The sport of rodeo is an interesting one. It is basically about how long a rider can stay on top of a bull or horse that is bucking like crazy without falling off. The riders are timed and the one who can stay on the longest wins. It's a simple concept but what makes it interesting is that whenever wild and dangerous animals are added to a sport or an event, accidents can occur. Many times during a rodeo competition, a rider will fall off a bull and be stomped on or the bull will try to gorge one of its long horns into the rider. This is where the hardest working employee on the rodeo circuit comes into play; the Rodeo Clown.
Many deaths have occurred over the years in the sport of rodeo and an example of this was in 1997 when a rider named Greg Meech was killed by a bull. "The rider was riding Yella Terra when he fell from the bull and onto his back, before one of the bull's hind legs stomped on his chest". This example just shows how dangerous the sport actually is. While this is rare, the dangers prone to the sport prompted the introduction of rodeo clowns into it. Rodeo clowns serve many purposes. They are used to entertain the crowds with their antics, keep the children entertained and help protect the riders. The way they help the riders is tactfully when a rider is thrown off of a bull, they have to get them back to safety as quickly as possible. It is at this point where the clowns come into play; they distract the bull by luring it away from the rider so that the rider is safe. "The primary purpose of rodeo clowns has become to protect bull riders from serious injuries or even death. [Clowns] often endanger their own lives to save a rodeo cowboy, working to distract the bull so the rider can escape to the nearest gate or rail. Feisty, 2,000-pound bulls actually go out of their way to attack anything that gets in their path". The job these rodeo clowns do is a very dangerous one; they actively put themselves in harm's way to protect a rider from getting injured. When we think of clowns all that comes to our minds is someone that is there to entertain us and make us laugh. That is their primary purpose in the circus but they take on a much more serious role in the world of rodeo.
There seems to be different types of rodeo clowns these days. The same article that the above quote was taken from, tells us about three different types of clowns. "Three different categories of rodeo clowns represent three different jobs. The “Bullfighter” is primarily concerned with protecting the cowboy. A “Barrelman” remains in a barrel during the cowboy’s ride and emerges to distract the bull if needed. “Comedy clowns” are primarily crowd entertainers". Research also tells us that clowns wear protective gear under their silly costumes because being hit by a bull can kill a person. They wear guards protecting their chests, arms and legs. A website about how to become a rodeo clown gives the following advice for anyone aspiring to follow this line of work. "Deciding to become a rodeo clown is not a decision to be taken lightly. There is a real chance that you could get injured or killed in the arena". It’s a risk.
It takes a certain type of person to become a rodeo clown. Someone who has a real love for the sport and isn't afraid to get hurt once in a while is an ideal candidate. It takes a lot of training and building up skills to become a rodeo clown and people that choose this profession are very brave and determined individuals. There is a certain allure to the world of rodeo and some people want to be a part of that no matter what role they play; even if it means getting into a barrel wearing a silly costume with the real danger always around of getting hit by a 2000 pound angry bull. We should applaud these brave individuals for the risks they take to protect someone else's life.
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