A 12-year-old Colorado boy died Sunday after he was thrown off the bull and trampled in a bull-riding competition hosted by the Little Britches Rodeo at the Boulder County Fairground.
The Denver Post reports that 12-year-old Richard Wayde Hamar of Yuma was killed at the rodeo, a two-day event for bull riders aged 8 to 18. After Hamar was thrown, the bull stepped on his abdomen while he was on the ground. Emergency personnel were on the scene and attempted to treat him, but he died after being taken to the hospital.
A woman who witnessed the trampling told the Daily Camera, "He held on for a few seconds. When he hit the ground, the bull just ran him over. I could see the bull's legs hit his chest. ... It was one of the worst things I've ever seen. It was horrible."
The National Little Britches Rodeo Association describes itself as "the standard bearer of junior rodeo in the United States."
Hamar is at least the fourth child in the last four years to be killed while bull riding.
UPDATE: The coroner's office says the boy died after the left ventricle of his heart ruptured when the bull stomped on him.
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12-Year-Old Bull Rider Dies After Being Thrown, Trampled
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6/29/2009 8:11 AM ET By Michael David Smith
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- Michael David Smith
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Comments (Page 1 of 18)
what the hell are kids doing bull riding...have people not seen what they do to the matadors in spain? legs getting impaled and what not...stupid red necks...i mean i feel for the family but come on..why not put the kid on a rocket while you're at it..and to imagine the age requirement ranges from 8-18??? are you kidding me....this death was avoidable
I agree! I am from MONTANA and though my husband use to RODEO...he never rode broncs or bulls for GOOD REASON.
Understand, these PARENTS spend a FORTUNE trying to make their SONS RODEO STARS and at the RISK of DEATH with every ride, INCLUDING PRACTICE.
The ANIMALS are almost always seriously ABUSED to make them WILD and MEAN!
It is my opinion that BULL and BRONC RIDING IS NOT ONLY ABUSIVE TO THE ANIMALS, BUT ALSO THE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE GIVEN NO CHOICE BY SELFISH, EGOTISTICAL PARENTS WHO PUT KIDS ON THESE ANIMALS AT VERY YOUNG AGES.
DISGUSTING!
Hey Johnson! This kid, at age 12, died doing something he loved. How old are you and if you died today could you say the same?
The animals ARE NOT abused at rodeos. You cannot force a bull to buck. Period. It is a natural instinct. Like being ticklish. Some bulls buck better than others, and some bulls, when they buck, they buck only once and are done for the night. Some just don't buck at all. The bucking reflex is triggered by a padded strapped that is placed just in front of their hips. Additionally, cows, like horses, have a natural instinct to get whatever is on their back - off their back. Like horses, they can become used to having a person on their back and won't buck anymore.
PETA watches these rodeos like a hawk - if there was abuse, the rodeos would be shut down. The rodeo producers know this all too well. And, if that doesn't convince you, think about the fact that the producer has to insure his bulls - some that he may have paid more than $30,000 and up for - there is no way he is going to abuse his investment. The best bucking stock bulls always make it to the large and influential rodeos. Those bulls are super high dollar. You're arguments are false and then bulls are not abused.
The article was unclear on the bucking stock used. Normally, the rankest bulls are reserved for PRCA contests that the top professionals ride. At lower levels, the bulls that are put in the arena are gentler. They buck, but they aren't likely to turn back on you. Those kind are reserved for the pros.
The unfortunate reality about riding roughstock is that is IS dangerous. When you get thrown, bucked off or bail out, there is always the possibility that you can be stomped on - accidentally, or intentionally by the bull. That is the risk of the sport. However, in a little britches rodeo, the types of bulls ridden are more likely to step on you accidentally and are easily distracted by the clowns. It does require a lot of energy for the bulls to go after the cowboy, when all they want to do is stand around.
The tragedy is the boy was hurt and died from being stepped on. It happens to the best of them. It is a risk in life. The kid didn't just get up on a bull. He has trained. You hear about kids dying on the football field, basketball court and on the ice rink. There are always risks - rodeo risk is more of unpredictability, like the lottery.
My thoughts are with the parents and family of the boy. Just realize, the best way to go in life is doing something that you love. There is NOONE that would ride bulls if they didn't love it. There isn't enough money in rodeo to make someone ride a bull. You have to want to. Or else you rope. That simple.
Oh, I knew some brain donor would be calling someone a red neck. Hey, Johnson, the entire world isn't as portrayed in Hollywood. Some people still live fully and take their chances. Of the thousands who are into bull ridin, yes, occasionally we have accidents. A friend of mine just lost his son in a boating accident - guess they were cruel red necks too, eh? How about the freakish tatooed skateboard and bike riders who have been killed and crippled - well, they aren't traditional American country people, so, that's OK? Get a life - this kid lived a good one - he may have lived more in twelve years than you ever will.
are you seriously kidding me?? bull riding is a way of live for some people. not all rodeo members are rednecks. DEATH IS NOT AVOIDABLE IN ANY TYPE OF SPORT!
