Rodeo, unlike most of the sports addressed in this section, is not a single sport or event. In rodeo, cowboys and cowgirls compete in one or more individual competitions that constitute a performance.
A rodeo is often made up of several performances over several days. Rodeo is not solely a professional sport.
Youth, high school, college, and professional rodeo organizations sponsor competitions. Although rodeo is associated with the American West, there are rodeos across the United States and Canada as well as South America, Central America, and Australia.
The events in professional rodeo include the rough stock competitions and timed events. Rough stock competitions consist of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. The timed events include tie-down calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, and barrel racing.
In youth, high school, and college rodeo, additional timed events may be on a schedule, but our focus will be on the primary events listed in Table 101.1. For the most part, the rough stock events, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and team roping are cowboy events, whereas women compete in barrel racing. However, these gender roles are not absolute across all levels of rodeo.
Serious injuries, including fractures, concussions, and sprains are common, with more injuries occurring in rough stock competitions (2,3,5,7).
In the only report of its kind, the incidence of catastrophic and fatal injuries has been reported to be 9.45 and 40.5 per 100,000 exposures, respectively, with the greatest risk occurring in bull riding (3).
HISTORY
Rodeo did not begin as an athletic competition but grew from the work of cowboys and cowgirls working with livestock on ranches. The events of bareback and saddle bronc riding are the extension of work done to break horses at a time when the horse was the fastest means of transportation. The care of cattle required the roping and tying of the animal to administer medical care. Tie-down calf roping and steer wrestling are offshoots of this work.
Bull riding, however, emerged from the cowboy spirit rather than the work of the cowboy. At the end of the trail or a long day of work, cowboys began to develop competitions among themselves or cowboys from other outfits to see who the best rider, best roper, and all-around best ranch hands were. From these informal competitions and our fascination with the life of the cowboy, Wild West shows and true rodeo competitions evolved.
Although the Wild West shows have vanished, rodeo has grown into a business, drawing large crowds to events and allowing the professional to earn a living through rodeo competition.
COWBOYS, COWGIRLS, RODEOS, AND ORGANIZATIONS
As noted, there are rodeos for young cowboys and cowgirls, high school and college athletes, and professionals. Below is a partial list of the organizations that sponsor or sanction rodeos. There are a number of youth and state high school, college, and professional associations, including those listed below. The Web sites are provided to assist in locating information on age groups, rules, and events.
Youth Rodeo Association. (http://www.yratx.com/)
National High School Rodeo Association (http://www.nhsra.com/)
National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (http://www.collegerodeo.com/)
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (http://www.prorodeo.com/)
Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (http://www.wpra.com/)
Professional Bull Riders (http://www.pbrnow.com/)
Unlike many sports where athletes are a part of a team or identified athletic organization, the rodeo athlete stands alone. The rodeo athlete usually must pay an entry fee to compete and earns only what they win in competition or through sponsorship. In reality, the opportunity to earn money requires that the rodeo athlete compete. These athletes travel extensively, and the sports medicine provider often has little knowledge of medical history and little opportunity for follow-up care.
Table 101.1 Events of Professional Rodeo and Associated Injuries
Event
Description
Injuries and Risk
Rough stock
Must ride 8 seconds, scored 0-100,50 points for animal performance, 50 points for cowboy. Protective vests common or required in bull riding and bareback riding.
Accounts for approximately 85% of injuries. Concussion and fractures account for large portion of serious injuries.
Bull riding
Cowboy maintains position on animal using a bull rope. Helmets worn by some contestants.
Accounts for nearly half of injuries and large portion of fatalities. High incidence of concussion and fractures.
Bareback
Cowboy maintains position on animal with a handle-shaped rigging. Cowboys wear protective vests but not helmets.
Second highest risk of serious injury. Injuries to the elbow caused by hyperextension are common.
Saddle bronc
Cowboy sits in a saddle and maintains control holding a bronc rein (rope). Considered most technically demanding rough stock event. Cowboys wear protective vests but not helmets.
Lower risk of serious injury of rough stock events. Knee injuries (posterior cruciate ligament) occur with landing on fully flexed knee following dismount.
Timed events
Performance is judged on time to complete event.
Lower risk of injury, especially concussion and crush/impact mechanism injury, compared to rough stock events.
Tie-down roping
Cowboy must rope calf, dismount, flank (lay on side) calf, and tie 3 legs.
Thumb, shoulder, and lower extremity injuries during dismount most common.
Steer wrestling
Cowboy dismounts grabbing the horns of a running steer and then throws the steer with all four legs pointed in same direction.
Shoulder and lower extremity sprains most common injuries.
Team roping
Two cowboys attempt to rope the head and hind legs of steer.
Shoulder and hand injuries most common.
Women’s barrel racing
Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue
