SADDLE BRONC RIDER

SCRAPES, BRUISES, AND BLOODY NOSES:

This is the stuff that happens most often.  Minor stuff that could be ignored, but is just as easy to fix up right, so take care of it.

SCRAPES:

     I know you aren't going to go running off cryin when you get a little banged up, but at least take a look at yourself, or have a buddy take a peak at you if you know you've got a scrape, scratch, or cut.  A lot of times you won't even notice it (or really don't know how bad it is) till later. 

Just clean it out with some water and paper towels at a minimum (horses and cows have crapped in that dirt you landed in and the fences and panels arent coated in neosporin - know what I mean?).  Ideally you should rinse it out, and scrub out the dirt the best you can with a mild soap (yep it'll probably hurt, but do the best you can stand, the pain will dull as your doing it).  Let it air dry (don't wipe or pat it dry cause you'll get material in it) and if it's large, or likely to get rubbed or dirty apply some ointment if available (unless you want the gauze to stick to it) and cover with a non adhesive bandage.  You can use ice to dull the pain a bit and reduce swelling, but don't apply it directly to the wound.

BRUISES:

     This is another one of the common ones typically from bouncing off gates, fences, and panels or maybe the ground or sometimes you just catch a hoof or something.  You could leave these be if you wanted to, but your going to go get yourself a drink when your done anyway so why not ask the nice people behind the counter for some ice (they'd be more than happy to give you some), or just rest something cold from your ice chest on it for a minute.  Even if all you have is a wet paper towel from the restrooms go do it.

NOSE BLEEDS:

     I've seen this one more often than you'd think, and typically it happens when people try to catch themselfs before hitting the ground.  The best cure here is prevention.  You shouldn't be looking at the ground anyway, so try to keep your eyes on the swells all the way to the ground.  I know it's not that easy, so if you do chose the horsepoo enchiladas and find they come out smelling like something rose colored (gave yourself a bloody nose) just let it bleed out a little bit on your way back to the chutes, and try not to gross out the spectators.  Sit down someplace and lean forward a little bit.  Pinch your nose for several minutes and apply something cold (again the wet paper towels from the restrooms would work) preferably ice to the bridge of the nose if doesn't interefere with pinching the nose.  DO NOT TILT YOUR HEAD BACK OR PUT YOUR HEAD BETWEEN YOUR KNEES.  If you think I'm wrong, go ahead and do what you think is right (doing something is better than nothing), but seriously if you think something else would work better - you are on the internet right now - look it up.

The idea in this sport is to do everything you can to stay as healthy as possible.  You could ignore this stuff, but it's just so easy to address whatever minor injury you have while you wind down/cool down from the ride you just had.

PERFORMANCE INJURIES:

Muscular:

Skeletal: