Rodeos – Summer Fun at What Cost?

Rodeos in New Mexico

It only takes 8 seconds.

The bell rings, the gate opens, and out comes a bucking bronco or bull. The daring rider clings tight to his ride until he dismounts, and even then, the danger isn’t over. Immediately, rodeo clowns swoop in to protect the exiting rider. The animal keeps bucking, and anyone near by can be at risk of a serious injury.

And then, just like that, almost as soon as it started, it’s over, only to be repeated by the next competitor.

New Mexico has a rich rodeo history, including the 4th of July Maverick Club Rodeo, the longest running open rodeo in the west, and numerous competitions hosted by the New Mexico Rodeo Association. However, with rodeos comes the dangers and injuries that are often associated with wrangling large animals.

In The Article

Inherent Dangers for Rodeo Participants

Different events in rodeos pose different dangers to participants. Whether a competitor is participating in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, or steer racing, injuries can range from bumps and bruises to fatal traumatic brain injuries.

Rodeo Participant Death Rates

According to the Phoenix New Times, a study conducted by the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine found that for every 100,000 rodeo participants, 4.05 died. This study was conducted over a 20-year period and shows just how dangerous rodeos can be for participants.

Common Types of Rodeo Injuries

Rodeo injuries can be dangerous. In that short eight seconds, a life can change forever.

Some types of rodeo injuries can include:

• Sprains and strains
• Dislocations
• Lacerations
• Broken bones
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Goring

While the most common injuries are sprains and strains, concussions and broken bones are not uncommon on the rodeo circuit.

What little data has been collected about rodeo injuries, one student found 859 concussions were registered during various competitions from 1981 to 2005.

What is the Most Dangerous Event in the Rodeo?

Bull riding is often considered the most dangerous event in the rodeo. And it could be considered one of the most dangerous sports in the world. As a matter of fact, according to the Arizona Daily Independent, “The bull riding injury rate is over 10 times the rate of injury in football and over 13 times the rate in ice hockey.” While protections have been put in place for safety of the participants, freak rodeo accidents like when a Kansas City girl was killed during the event. Her horse apparently had a heart attack, and it rolled on top of her.

Risks to Rodeo Spectators and Staff

It’s not just the participants who are at risk of injury or death at the rodeo. Rodeo clowns, whose main purpose is to distract angry animals from riders are often hurt, and other staff can be caught up in the pandemonium.

For example, in 2017, rodeo photographer, Norm Betts was rammed by a bull and suffered a cracked sternum. He looked away for one second and a bull turned on him.

Additionally, the crowd isn’t always safe. In 2024, at a rodeo in Oregon, a bull jumped the fence and charged the crowd. Two members of the crowd were struck by the bull and three others were injured in the ensuing chaos.

New Mexico Equine Activity Statutes

Also known as the “Equine Liability Act”, N.M. Stat. § 42-13 was designed to protect those who are injured during equine activities, or activities that are done with animals such as horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, etc.

While the statute acknowledges the dangers of rodeo life, it also holds those who supply equipment that is faulty or commit negligent acts that lead to rider injury or death. However, it can be difficult to prove negligence, as the statute also states, “No person, corporation or partnership is liable for personal injuries to or for the death of a rider that may occur as a result of the behavior of the equines animals while engaged in any equine activities” (N.M. Stat. § 42-13-4). This means that riders must be vigilant of how the animal is reacting and acting before and during the event, to ensure their own safety.

Conditional Limited Liability

While the sport is recognizably dangerous, negligence for safety by the operator, owner, trainer, or promotor can make one liable. This includes instances where they know or should have known that the equipment was faulty, they didn’t check the rider’s ability to participate, or the existence of a dangerous condition at the facility was known.

Preventative Practices

There are ways to ensure that participants, staff, and patrons are safe at the rodeo. Many rodeos require riders and participants to wear safety gear, including helmets. This has prevented several different injuries and potential deaths over the years.

In addition to protective gear, it’s essential that rodeo showrunners ensure that their facilities are well-kept with essential maintenance. Having a safe facility ensures that animals are not able to escape into crowds and audiences safe.

Sufficient safety warning signs and clearly marked areas are another essential way that bystanders are safe. If people know which areas are off limits, they are less likely to end up near angry animals.

If You’ve Been Injured at the Rodeo in New Mexico

If you’ve been injured at the rodeo as either a member of the audience, the staff, or a participant, you may have rights. The sooner you call a personal injury lawyer, the sooner they can investigate your case. If you know that you were injured at the rodeo due to someone else’s negligence, start collecting witness information as soon as possible. Take as many pictures as you can of the area you were injured. Collect video evidence, if possible, and contact Ron Bell Injury Lawyers for your free case evaluation.