A 19-year-old cowboy has been killed after he was trampled by a horse during a New Jersey rodeo event over the weekend, local officials have confirmed.

The rider has been identified as Coy Lutz. He was competing at the season opener of the 62^nd Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, New Jersey. Lutz is said to have fallen off of his horse then the animal trampled on him.

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The University of Tennessee at Martin, where the student was attending classes and was majoring in criminal justice, said in a statement that Lutz was on their rodeo team. The victim was from Howard, Pennsylvania.

The owner of the rodeo show, Grant Harris, also released a statement saying that Lutz was competing in the bareback bronc event. The horse, identified as H3, kicked the student off. The victim then hit the ground and then the horse crushed him. Horses can weigh as much as 1,250 pounds.

The staff of the event was able to get the animal away from the victim. Emergency workers rushed Lutz to The Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Mannington Township, but he was pronounced dead.

The event released a statement on its Facebook page saying, "Cowtown Rodeo and The Harris Family extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to the Lutz Family for the tragic loss of their son, Coy." Harris said that Lutz was a nice kid from a nice family.

This was the second season that Lutz had competed at Cowtown Rodeo. His mother and father are said to be two of the many spectators who witnessed the tragic accident. Lutz was the fourth person to compete in the event. There was a total of five riders registered for the event.

Harris claims that Lutz is the first-ever cowboy to die from injuries suffered from competing at an event. He said other cowboys have suffered from broken arms, legs, and ribs while competing. The rodeo was established back in 1929.

The bareback bronc event requires riders to stay on their horse with nothing more than a leather rigging. A saddle is also not used. 

Tags19-year-old cowboy, New Jersey rodeo, bareback event, Dead, trampled, horse, Competition, Cowtown Rodeo