Which is why they are fair. Contrast rodeo with polo or steeplechase. The horses in the latter two events are constantly put in danger and it is not uncommon for a horse to get shot after breaking its leg. In rodeo, on the other hand, the rider stands a good chance of getting his skull crushed or a lung fatally punctured by a 2-ton bull. These misfortunes are common to the sport.
Danger is everywhere in rodeo.
When I stood down low by the fence, I realized that a bull could easily smash up against me and shatter my arm, which was resting on the gate. Or even worse, the beast could crush its way through the gate and take out an entire section of the audience before anyone could do something about it. A bull loosed on unsuspecting and helpless spectators would be a gruesome equalizer and a grim reminder of all that is right about rodeo. That possibility makes the cowboy's reality more awful. He sits atop the beast, braced with one arm to engage the animal in some rhythmic battle-dance.