So for several days this past July I jumped into a pair of Wranglers myself (pretty humorous) and spent some time shooting the rodeo. I enjoy shooting the rodeo assignments that I get each season. I shoot PRCA rodeo at the State Fair, I shoot the Pro Bull Riders and the Little Britches. Of the three, I enjoy the Little Britches the most. The kids aren't there because they are going to go home with thousands of dollars or some new endorsement contract, they rodeo for the fun of it (and the cool belt buckles awarded to the winners). Their enthusiasm is contagious.
Rough-stock events are at the top of my list as they can provide some wild action whether you are a pro, or a kid hopping on his first bull. You just never know what kind of images will come from the meeting of rider and animal.
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At one of the performances of the rodeo I was shooting the junior bull rider event. These kids are between 14 and 16 years old. This particular rider climbed on his bull (at this level the bulls have to be under 1000 pounds) and went for his 6-second ride. Near the end of his ride the bull lept into the air and upon landing stumbled and rolled over on top of him. I had seen bulls land on top of cowboys before, but I had never seen one roll completely over one and have all four legs pointed skyward.
After the bull was back on his feet the emts moved in to tend to the cowboy. After several minutes he was put on a backboard, fitted with a neck brace and carted out of the arena. On his way out he gave the crowd a thumbs up and received an ovation.
I later found out that the young cowboy was treated and released from a local hospital. It was good to hear that there was a good ending to such a wild ride. I have to believe that the plowed, soft dirt arena floor saved this cowboy from a serious injury.
And that's no bull...
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