PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

Mayfield battled through pain in the 2025 Wran gler NFR, as both hips were in need of repair. (PRCA photo by Lara St Jacques)

rider JR Stratford exited the Finals early with a concus sion and forehead laceration. Stratford made his 2026 debut at the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo in Des Moines, Iowa, nearly a month after his injury. The recovery process for injuries is arguably the tough est part of being sidelined for cowboys. They can go stir crazy unable to be on the road. That was the case for 2023 PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion Keenan Hayes, who missed the entire 2025 season after electing to have surgery to repair his groin. Hayes, in an exclusive interview with The Chute Bosses Podcast last summer, said he passed the time by working in his dad’s shop. But he was eager to return to rodeo. In November, he finally did. That is a feeling every cowboy chases after injury. Stet son Wright missed the entire 2025 season and won two gold buckles at the NFR in December. Mayfield said he hopes to return better than ever and once again chase down Riley Webb for a gold buckle. “It’s hard to beat Riley Webb when you’re not 100%,” Mayfield said. “I’ve still been right on his toes, and none of the other guys are close to us. I’m competing with torn up hips. “So I’m pretty excited to be healthy and be out there doing what I know I can do and feel good again. Heck, I haven’t roped a calf feeling good in two years.”

ering his right hip may also need the same treatment. “When they got in there, things were definitely worse than what we had thought,” Mayfield said of the surgery. “It kind of prolonged the recovery on everything. I’m not going to try to rush it, just wait and see what doctors think.” Mayfield is just one of the handful of top cowboys and former world champions that are beginning the 2026 season with an injury. Rodeo fans in Las Vegas held their collective breaths in Round 9 of the NFR when Ky Hamilton went down after being bucked off coming out of the famous yellow chutes. He was helped off by the Justin Sportsmedicine Team, favoring his right leg in the process. The 2023 PRCA World Champion was diagnosed with a right knee sprain. Hamilton has yet to compete in 2026. Team roper Tyler Wade continues to compete despite breaking his ankle during steer roping practice. The 2024 PRCA World Champion header was preparing for a specialized timed event rodeo that required cowboys to compete in two disciplines. He has since pulled out of that rodeo but is compet ing in Denver for the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. Steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge broke his ankle prior to the NFR in December. He still competed despite being in a walking boot outside of the arena. Bull rider Rawley Johnson was sidelined with a concus sion he suffered in Round 8 of the NFR, while fellow bull

FEBRUARY 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 31