PRORODEO Sports News - June 6, 2025

SHORT ROUND

BULL RIDER CHASE DOUGHERTY OUT FOR SEASON FOLLOWING SURGERY C hase Dougherty, a two-time Wrangler National Finals decision." Dougherty earned $9,106 this

is going to Vegas in back-to-back years. But he's content with giving himself some time to fully recover to accomplish that goal down the road. "I'm excited and pumped up, can't wait for next year," Dough

Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge qualifier, announced on social media Monday, May 26, he is out the rest of the year following hip surgery. Dougherty, 27, said he had sur gery to repair a torn Labrum and 2-centimeter fragment of bone that came off his femur or pelvis on April 8, injuries he sustained back in 2022 but re-aggravated last season. "I spent nine months out then was told I needed hip surgery," Dough erty said. "I said I would just tough it out. It didn't really hurt. I never really noticed it. Then I had a bull yank the dog snot out of my hip and made it hurt again." The last five years for Dougherty have been challenging. He had a brain bleed in 2022, followed by an injury to his knee cap. It was around the time he was healing from those injuries that Dr. Tandy Freeman told him he would need to fix his hip. Dougherty put off surgery for two years, continuing to ride just enough to qualify for the NFR in 2024. "In hindsight, I should have done the surgery," Dougherty said. "But I really wanted to be able to ride in the NFR because I hadn't been there in six years. So, I just toughed it out but it was a poor

season, placing as high as second. His final ride of the year came in Lufkin, Texas, at the Xtreme Bull Bash. He scheduled surgery short ly after. Now nearly two months post-op, Dougherty said he is moving and feeling better than he has since he first qualified for the NFR in 2018. He is currently working through physical therapy and is progressing as well as

erty said. "If I thought I rode well last year, I

think I'm going to be able to surpass that by a long way."

anyone. Doctors have hinted at a potential

return to action sooner than ex pected. But Dougherty isn't going to rush it. At best, he said he could return in Septem ber. But to make it worthwhile, he would have to compete and win at nearly every rodeo that month for a long shot at qualifying for the NFR. One of his top priorities in his career

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