Bull riders are ten times more likely to get injured than players of major contact sports like hockey and football, but that could be changing. One of the main changes that could improve the injury rate is the swapping of the ornamental cowboy hat for a protective helmet. Since over half of bull riding injuries are head traumas and brain injuries, with spinal injuries coming soon after, helmets could make a big difference.
Although some riders complain that helmets are bulky, block their vision, and are ineffectual or even harmful, the same study that showed the frequency of injury among bull riders also showed that a helmet could cut the rate of injuries in half. Currently, rodeo association rules do not require riders to wear helmets, and that’s unlikely to change for a while, but the current is alternating from negative to positive, as high-profile riders are putting on helmets to keep themselves competitive. Both the bull-riding champion and the rookie of the year from 2006 now wear helmets. And the Professional Bull Riders association plans to offer scholarships to youth leagues that require helmets, once they meet the full standards applied by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
This may be too slow, and the association’s reluctance may encourage many young riders to ride without protective gear. Rodeo is an essential part of Texas culture, and it will always be risky, but it doesn’t need to be unnecessarily risky. If you know someone who suffered brain injury because they were encouraged to ride without a helmet, contact the Houston, Texas law firm of Kennedy Hodges, LLP today. Litigation may be the only way to inspire the rodeo associations to adopt an ethic of safety so that our favorite cowboys can take their lumps, but get up to ride again.
