Bull Rider - West Melbourne, Florida, USA

Injury Report

Good riding technique, chute procedure, practice and a little common sense will significantly reduce the risk of rodeo competition . Still, every now and then there's a wreck. Here's some my recent wrecks.

May 14, 2005

Got REAL lucky - wound up down in the well, hoofs flyin' everywhere. I heard the crowd gasp simultaneously - thought my number was up. A hoof landed right between my arm and armpit - and then he went to the out gate. All I got was a pretty good cut on my armpit and torn up one of my best rodeo shirts. Is it dumb luck I didn't get my guts stomped out? Heck no, the man upstairs was lookin after me this night.

For whatever reason, my toe's still black. Not sure it'll ever be normal again <grin>. I ain't complainin', trust me. 

March 19, 2005

Back in the chute, pretty decent ride but got my big toe stepped on at the end. Probably broke it.

January 22, 2005

While on Bobby Lathero's "Speckled Brahman", I got tipped off to the right (away from my hand). This resulted in a hangup. In the process of freeing my hand, the bull's rear hoof impacted my chin, breaking my jaw.

It didn't hurt real bad, so I didn't know it was broken. There wasn't much swelling. But I couldn't chew anything. So on January 25, I went to the doctor.

Dr. Timothy Lang, DDS, MD, PhD of Indian Harbour Beach, FL fixed me up. My jaw is wired shut for 6 weeks. 

The Brahman also messed up my arm a bit. 

I'll be back in the chute mid March 2005.

June 2004

At a practice pen in Fellsmere, I got tipped to the left and fell into the well. The bull stepped on my inner thigh/groin area. My thigh and leg was black for about 3 weeks. I was glad it wasn't about 1/8" further right - some "mission critical equipment" would have been crushed (if ya get my drift). Didn't bother goin to the doctor, but didn't ride for a couple weeks either.