Injury

Stephenville, Texas – Bull rider Koby Radley can’t escape the injury bug.

Radley, who made Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearances in 2018 and 2019, has been sabotaged by injuries ever since.

The Holden, La., cowboy’s latest injury happened on May 18, when he was bucked off Universal Pro Rodeos’ Nightmare at the Bill Hoy Kiwanis Rodeo in Clarksville, Tenn., and fractured his femur in his left leg.

“It was just a freak deal,” said Radley, 24. “He bucked me off and my left leg landed behind me, and my right leg went in front of me. It wasn’t a horrible fall. I guess the way I landed with that leg behind me it broke it in three spots. I had surgery in Clarksville on May 19.

“They put three screws in my knee and two in my hip to hold the rods and a rod through my femur.”

Radley, who is 13th in the May 24 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $44,888, will be sidelined indefinitely.

“I went to my orthopedic surgeon in Baton Rouge (La.), and he told me I would be out for three months,” Radley said. “That all depends on the healing process. It could be longer, and it could be shorter.”

Since 2019, Radley had left knee surgery in January of 2020 that sidelined him for 10 months. Then, he injured his right shoulder in 2021 and in 2022 nagging injuries ended his season in August and now he has the femur injury.

“I just can’t catch a break,” Radley said. “I guess you just have to trust the process. I was really excited about this season because I was doing well. Hopefully, I can get all these injuries out of my system, and I can move forward in my career.”

Radley finished 10th in the 2018 world standings with $160,072 and was seventh in the 2019 world standings with $195,349. In Vegas in 2018, he placed third in Round 2 and Round 6 and in 2019 he won Round 3 with a 92-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo’s Spotted Demon and he was second in Round 5.

Courtesy of PRCA

Veteran bareback rider Orin Larsen, an eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier (2015-22), is returning to action at RodeoHouston, March 9-11.

Larsen has been sidelined since Dec. 3 when he broke his right thumb at the 2022 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Larsen said the injury required surgery on Dec. 12 in Austin, Texas, to repair.

“I got on a couple horses a couple days ago and it felt pretty good,” said Larsen, 31. “The game plan is to go rodeo and have fun. I’m ready to get back and ready to see my buddies and spur some bucking horses.”

Larsen broke his thumb during his 63-point ride on Legends Rodeo Stock’s Illegal Smile in Round 3. He was forced to miss the final six rounds of the NFR due to the injury.

Larsen finished 14th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $133,784. He earned $22,125 at the NFR, highlighted by him taking fourth in Round 1 with an 86-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Sippin’ Firewater.

Larsen finished a career-best second in the 2019 world standings.

Courtesy of PRCA

Members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associations are coming together during a time of need to lend a helping hand to bull rider Reid Oftedahl.

Oftedahl was injured during Round of 2 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. The Raymond, Minn., cowboy, was thrown forward and hit the bull’s head and was tossed to the arena dirt. He suffered a head injury and neck injury.

Oftedahl was admitted to the ICU at UMC Trauma Center on Dec. 2 in Las Vegas. He provided the following update on his condition on Dec. 15 to the ProRodeo Sports News.

Via text, Oftedahl said he was diagnosed with a Grade 3 Diffuse Axonal Injury, which is the shearing (tearing) of the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers (axons).

He also said he suffered a C7 cervical vertebrae fracture in his neck. As of Dec. 15, Oftedahl said he’s now at a rehabilitation center in Mesa, Ariz., but added he expects to make a full recovery.

ProRodeo cowboys have stepped up to the plate to help Reid and his family with the growing medical and rehabilitation costs. Since the Finals have ended, multiple contestants and contract personnel have donated rodeo memorabilia to be put up for auction, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to Oftedahl.

The latest item donated for auction is an NFR All-Around Average Champion Saddle by seven-time PRCA World Champion Stetson Wright from the 2022 Wrangler NFR. The ongoing fundraising efforts are being spearheaded by the stock contracting firm Phenom Genetics Inc. You can bid on the items to support Oftedahl and his family on their Facebook page.

Courtesy of PRCA

Bareback rider Orin Larsen, who is making his eighth Wrangler NFR appearance, and bull rider JR Stratford, who is making his NFR debut, both are out for the remainder of the 2022 NFR according to Dr. Tandy Freeman, the co-medical director and orthopedic surgeon for Justin Sportsmedicine.

Larsen doctored released out of Round 5 and as such had to miss Round 6 because of a broken right thumb. Larsen broke his thumb during his 63-point ride on Legends Rodeo Stock’s Illegal Smile in Round 3. Larsen is 14th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $133,784. He has earned $22,125 at the NFR, highlighted by him taking fourth in Round 1 with an 86-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Sippin’ Firewater.

Stratford suffered a left ankle injury during Round 4, when he failed to make the whistle aboard Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Con Air. Stratford, 20, doctored released out of Round 5 and had to miss Round 6. Stratford is ninth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $142,943. He has earned $35,882 at the NFR, highlighted by him splitting the Round 3 win with a 90-point ride on Pete Carr Rodeo’s Curly Bill.

Also, no further information is being released at this time on bull rider Reid Oftedahl, who was sidelined for the remainder of the 2022 NFR because of the injuries he sustained during Round 2 on Dec. 2 while aboard Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Under the Influence. Oftedahl, who was wearing a helmet, was admitted to the ICU at UMC Trauma Center Dec. 2 with a head injury and neck injury.

Courtesy of PRCA

Bareback rider Orin Larsen, who is making his eighth Wrangler NFR appearance, doctored released out of Round 5 and as such will also have to miss Round 6 because of a broken right thumb.

Larsen confirmed to ProRodeo Sports News he broke his thumb during his 63-point ride on Legends Rodeo Stock’s Illegal Smile.

“This is just part of it,” said Larsen, 31, about his injury. “We all know what we signed up for and it is bad timing, but it is what it is and we are just going to move forward and take it one day at a time. I’m hopeful I will be able to come back for Round 7, but we will see. We will cross that bridge when we get there.”

Larsen is 14th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $133,784. He has earned $22,125 at the NFR, highlighted by him taking fourth in Round 1 with an 86-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Sippin’ Firewater.

Courtesy of PRCA