PRORODEO Sports News - March 21, 2025

the sport is necessary, Freeman makes way for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. “The doctors help get these guys get back on the road but what do you do when they are bad, and they can’t make money for six months?” said ProRodeo Hall of Famer Tom Feller, a former PRORODEO clown and promoter of the sport through Justin. “That’s where the idea of the crisis fund was born.” PRORODEO is a blue-collar sport. Cowboys don’t earn paychecks for simply being a member of the PRCA. Their main source of income comes from competing at several rodeos a year. But when injuries stack up, as well as bills, the crisis fund can step in to assist. It’s just one more way Justin has taken its PRCA partnership in stride to improve PRORODEO. And according to Rich, they continue to evolve with volunteers to offer even more medical services to athletes. “It’s a huge deal,” Rich said. “There’s a reason we have so many volunteers. When a volunteer comes for a rodeo, they can do what they got into medicine for.” “It was successful in the early days thanks to the support from the Justin Boot Company and the PRCA ... It’s making a huge difference.” Tandy Freeman, Justin Sports Medicine Medical Director and PRCA Head Team Doctor

The partnership between the PRCA and Justin Sports Medicine has allowed cowboys to receive top-notch care on the road. ( PRCA photo by Joseph Archuleta )

career, and it came in a “right place, right time” moment. As he grew his own businesses, Rich became involved in PRORODEO. Though, there was hesitation from the cowboys. Rich said the fear of copays, needing insurance and other factors contributed to a cold reception to trainers at rodeos. But when Justin came in as a sponsor, those factors were eliminated. “Justin’s wherewithal to cover the sponsorship to get me and my people on the road, that works,” Rich said. “It’s kind of a unique deal.” Thanks to Justin Sports Medicine, PRORODEO is taking steps toward matching other professional sports that put wear and tear on the body. Soccer is one of the leading sports for concussions. While only about 4 seconds on average, the impact during a football play is often compared to being in a car crash. Hockey speaks for itself with big hits along the glass. Rodeo is often forgotten regarding physically taxing sports. Jumping from horses in tie-down roping and steer wrestling or getting bucked off a horse or bull all come with their

own risks. Some injuries remain minor, requiring a few days or weeks to rest and heal. But on occasion, surgery to repair torn ligaments, tendons or broken bones is necessary. That’s where Justin Sports Medicine Medical Director and PRCA Head Team Doctor Tandy Freeman comes into play. Slowly, he earned the trust of the cowboys and showed them he and his team are there for their benefit. “It was successful in the early days thank to the support from the Justin Boot Company and the PRCA,” Freeman said. “A group of rodeo athletes who benefitted from the program told their buddies about it and they would pull their friends into the Justin trailer when they were hurting. “It’s making a huge difference.” Freeman is responsible for helping injured cowboys find care. Often, that includes his network of some of the top surgeons in the country to help them get back to their sport as quickly as possible. He takes pride in the work he does to ensure the safety of PRORODEO athletes. Though, when injuries are severe enough and time away from

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