On one hand you’re acknowledging that there’s a cultural aspect to bull riding and then, on the other hand, you’re basically phoo-phooing it because it’s a “big-time” sport for adults only.

You acknowledge that it’s the choice of the grown adults to ride a bull, but don’t seem willing to acknowledge that it’s the choice of the parents (plus the kid’s willingness) to allow their kid to ride a bull. Is it dangerous? Yes. But from the article it seems to be a danger that both parents have been involved with for a very long time. It’s part of their lives and culture. If I hunted, I’d take my kids hunting. If I fished, I’d take them fishing. If I played basketball, I’d play with them. And if I rode bulls, I’d certainly encourage them to do so as well.

Everything is dangerous, but obviously bull riding is not a death sentence. He’d been doing it for years. He got unlucky. These things happen. He had free-will, his parents had free-will, and they all used it to make a decision. Some parents let their kids become cheer-leaders, only for them to break their spines. Footballers, only to have them collapse midgame. Sports are dangerous. Life is dangerous.

Your examples of how we stop kids from dangerous activities such as dropping out of school, driving cars on the interstate, and working in sawmills doesn’t sit right with me when compared to bull riding. Dropping out of school and working in a sawmill takes a kid away from their education, effectively forcing them to always work in a saw mill. In terms of the law, this particular law ensures we progress as a society rather than having a strict class system where no one ever advances. Otherwise all the poor kids would world; they need the money. This is a law focused on societal good, at least ostensibly. In terms of parenting, this limits our kids. Something none of us want.

The age one can drive is a state-decision (or a federal one, depending on how you look at it) made to protect people other than the driver. If it was just the driver at risk, I’d like to think the law would be quite different. Our laws are made, for the most part, to protect others from us and to make our society as efficient and productive as possible. Every time we take a side-step and make a law to protect ourselves from ourselves we’re spitting on the freedom on the individual. In terms of parenting, I can pretty much assure you I know many, many people who teach their kids to drive quite young but keep them away from major traffic. Not out of fear of their kid’s capabilities, but out of fear of the law. There is no all encompassing truth that renders it necessary for parents to keep their kids out of the driver seat of automobiles, just as there is no objective truth that renders it necessary for parents to keep their kids off bucking bulls.

Nothing is completely safe and some things, due either to our culture, our family, or ourselves, are worth the risk. You don’t know this family. You don’t know what bull riding gave to each of them and to the family as a whole. They thought it was worth it, even after the worst happened. Who are we to say differently?

We let kids go swimming and ride as passengers on highways, both dangerous activities if you look at the numbers. I don’t know enough about rodeo events to know how risky riding a bull really is in relationship to other things we do that we think are normal because we’re used to them (like horseback riding, as the mother said). I don’t think I’d let my kid do it; I won’t let him play hockey or football either if I can stop him. That doesn’t mean it’s irresponsible to let your kid do those things. I have to say that it’s nice to see a grieving parent NOT rushing off to sue someone for her loss, and to accept that it was a risk of their activity.

I agree with all the above comments. As tragic as this is, I find it refreshing not to hear someone blaming the activity and suing them, which is what many Americans have a tendency to do.

I don’t know the stats on injuries from bull riding, but I read recently that the most dangerous sport is cheerleading, which lots of kids do.

Seriously? We’re talking about a wild animal here right? Not a saw that one can be trained to use. I agree with the article. Children are given to us as gifts, we are to protect them and make the right choices for them. If they want to do something, by all means, think about it and make the right decision for them. Allowing them to ride on an angry, 2,000 pound wild animal that is bucking and wants to hurt them in my opinion is not a wise decision any parent would make. There is a reason children are called minors and are not allowed by law to make certain decisions for themselves; they do not have the life experience nor the full grasp of ramifications of what may happen, even if explained to them.
Morgan mentions about the driving age only being about hurting others. If I allow my 9 year old daughter to get in my car in an open area and drive and she crashes into a tree, wall, or anything else, who is to blame? I am! She will not hurt anyone else, right? (well, not physically). And for Sarah. Are you really comparing swimming to bull riding??? You don’t have to know much about bull riding to know exactly ‘how’ risky it is, just watch it one time, see how high a grown man gets thrown, gored, and how many grown men it takes to bring one bull down. How much of a chance do you think a 12 year old boy has against a 2,000 pound bull???
Bull riding is inhumane and needs to stop. Children should definitely not be partaking in the sport. Period.