PRORODEO Sports News - July 2, 2026

SHORT ROUND

Bareback rider Sam Petersen had an 87.25-point ride on C5 Rodeo Company’s Winning Horse to place second in Round 3 of the 2025 NFR. PRCA photo by Kathryn Coleman

SAM PETERSEN OUT SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER WRECK AT WAINWRIGHT STAMPEDE

BY TIERNEY MYERS, SPECIAL TO PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS

B areback rider Sam Petersen, the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average champion, will likely be sidelined for the next six months after a riding accident at the Wainwright (Alberta) Stampede, June 19. Unlike many roughstock injuries, Petersen’s came after the ride was over. He had just put together an 88-point ride on Duffy Rodeo’s Reservation, which was the high est-marked ride of the entire rodeo. As the pickup men came in to help Petersen off the horse, things started to fall apart. “The pickup man came in and tripped the flank latch, and the horse just took off down the fence,” Petersen said. “The pickup men hadn’t gotten to me yet, and I went to grab my rigging with my opposite hand and missed.”

The horse continued running down the fence, and Petersen tried to salvage the situation as best he could to avoid a larger wreck. “It was a split-second decision,” Petersen said. “Either I throw myself off to the right and get run over by the pickup man, or I go to the left and try to catch myself on the fence.” Ultimately, Petersen tried to catch himself on the fence. While he successfully pulled himself away from the horse, his knee crashed into the fence with enough force to completely shatter his kneecap. Following the injury, Petersen was transported to a local emergency room for immediate care. He underwent surgery the next morning once he was back across the

46 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE July 2, 2026