"Being strapped onto the back of a thousand-pound bull is certainly not easy, but boy, is it fun," 14-year-old amateur bullfighter Cullen Wise shares his take on the sport that he practices mostly every weekend. Unlike many of the riders he competes with, Cullen's parents require him to wear all the protective gear available to bull riders: Kevlar vest, chaps, a leather glove, a snorkel and a helmet. While wearing available protective gear may seem like an obvious and safe thing to do, many bull riders around the world tend to ignore the fact that wearing a helmet can save their life in an instant. While many rodeo organizations require protective gear, very few require the use of a helmet. All rodeo organizations should require protective headgear to ensure the safety of riders. There is no doubt that horse riding is a dangerous sport. Bull riding involves tying a rope with a handle to the bull and trying to hold on for eight seconds. If the rider is successful, he or she will be given a score out of 100. Running your hand through a rope tied to an angry thousand-pound animal is clearly not most people's idea of ​​fun. The real danger begins from the moment the rider falls or jumps off the bull until the bull or cowboy exits the ring. In a study conducted by the BullTough helmet company they received surveys from 81 cowboys who had purchased their product. These 81 cowboys reported that a total of 110 career injuries occurred while not wearing headgear. The most common head injury was a concussion, impaired neurological function (Brandenburg 593). By going to a rodeo or watching it on TV, danger comes to life. Watching kids of all ages try their best to hang on to a bull, anyone would wonder, why wouldn't they want... middle of paper... their own riders beyond requiring them to be safe by wearing a helmet. It's time for the toughest dirt sport to become safer by simply taking one precaution. Helmets are not only a smart choice for bull riders, they are also safe. Works Cited Brandenburg, Mark A. and Pam Archer. “Survey Analysis to Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Bull Tough Helmet in Preventing Head Injury in Bull Riders: A Pilot Study.” Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 12.6 (2002): 360-366. Academic research completed. Network. February 26, 2014.Cartwright, Keith Ryan. "Heroes and Legends: Brent Thurman." Professional bull riders. Professional Bull Riders, Oct. 23, 2011. Web. Feb. 25, 2014. Health and Safety Code, Chapter 768. Children Participating in Rodeos. State of Texas, 2009. Web. March 12, 2014. Luscombe, Belinda. "10 questions." Tempo 183.3 (2014): 60. Academic research completed. Network. February 25. 2014.