GUNNISON, Colo. – Two years and 16 days ago, Jacobs Crawley’s long career as an elite bronc rider was put into jeopardy.

He’d suffered a broken back while competing at the 2023 Greeley (Colorado) Stampede. It was bad, a burst fracture of his T12 vertebra and damage to the T11 and L1. He had surgery to fuse five vertebrae together. It’s the type of injury that extended beyond rodeo; his life could have been affected. Thank goodness he was in amazing shape.

“The doctor said that was the only reason I wasn’t paralyzed, because I tore every muscle in my back when I had those burst fractures in the vertebrae,” said Crawley, a 10-time National Finals Rodeo and the 2015 world champion saddle bronc rider. “They said the only thing that saved me was the muscle around the tears and breaks holding the back up.”

It has taken many months, but the breaks are now working in his favor. He’s back to riding bucking horses, chasing that elusive rodeo gold and enjoying a life he will never take for granted again. He proved it during Friday’s second performance of the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo by riding Rafter G Rodeo’s Orange Crush for 86 points to take the bronc riding lead.

“We didn’t know how much strength I’d have,” said Crawley, 37, of Stephenville, Texas. “We didn’t know if I’d e able to walk right, run, all that. For that first couple weeks, it’d been touch and go. By the grace of God and human will through His power, what was supposed to take eight months took four; what was supposed to take maybe a year, I was doing in six or seven months.”

Each step was progress, and he’s returning to form, just like the spur stroke that helped him earn gold 10 seasons ago. He is already 39th in the world standings with a good chance to move up after this week.

“When everything’s clicking, there’s nothing like it,” he said. “In a physical aspect and obviously your spiritual walk, you have moments that are powerful, like when you have children, when you’re married. But in physical competition, feeling like you’re at your best is just an adrenaline high.”

His return to Gunnison – just like his return to competition – has been triumphant. He loves the rush he gets in the arena, but there’s more to it for a man who absolutely adores the life he lives.

“This experience, the roots of rodeo, is what I missed over the last two years of not competing,” Crawley said. “I missed that Americana, that feeling of community. You’ve got all these people here; they’re celebrating. Then you have a great rodeo committee that really cares about the product they’re putting out there. You’ve got contactors to care and cowboys that want to win.

“That is, in my opinion, what rodeo is.”

Cattlemen’s Days
Gunnison, Colo.
July 11-13
Bareback riding: 1. Ben Kramer, 82.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Jungle Cat; 2. Taylon Carmody, 81.5; 3. Kelton Maxfield, 79.5; 4. Jacoby Campbell, 79; 5. Matthew Tuni, 78.5; 6. Briar Dittmer, 79; 7. Tyler Ferguson, 67; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling: 1. Cody Pratt, 4.2 seconds; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.6; 3. (tie) Colt Honey and Marc Joiner, 4.7; 5. (tie) Jacob Edler and Trey Nahrgang, 4.8; 7. Tait Kvistad, 4.9; 8. Cayden Schulz, 5.3.

Team roping: 1. Brayden Fillmore/Cody Lansing, 4.4 seconds; 2. Wawa Ben Jr./Brandon Ben, 4.5; 3. (tie) J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford and Jaxson Hill/Jessen James, 4.6; 5. Cody Carter/Blake Bentley, 4.9; 6. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson and Cole Eiguren/Breck Ward, 5.1; 8. Tyson Charley/Pace Blanchard, 5.3.

Breakaway roping: 1. Haiden Thompson, 2.0 seconds; 2. Sierra Spratt, 2.1; 3. Samantha Haardt, 2.4; 4. (tie) Amanda Terrell, Grace Perez, Rheagan Cotton and Erin Johnson, 2.5; 8. Kassie Kautzman, 2.6; 9. Bailey Bates, 2.8; 10. Libby Winchell, 3.0.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 86 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Orange Crush; 2. Cauy Pennington, 85; 3. Michael Story and Jackson Ford, 83; 5. Blake Starrett, 82.5; 6. Brady Hill, 78; 7. (tie) Parker Kempfer and beau Ryan Scarborough, 77. 

Tie-down roping: 1. Lane Webb, 8.9 seconds; 2. Hagen Houck, 9.7; 3. Riley Pruitt, 10.2; 4. (tie) Matt Peters and Cooper Andersen, 10.6; 6. Darnell Johnson, 10.9; 7. Matt Gutierrez, 11.5; 8. Creede Guardamondo, 11.7.

Barrel racing: 1. Katelyn Scott, 17.63 seconds; 2. Alex Odle, 17.89; 3. Shali Lord, 17.93; 4. Mackenzie McCuistion, 17.98; 5. Kiersten Pettus, 17.99; 6. Taryn Boxleitner, 18.28; 7. Shy-Anne Jarrett, 18.31; 8. Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, 18.34; 9. Jamie Olsen, 18.35; 10. Rayne Grant, 18.42.

Bull riding: 1. Canyon Bass, 86.5 points on Smith Pro Rodeo’s Hatari; 2. Colton Byran, 75; no other qualified rides.