PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

SHAD MAYFIELD, OTHERS DEALING WITH INJURIES TO BEGIN 2026 SEASON BY ZACH ALVIRA

T he injury bug struck yet again for some of PRORO DEO’s top athletes, with former world champions sidelined for the foreseeable future following a grueling 2025 season that saw more money than ever up for grabs and several earnings records broken. Injuries are common in PORODEO, especially when factoring in a cowboy’s livelihood being dependent upon whether they compete or not. Often, due to that, athletes put off treatment until the end of the season. That can lead to more damage and a longer time away from the arena. But some of the sport’s most seasoned veterans know the risks they take by putting off treatment while chasing a world championship. To them, it’s worth it. “My doctor said my hip would tell me when it’s time to have surgery,” said two-time PRCA World Champion

Shad Mayfield. “This summer it definitely gave me a lot of pain. Even sitting in a saddle would hurt me. So I made the decision to just get through the NFR and go straight to (surgery). “The faster I get it done, hopefully the faster I can get back.” Mayfield, arguably one of the sport’s most recognized athletes, had Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) surgery to repair his left hip following the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. He also had a micro fracture in his hip, increasing his return window to six to 10 months. The two-time PRCA World Champion isn’t officially calling it quits for the 2026 season. There’s hope he can exceed expectations and return at some point. But he doesn’t plan to rush his recovery, especially when consid

Two-time PRCA World Champion Shad Mayfield is one of a handful of cowboys with an injury for the 2026 season. Mayfield had surgery to repair his left hip and is out for up to 10 months. (PRCA photo by Kathryn Coleman)

30 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2026