Okay, sorry but why does it make someone a redneck just because they begin bullriding at such a young age? my family has been riding bulls since they were little boys too, as with any sport things happen, why do people let little girls do gymnasitics flippong off stuff into mid air they could snap their neck if they land wrong. dont critisize something you know nothing about... with alot of families rodeo is a way of life, and you start out young. so please keep your ignorant opinion to yourself.
if you dont rodeo and dont know the sport of bull riding do NOT comment, being 12 years old he was fully aware of the probelms that can accure while riding a bull, he was doing it becuase it what he loved to do, and he was probably having the time of his life, i say everyone stops ragging on what he was doing when he died, or what happend and just pray for his family.
I can see why your upset,but you called them rednecks? rednecks and cowboys are COMPLETELY different! rednecks are poor inbreds.Cowboys work their hind ends off.You have no idea what its like to do a cowboys work..training horses.Rodeo is a very expensive sport and its the most dangerous sport in the world.I would know...my boyfriend rides broncs and bulls.
Am I to understand that you feel that all people participating in rodeos are 'Red Necks"? And on what do you base that ridiculous and uninformed opinion? I mean, come on....you don'y have to be a red neck to be stupid!
Per Wikipedia: Redneck refers to a person who is stereotypically Caucasian (i.e. white) and is of lower socio-economic status in the United States and Canada. Originally limited to the Southern United States.
While I agree it it foolish to allow 8-18 year olds to ride bulls, I take offense at your labeling all the rodeo participants as red necks.
p.s. I am not a red neck, but I sure know a few!
Dear god. We don't let kids dive until they are 16, they can't drink until they are 21. This is child neglect and the parents and the redeo people should be tried in court for this childs death!!!
I agree Johnson...
With EVERYTHING you said, but to the people who are getting so heated about what was said, you can't deny this... if you are going to be doing something THAT dangerous, you should be an adult. Saying he died doing something he loved could easily be compared to JonBenet Ramsey. Parents force their likes or dreams on children all the time. Yes accidents happen, a child could have died in swim class, but this was bound to happen. Four children in four years?! Hello?! Red flag, anyone? This is just as stupid as letting children hunt. And yes, it is a stupid redneck thing. I guess ignorance is bliss...
I agree. I understand there is risk in any sport, but riding a bull is asking for it for anyone let alone a child.
Johnson;
Your comments are out of line and bigoted.
Fact is death is not avoidable. It comes for everyone and you can't stop it from happening. This was a tragic accident and a boy lost his life doing what he liked to do. Is it sad yes. Does it require an idiot like you screaming bigoted comments. No.
Your also a hypocrite. I don't know if you have any children. If you did I'll assume you didn't let them go out of the house. Because if they had something they would have played could have killed them.
Last year alone saw 8 deaths in little league football. 21 deaths on skateboards. The list goes on and on.
Children die and it is sad. Yet unless you are going to keep your child in a bubble. There will be deaths associated with every activity they choose. No matter how many safety devices you put into the system.
You must have lead a dull life and never did anything even risky. Like crossing the street.
Exactly. I let my kids play in traffic all the time, it's what they enjoy doing. There's a thrill they get from dodging cars that you just can't get from throwing a ball around. They know that they could get killed at any moment by a speeding car, but they wouldn't give up that thrill for all the toys in the world.
Bigoted my ass, he's right on. Bullriding for an 8 year old????? Are you freaking insane!!!!! Just call me one inraged dad.
Tim....my kids also like the challenge of dodging fast moving automobiles but are dismayed at the lack of participation with the neighborhood children. Being a conscientious parent that wants my kids to be happy, I would like our spawn to meet and perhaps arrange a little competition. What do you think?
Yes, there are injuries and fatalities in just about every sport played by kids, and some of those sports, such as skateboarding and gymnastics, seem to invite injury. Parents need to keep their children competing at a level that minimizes that danger. For instance, an eight-year-old should never be allowed on the back of a bucking bull or bronco, nor should he go up to bat against a sixteen-year-old with a fast ball. I would be interested to know the ratios of injuries/participants and fatalities/participants in bull-riding, skateboarding, baseball, swimming, etc., to see if I'm correct in believing that the chance of being injured/killed in some sports is a lot higher than in others. And while we're at it, let's include the same statistics for children whose parents are remiss enough to let them drive all-terrain vehicles. - No sport or other youth activity is completely safe, but let's hedge our bets, use some common sense, and keep our kids away from the more dangerous sports. And remember: the activity/sport is supposed to be for the enjoyment and competitive level of the child, NOT the parent!
Most "kids" who enter this Little Britches Rodeo are quite accustomed, as well aware of the dangers of bull riding, which, by the way, is not to be confused with the bulls one see's in the professional rodeo circuit. These kids have it in their blood to begin with, some from a 'rodeo background'. Lem Frost is a good example of this, and Freckles Brown and more. Most of them began the very same way, at 8,10 years old. Friends, tragic it is, but, one must realize, this is only part of their everyday lives.
Wait a minute...did you just say "children are well aware of dangers of bull riding"?? No no, seriously, just think about what you wrote for a minute...mull it over why don't ya.