Table of Contents
- Lane Frost death was as a result of severe injuries he sustained when the bull Takin Care of Business struck him on the final day of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo
- The Brahma bull hit Lane Frost in the back with his horn and broke several of his ribs. However, he was not gored
- In 1996, the PBR made the wearing of protective vests a must requirement for all bull riders to prevent injuries that would lead to deaths
Lane Frost death was as a result of severe injuries he sustained when the bull Takin Care of Business struck him. Frost was a professional rodeo cowboy who competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). The American international specialized in bull riding.
Lane Frost. Photo/ News On 6.
He began riding calves when he was still a small boy, aged between five and six years. He won his first rodeo awards at the age of ten after competing at the ‘Little Buckaroos’ in Uintah Basin. He was second in tie-down roping and third in ‘calf bull riding’ in the same event in Uintah Basin.
Frost was the National High School Bull Riding Champion in 1981 in Oklahoma when he was a student at Atoka High School. In 1982, the young Frost became the Bull Riding Champion of the first Youth National Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.
After graduating from high school, Frost joined the PRCA and decided to do rodeoing full-time. He finished 16th in the world standings, just a spot away from a trip to the National Finals. Frost made his first NFR in 1984 at the age of 24 and finished ninth in the world standings.
The American international became the PRCA World Bull Riding Champion Bull Rider in 1987 when he was 24 years old.
Lane Frost competed at the Rodeo ’88 Challenge Cup, which was part of the Cultural Olympiad in association with the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Lane Frost Death
The bull Takin Care of Business attacked Lane Frost after he dismounted and landed in the mud. Frost had just successfully completed an 85-point ride on the bull when the bizarre incident occurred in front of over 10,000 fans. It was on the final day of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
The Brahma bull hit Lane Frost in the back with his horn and broke several of his ribs. However, he was not gored.
Lane Frost death. Photo/ Central Oregon Daily.
Frost initially rose to his feet and waved at Tuff Hedeman, asking for help. He tried taking a few steps but fell to the ground, and his broken ribs punctured his lungs and heart. The legendary bull rider was immediately rushed to Memorial Hospital, where he passed away due to the injuries.
At the time of his death, Frost was 25 years old. He is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma. Frost’s grave is next to his hero and mentor, Freckles Brown.
What Happened To The Bull That Killed Lane Frost?
The bull Takin Care of Business was still part of the game even after killing Frost. He appeared in the 1990 National Finals Rodeo and remained active until in the 1990s, when he was retired. Takin Care of Business was put out to stud until he died in 1999.
How Did Lane Frost Death Change Bull Riding?
Lane Frost death changed bull riding in that riders began wearing protective vests when riding. Cody Lambert, one of Frost’s travelling partners, came up with the idea of wearing the protective vests. In fact, he is the one who created them.
In 1996, the PBR made the wearing of protective vests a must requirement for all bull riders to prevent injuries that would lead to deaths. The PBR began awarding the Lane Frost/ Brent Thurman Award to the highest-scoring ride at the PBR World Finals that same year.
Frost was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1990 and was included in the PBR Ring of Honor nine years later. He is a member of the 2000 Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the 2008 Rodeo Hall of Fame in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. In 2017, the legend was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame and the Molalla Walk of Fame.
Lane Frost was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Photo/ 101.5 KNUE.
