A devastating event occurred at a Texas rodeo on Thursday, resulting in the death of a young, up-and-coming bull rider. Dylan Grant, a 24-year-old from Wyoming, was participating in the Wharton County Youth Fair Xtreme Bulls show’s second round when he was thrown and subsequently trampled by a bull named Commander. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association confirmed the tragic incident, which resulted in fatal injuries for Grant. While the exact weight of Commander is not known, some bulls can reach up to 2,000 pounds.
Grant, who had been a part of the bull riding circuit since 2018, was immediately rushed by ambulance and later airlifted to a hospital in Houston. Despite the tireless efforts of the medical team, he could not overcome his injuries. Grant had been making significant strides in the rodeo community, earning $3,760 this season and amassing career earnings of $15,710.
During his tenure at the University of Wyoming, from which he graduated in 2023, Grant had been recognized as the bull riding champion at the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo. His sudden death has sent ripples of shock and grief throughout the rodeo community. Kendra Santos, a member of the No Spin Rodeo podcast, expressed her sorrow on Facebook, stating that words could not adequately express the sadness of such a shocking event.
This tragic incident follows a near-fatal accident involving another young bull rider, Tyler Kippes, who was gored in the chest by a bull’s horn while competing in Rodeo Austin less than two weeks prior. Kippes survived after undergoing emergency open heart surgery. In the previous year, another bull rider, Peter De Luna, was trampled to death during a competition in Bandera, Texas. De Luna had only been riding for about a year.
The future of Commander, the bull involved in the incident, is currently unknown. The bull had an impressive 100% “buckoff” rate, successfully throwing off every cowboy who attempted to ride him over the past two seasons. It is not uncommon for rodeo bulls to continue participating in events, even after incidents resulting in the death of a rider.