A spur-of-the-moment decision to wear a helmet may have saved bull rider Willy Ives' life last August. He borrowed a friend's helmet on a whim. While riding in the competition, Ives was bucked off.

The bull always wins the ride. It’s quite difficult to stay atop the bucking mammal, so in the sport of bull riding, all the judges ask is for participants to remain on the animal for at least eight ...