Hi Bill!
We are starting to see some form of rudimentary neck bracing on some
(definitely not all) riders... and more common on Bronc rather than Bull
riders. And, even then, not often.
I could not find a shot of any rider at the Falklands Stampede wearing
protection of any kind, other than a helmet - and that's not yet common,
either, though helmet use is increasing.
Here's a shot of what we're seeing... take at the recent Deadman's Creek Rodeo.
http://www.furnfeather.ca/look/Pozzy23a.html
As you can see, it's nothing fancy, but does help to prevent whiplash type
injuries.
Of course, Ty was knocked out when the bull landed on his helmet and split it
open, with Ty's head still inside it!
Rodeo is fun to watch, but it remains the most dangerous of all sports. :-(
David.
David,------
Thank you for sharing this sad episode.
I deeply regret that something Ty loved to do was an apparent cause of
his despair and suicide.
Last Sunday was the 103rd running of the Memorial Day Indianapolis 500
Race and I was struck by the video of the winner emerging from his car
and unfastening himself from his HAN brace, the first time I've ever
seen an Indy winner do that.
Prior winners may have done it but this was the first time I had seen
it. It may have been the first time it was televised for all to see.
HAN is short for head-and-neck and the brace is now standard in many
segments of auto racing, including Indy cars, NASCAR and the National
Hot Rod Assn.
It braces the head to the shoulders, preventing the sort of head
"flinging about" that can be seen in most rodeo events.
For a quick look, go to:
https://www.indycar.com/Fan-Info/INDYCAR-101/The-Drivers/HANS-Device
For more history and details, go to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HANS_device#History
Unrestrained head acceleration and sudden deceleration was a cause of
many race driver injuries and fatalities until braces were developed to
essentially eliminate the dangerous motion and its use has become almost
mandatory.
I have no statistics but believe that the HAN and the arrival of strong
race car chassis made of carbon fiber that contain the driver have made
great improvements in driver safety.
I imagine that HAN-like braces would be cultural anathema to rodeo
riders but some version might help prevent the brain damage that is
evident in some rodeo events.
Best regards,
Bill
On May 31, 2018, at 7:40 AM, David Young <dsy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good Morning, fellow FLexers!
This will be my last post, from the 2018 Falklands Rodeo. But it is a
more serious one, than most.
First up is my favourite shot of a bull rider, at Falkland.
http://www.furnfeather.ca/look/Pozzy23.html
You'll notice, on his protective vest, a patch that reads "Pozzy23".
That patch can be seen on almost every Bull Rider's vest, these
days... across North America. It remembers Ty Pozzobon, and "23" was
his placement, in the world standings, at the time he died.
Ty Pozzobon is/was a Bullrider based in Merritt, just 30 minutes away
from us, by car. I never met the man, but everybody "knew" Ty. He
had a reputation for being a decent, kind hearted man. Well liked,
recently married and a new father.
Sadly, Ty suffered so many knocks & concussions, in his short career,
that he became Rodeo's first confirmed case of chronic traumatic
encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative neurological disease that
claims the lives of hockey tough guys and football players who suffer
too many blows to the head.
At what seemed the peak of his career, Pozzobon committed suicide Jan.
9, 2017, at his ranch, some 25 kilometres west of his hometown of
Merritt, B.C. He was 25-years-old.
I've talked a lot on this list, about the dangers of Rodeo... not to
the animals, which are very well cared for, but to the cowboys, who
take the risks. If you want to know more about the people and the
sport, I encourage you read the excellent article put out by the Globe
& Mail .. it will tell you more about Ty, the other riders and a lot
about the risks, and the rewards, of rodeo, in general.
A note of caution. It contains a 17 second video, of Ty's head
getting smashed by a 1500 pound bull. It's hard to watch, so if
you're squeamish at all, don't watch it. (you have the option.)
The article is here: https://tinyurl.com/Pozzy23
One bright spot in Pozzy's story, is that his mother, Leanne, has
started a foundation in Ty's name, which is doing a lot to promote
safety within the sport.
As well, Ty had already been preparing for his post-rodeo life and was
raising bucking bulls for use at rodeos and in the PBR. His dad has
continued that project and both the Deadman's Creek Rodeo and the
Falkland Stampede featured Ty Pozzobon Bulls, this year.
Thanks for reading. And for looking.
David.
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