Father Jumps In To Save Son From Charging Bull At Texas Rodeo

18-year-old Cody Hooks was competing in the Bell County PRCA Rodeo on February 11 and 12 when something unexpected happened.

In the video that Cody posted to Instagram, you see Cody enter the arena on top of the bull. After a couple of seconds of bucking the bull, the bull’s horn catches him and he falls to the ground, completely helpless. Cody’s father Landis Hooks jumped into the ring without hesitation and shielded his son from the seemingly angry bull who was headed in their direction.

Source: KENS 5: Your San Antonio News Source/Youtube

“I was knocked out when the bull’s horn caught me behind the ear and jaw, so I don’t remember anything right before the chute opened,” he told Southern Living. Luckily, both Cody and his father Landis survived the scary incident and are expected to make full recoveries from minor injuries.

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Riding rodeo is unquestionably one of the most dangerous sports in the world and can be deadly for humans. This is due to the extraordinary power that bulls possess. Knee and shoulder injuries are the most common, and concussions account for 8.6% of all bull riding injuries, as reported by Butterwick et al. One study claimed that in bull riding, the incidence of injury is reported at 32.2 injuries per 1000 competitor exposures.

Not only is bull riding dangerous for riders, but it’s unethical for animals as well. Animals can and do, die in rodeo. They are frequently fearful and highly distressed. And not just from the activity themselves. Animals are transported long distances in trucks when moving from one event to the next and subjected to practice rounds. Add in a jeering crowd and loud music, and you have a very stressful, highly unnatural, situation for any animals, but especially prey animals.

Related Content:

• Rodeo Cruelty Isn’t Just About Bulls, Baby Cows Are Harmed Too – How to End This ‘Tradition’
• 3 Misconceptions That Cause Harm to Horses
• Exposed: Why the Calgary Stampede Needs to Shut Down

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