The Last Ride (bull riding accident)

"The Last Ride" was a professional rodeo accident that happened on July 30, 1989, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, that resulted in the death of professional bull rider, Lane Frost. He had just ridden a bull named Takin' Care of Business when, after he dismounted, the bull struck him in the back causing several broken ribs and a severed artery. Frost then stood up for a moment before collapsing. He died on the arena floor before he could be transported to the hospital.

Background
Frost had been a professional bull rider for eight years before the event. He won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull riding world championship in 1987. In 1988, Frost was a part of the Challenge of the Champions, which put him up against the previously unrideable bull named Red Rock, who was owned by the Growney Brothers Rodeo Company and was the 1987 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year. Frost won the event of seven rides with a record of 4–3. During the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo in 1989, Frost was looking to make it to his sixth consecutive National Finals Rodeo (NFR) with an impressive ride.

The ride
On July 30, 1989, Frost drew a Brahma bull named Takin' Care of Business, who was owned by Bad Company Rodeo, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. It was a cold and rainy day leading to mud developing on the arena floor. At 3:30 pm, Frost and the bull exited chute #7. Frost then rode the bull for the full eight seconds, earning an 85-point ride. However, Frost dismounted awkwardly, landing in the bull's eyesight. The bull then stepped on Frost's chaps and hooked him in the back with his right horn. The horn did not break through Frost's skin, but the blow was strong enough to cause massive internal injuries. He then stood up and motioned towards his longtime friend Tuff Hedeman for help before collapsing face-first into the muddy arena floor, puncturing his heart and lungs. Frost was rushed to Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3:59 pm. He was 25 years old. No autopsy was performed. It was assumed that when Takin' Care of Business pushed Frost against the mud, the bull's entire body weight was at the end of his horn, breaking some of Frost's ribs which then severed a main artery.

Aftermath


On August 2, 1989, Frost's funeral service was held at First Baptist Church in Atoka, Oklahoma. It was estimated that 3,500 people attended. After the service was over, Frost was taken to Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma, where he was laid to rest beside his long-time mentor, Freckles Brown.

Before the devastating events at Cheyenne, protective equipment was optional with riders only using it if they felt it was necessary for their survival. Cody Lambert, a friend of Frost and fellow bull rider, helped create the protective vest that all professional bull riders now wear mandatorily while competing.

In 1989, Tuff Hedeman, dedicated his 10th round National Finals Rodeo (NFR) ride to Frost. Hedeman rode the bull for 16 seconds, riding well past the whistle. Prior to the ride, he stated, "I'm gonna ride him an extra ten seconds for Lane." Hedeman would then be named the NFR World Champion Bull Rider.

On July 26, 1993, a bronze statue that depicted Frost was dedicated in front of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. The statue was self-commissioned by former bull rider turned sculptor Chris Navarro.

In 1994, a movie titled 8 Seconds was released. Starring Luke Perry as Frost, the movie dramatized Frost's life and even showed his last moments in the Cheyenne arena.

In 1996, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) announced the Lane Frost/Brent Thurman Award, which is awarded annually to the highest-scoring single ride at the PBR World Finals. Adriano Morães won the first award when he scored 93.5 points on Western Trails' Shotgun Red. During the same year, protective vests were made mandatory in the PBR and subsequently for all bull riders, professional or otherwise.