Wright was certain he’d return to the arena upon making a full recovery.
3-Teresa Leake
In May of 2016, Teresa Leake was working with a horse, before a rodeo,
when the animal reared up and fell on top of her. She was severely injured,
and immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital. Official sources explained she had been attempting
to tame the newest addition to the herd when the incident occurred. Leake was 49, and
though she was placed on life support at a Tulsa Hospital, in the hopes she’d make a slow recovery,
her wounds ended up being too extreme for her to survive. She was eventually taken off life
support and died soon after. Her organs were donated to five different patients.
How to survive?
Doctors encourage riders to wear protective gear, especially protective headwear.
There’s a culture of machismo that encourages participants to step into the arena without the
proper equipment. Since many practitioners wish to return to their sport as soon as possible,
injuries usually go unreported, and this can lead to them becoming chronic ailments. Headgear
is vital towards avoiding concussions and severe brain injuries while wearing
vests significantly lowers the risk of both rib fractures and penetrating wounds to the chest.
Rodeo organizations in the US only require that paramedics be available by the side of
the arena. Including doctors in the staff and making wearing protective gear mandatory would
greatly diminish the chance of life-altering injuries or death of the participants.
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2-Kevin Cunin
After Kevin Cunin suffered a horrifying accident, doctors told him he’d likely never walk again. He
was participating in a rodeo competition, in 2015, when he lost control of his horse. Cunin
was sent flying into the air and landed on his head. The cowboy suffered from a broken neck,
as well as shattered vertebrae and ribs. Cunin was paralyzed from the chest down
and had to undergo several surgeries. Though he continued using a wheelchair five years later,
Cunin eventually made enough progress to ride a horse, thanks to a custom-made saddle. He
hopes to compete on rodeos again and has been called an inspiration by his family.
1-Lane Frost
Lane Frost was a popular, professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding. He
competed several times in the PRCA, the professional rodeo cowboys association.
In 1989, while participating at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, he suffered a deadly injury.
He had been riding an infamously dangerous bull, known as Takin' Care of Business, and was
struck by the massive animal after successfully landing on the ground. He was struck on the back,
sustaining several broken ribs. This led to his lung and heart
being punctured. Though he was taken to Memorial Hospital, he was declared dead upon arrival.
Frost was just 25 years old at his time of death. He earned third place posthumously.
The young rodeo rider was buried near his mentor, Freckles Brown, in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather participate in a rodeo
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