Historical article · 2023. The events and results below belong to that period. Editorial review: November 1, 2026.
The March 2023 archive reported that Orin Larsen was preparing to return at RodeoHouston after the thumb injury that ended his 2022 NFR. The earlier injury occurred during the third round in Las Vegas and was followed by surgery in December.
The sequence is important: a tentative hope of returning during the 2022 finals was not the same as the later plan to compete in Houston. These were separate updates at different stages of his recovery.
Following the timeline
Bareback riding places substantial demands on the riding hand, so an entry announcement alone cannot explain the medical decisions behind a comeback. This historical brief records the reported competition plan without offering advice about injury treatment or making claims about Larsen's current condition.
To reconstruct the story, read the initial rounds-five-and-six absence, the subsequent withdrawal from the remainder of the NFR, and then the 2023 return report in that order. Fans following later seasons should use current draws and official results.
For a different season, see current bareback riding standings. Historical results above should be read with their original year.
Sources and official information
Image: original AI-generated thematic illustration for WatchNFR. It does not depict the named athlete or the reported historical event.
