On one of the walls of the Gilbert physical therapy clinic owned by Mike Rich is a hall of fame of sorts for the unique ailments he encounters on one of his moonlighting jobs.
There are pictures of ruptured biceps, separated shoulders, and an eye socket fracture. In the most chilling photo, Rich and another trainer are providing aid to a man who had half of his right ear severed.
It is visual evidence of the rigors of rodeo, often called the world’s most dangerous sport. Rich sees the broken bones and blood firsthand as trainer and CEO of the Justin Boots Sportsmedicine Team, which serves those bullish enough to compete in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
“I often say that we see everything from hangnails to dead,” Rich said. “I once had a guy come in the trainers’ trailer, holding his own thumb. …
“One rider had his chin split open. He was tougher than most, maybe a little crazy. We asked him to open his mouth to get a better look, and I said that it looks like it’s cut all the way through the skin. He said ‘Yeah, see?’ and stuck his tongue through the cut.”
Rich, who is also an athletic trainer for the Gilbert Unified School District, has had a lifelong familiarity with rodeo. He grew up on a ranch near Dodge City, Kan.
“You learn about high pain tolerance” said Rich, who has served as a trainer at, by his estimation, 400 rodeo events since the late 1980s. “It’s amazing what the human body will adapt to when you put it through something extreme on a regular basis. I work in the major leagues of the sport, and those are the toughest guys. The crybabies get weeded out in the lower levels of rodeo. You have to have a short memory, and be tough.”
A week ago, Rich served at the Payson Rodeo, where one of his regular clients, Wacey Barta of Surprise, won.
Like most riders, Barta would find it easier to list part of his body that have not been injured since he took up the sport 15 years ago. He has underwent reconstructive surgery after shattering face bones, and other battle scars include a broken wrist (four times), broken collarbone (in four places), separated shoulder, torn rotator cuff, broken ribs and injured knee (twice).
“Mike’s services have been invaluable to me,” the 30-year-old Barta said. “He has been around the rodeo world a long time and is really knowledgeable about what our bodies go through. Our injuries aren’t like those in other sports. The people treating you have to know what you can push and how to get you back as quickly as possible. You can’t make any money sitting around.”
Barta cited one of his wrist injuries, where another doctor recommended routine surgery. In a second opinion, Rich said that the procedure would leave Barta with insufficient strength in the wrist to ride and advised an alternate treatment.
John Clark of Queen Creek is a bullfighter — or “rodeo clown.” He diverts the bull’s attention and enables the rider to escape after falling off or managing to stay on for the required eight seconds.
“If I’m not getting hit, I’m not doing my job,” said Clark, a native of Australia who has lived in Queen Creek for six years. “To help the top cowboys in the world make it to that next rodeo, that’s the biggest satisfaction you can get.”
Clark’s job is no less hazardous; his most serious injury was a neck fracture in 2008. He has also suffered a shoulder dislocation and broken arm, ankle and wrist.
However, his most recent ailment — a ruptured groin muscle — was suffered in a horse riding accident. He is counting on Rich to help him miss as few events as possible; Clark makes $700 to $1,000 per rodeo.
“Mike can get you back to competing and doing what we do so much quicker,” Clark said. I’ve been coming here for about two weeks. They told me it would be three months before I am fully healed, but I think I’m a month in advance because of the treatment here. I can get things moving and back to where I should be quicker and easier.”
Rich said his rodeo training has enhanced his treatment for weekend warriors and those with non-sports ailments.
“Whether it’s taping or bracing, whatever, rodeo guys will let push them to the limit to see if it will work,” Rich said. “You can’t do that on a regular treatment. You learn tricks over the years, and if I learn something in rodeo that helps me alleviate a mother’s back pain so she can go home and do what she needs to do for her family, that’s great.”
Through the years, Rich’s biggest appreciation has been for the fortitude of riders and bullfighters, who stare down great risk each time they step in the rodeo ring.
Asked what it takes to keep coming back, both Barta and Clark said it is not a matter of courage, but love.
“It’s got to be something that you truly love,” Barta said. “It’s something that I fell in love with when I was young. If you don’t love to do it, it’s going to tire you out quickly. It’s rough on your body. It’s rough on everything. The good times, the bad times, the injuries, the soreness, the rehabilitation, being in a cast for months, it’s worth it.
“This is what I do. I love it, and I always will.”
Carolyn posted at 8:13 am on Sun, Aug 29, 2010.
I grew up thinking rodeo was great. It's NOT. It's not even a sport, and rodeo performers are nothing but arrogant, self-absorbed IDIOTS who think of animals as nothing but "collateral." Some of the roping skills are necessary on ranches - but bull riding should be banned - it's as bad as bull fighing. I always root for the bulls when I am forced to watch these idiots on the backs of bulls.
azcowboy posted at 7:13 pm on Sun, Aug 29, 2010.
To Carolyn:
This is another case of the Mis-informed or ill-informed. Whele there are some cowboys that are arrogant, how many more pro ball players are just as arrogant? And why would we treat animals as "collateral"? How well the animal performs (or bucks) is half our score. A well fed, well cared for bull performs well because its healthy. Some of these bulls and horses cost the contractor as much as a new vehicle ($20,000-$100,000). Why would they spend that much and then abuse them? They dont. Trust me, these animals get the best possible care availible. As far as it not being a sport, how is it not? You look at the top cowboys and they are as fit as any pro football player you will see. What else is were tougher as we dont get paid unless we compete and win. How many football players have missed games because of torn muscles or broken fingers? Look at some of the injuries cowboys compete with and it will make you head spin. You need to get your facts straight before you post. It sounds like you must have been passed over by a cowboy sometime in your life for a smarter woman, and now you try and berate us all. Whenever I'm at rodeos cometeing I love to take the time out and talk with the kids that make it back behind the chutes, it helps inspire them to succeed. I also like to talk with the people that may have questions about the sport, because as we can see by your post, there are too many people out there trying to give us a bad name by MIS-informing others.
