PRORODEO Sports News - June 6, 2025

SHORT ROUND

BULL RIDER ERNIE COURSON SET TO RETURN FROM INJURY F an-favorite PRORODEO bull rider Ernie Courson revealed to the PRORODEO Sports News that As of June 3, Courson was 39th in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings with $29,214.

he's set to return from injury on June 12 at the Park er County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo in Weatherford, Texas. “I’m all cleared to get back to it,” said Courson, 31. “I’m excited and just glad to be coming back and my wife is probably tired of me spurring every piece of furniture in the house.” Courson has been sidelined since April 19 when he was injured at the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up. He got hung up during a ride and took a horn to the midsection. The blow resulted in broken fifth and sixth ribs and a severely bruised lung that completely collapsed. "They couldn't really hear anything at the rodeo, so they immediately put me in the ambulance and closed the door," Courson said after the April set back. "Then they were able to listen and couldn't hear any sounds from my lung. Then, within a few seconds, I had a chest tube in, and they got me to the hospital." The Okeechobee, Fla., native credits the paramedics on the scene for saving his life by relieving the pres sure in his chest cavity on the way to the hospital.

“I absolutely feel like I can make up for lost ground,” Courson said. “Through my faith and perseverance, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.” Courson finished a career-best 20th in the 2022 world standings.

Bull rider Ernie Courson is preparing to return from injury. PRCA Photo by Brian Gauck

1 The inaugural Music City Rodeo in Nashville, Tenn., was held May 29 31 at Bridgestone Arena.

$6,378 The amount of money earned by Stetson Wright on the way to winning all-around cowboy honors at the Music City Rodeo.

91 The score by bull rider Tristan Mize on Honey cutt Rodeo’s Big Red at Take the Oath Xtreme Bulls in Manti, Utah, on May 26.

PRORODEO Sports News 27