I have been to Mikes office and had him work with my injuries and he is a great guy, he gives back to the community every chance he gets.
Carolyn posted at 4:12 pm on Mon, Aug 30, 2010.
Azcowboy, you are SO silly. I have had several rodeo performers in my family. They were great people - but I met many of their friends - and so I know what I'm talking about when I say arrogant, self-absorbed idiots. Animals who are "used" for bucking - or in the case of bulls used for riding (I cannot think of anything sillier than that) are "collateral." I know there are some "good" cowboys out there, but to me, cowboys should be skilled at competing doing things that are actually useful skill used by ranchers - as I said, roping events, etc. Even the word "cowboy" seems silly to me - are they boys or MEN? I actually MARRIED a cowboy, so I wasn't passed up by any or for a smarter woman - I have a college degree and he doesn't (and that was a petty, stupid comment for you to make - proves my statement about arrogant, self-absorbed idiots)- and he still thinks rodeo is great and watches it on TV (he is way past the age for doing anything concerning rodeoing except being a spectator). The injuries suffered by "cowBOYS" are awful - and they end up "paying for it" later in life. Is it really worth it? I think not. My dad helped conduct "junior" rodeos years ago, and those were good kids who competed in junior rodeo activities - NOTHING like the adults compete in, of course, but at least, those were FUN to attend because no one got hurt. I have all of my facts straight, and I am not really "berating" any of you, but I still do NOT consider it a "sport." I am aware that the animals get good care because they are going to be USED - and USED - and USED. As for comparing rodeo performers with football players, at least the football players get BIG BUCKS for subjecting themselves to injuries that just might ruin their lives in later life - "cowboys" get NOTHING like that. You won't convince me that rodeo is a sport, that cowboys really are that entertaining, etc. I've known them all my life. As I said, there are some good guys among them, but the REALLY good ones have REAL jobs and just "do rodeo" for fun or "on the side." Anyone who actually thinks "rodeoing" is a career is delusional.
azcowboy posted at 3:04 pm on Fri, Sep 17, 2010.
Ok, so we both agree that there are some good cowboys out there and some bad ones, just like with anything else. As far as the term "collateral" goes, how can the stock be called that? He is not giving them to someone to hold in case he doesnt repay a loan, which "collateral" is used for. For a stock contractor, he is contracted with the rodeo producer to bring the stock. So that is his business. He makes money by supplying the animals. Therefore since the animals are part of his business assets, therefore the correct term I believe would be "capital". Surely a well educated woman that knows about the inner workings of rodeo would be able to tell the difference, and use the correct terminology. We might not be able to agree on rodeo being a sport, that is your opinion and thats fine. As far as the injuries being "worth it" it may not be "worth it" to you, and thats fine, but you would have to ask the injured cowboys themselves as I cant speak for them(but it looks like you can). I can speak for the ones I have talked with, and most have said it is just something that comes with the sport, and its not a sport for the weak hearted. And I agree that us cowboys dont get paid what were worth. But its still enough to get us to enter the rodeo and try to win that money, which can still be several thousand dollars at a good rodeo. As for your last comment about doing it for a career, very few can consider it that, but most wouldnt. They usually have to be single, and not mind traveling alot, but in extreamly rare instances it can happen. These are the REALLY good ones that can make a career out of it. The ones that cant compete full time but are still highly skilled can still compete on the weekends. It sounds as if you support the amatuer rodeos (for kids) but not the professional ones (for adults), which is fine because that is your opinion, but it sounds rather silly to me. It's like saying you support little league baseball but not the MLB association. But anyway, I am just here to state the facts about rodeo, people can decide on their own who to believe. (Shoudnt be too hard.) Also, the correct term for us would be "competitors" not "performers" as we dont get paid regardless if we win or lose, like a "performer" would. We compete against each other for the prize money. But again a well educated women who knows the inner wokings of rodeo would be able to tell the difference.
azcowboy posted at 3:31 pm on Fri, Sep 17, 2010.
One last thing to add about the animals getting "used". A well managed stock contracting program will "use" a horse or bull at most once or twice a week. There out in the arena maybe a full minute or two at most (8 seconds for the ride, then time for them to find the exit from the arena). So you do the math, or better yet, lets do it where everyone can see it. 2 minutes a week X 52 weeks a year = 104 minutes. 104 minutes / 60 minutes in an hour = 1.73 hours spent "being used" in an entire year. Sounds like most of the time is spent at home, in a pasture living a horses life. It also shows that horses that are "used" by other equestrian folks such as english riders, ropers, or just a general trail rider would very easily use a horse the same amout of time a bucking horse would work in an ENTIRE YEAR in a SINGLE afternoon or evening ride. Someone that knows about the inner workings of rodeo would know this. So that arguement is invalid. Im sorry but that is all I have to say in this arguement as I am sure you might come back with a response to possibly try and dis-credit me, or bend the truth to make you seem right, but I dont think I will reply because someone with intelligence should be able to see what is fact and what is fiction in this arguement. And if they dont believe either one of us, I encourage them to attend a rodeo, find the stock contractor and ask for themselves. They would be more than willing to explain the facts to someone who is willing to put forth the effort and find out the truth for themselves. Anyone can argue about any topic, and there will be good and bad things that can be said, but there can only be one truth. To find the truth, go straight to the "horses mouth", they can ask a stock contractor for themselves.