Photos | Results: Round Two and average | Round One

Bareback dislocation

After riding for 86 points and a tie for third place in Round One, bareback rider Kaycee Feild was knocked backward off his horse and landed on his neck. Later diagnosed with a cervical strain, he called it a dislocation and rode for 79 points in Round Two, despite doctors' advice he rest and allow the shoulder to heal.

Explaining the injury, Feild said, "It just popped out of socket, right here next to the shoulder.

"They told me I shouldn't ride," he said. "But, it's kind of what I do. My horse was moving away from me, but I couldn't help it, I'm a little too sore."

On top of the dislocated collarbone, Feild came into the competition having just had 30 stitches to his face caused by falling off a bronc onto a rock. He said the injuries wouldn't affect his NFR plans, and that he'll head back home and hit the gym to strengthen his shoulder before the finals roll around.

Ugly Ride

Justin McDaniel, who won Round Two of the bareback event, said the win was unexpected and that his ride did not feel like a winning one.

"I didn't know what it was going to look like, but it felt terrible," McDaniel said. "I guess [the judges] liked it."

Nothing to lose

In the biggest rodeo he's ridden in to date, saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse has already won over $15,000 in the first two rounds. That money would have catapulted him from 20th place to 11th in the PRCA World Standings … if only it had counted.

Kruse made a clerical error and didn't leave the Texas Stampede as one of the 70 rodeos that count toward the PRCA World Standings.

"Now that it doesn't count, I'm showing everybody how it's done," Kruse said.

At 22, Kruse is an up-and-coming saddle bronc rider. Asked after whom he patterns his technique, he named one of the longest-riding saddle bronc stars still competing, Billy Etbauer.

"Billy, he's always been my idol," said Kruse, "just cause he rides aggressive[ly]."

Unseated

Speaking of Billy Etbauer, he came unglued tonight … from his saddle, that is. His bronc, Air Miles made him a frequent flyer, bucking him off during his Round Two ride, for no score.

"The horse was good," Etbauer said. "I just fell off. I think I didn't pick up on the reign, so he kind of whipped me a little bit, and then I kind of hung my right foot ... and he just got me cocked over there and I fell off."

Etbauer, who squeaked into the semi-finals, said he feels alright and is excited heading into the NFR. He sits in second place in the PRCA world standings.

Faster than a speeding wrestler

Jason Miller led the field in steer wrestling, winning the round in 3.5 seconds. Many of the cowboys competing in the event posted fast times. With seven wrestlers coming in under five seconds, and two receiving penalties of five and 10 seconds, respectively, only Stockton Graves missed his steer and was unable to post a time. He and Trevor Knowles missed the cut, and Miller attributed the fast times to both the arena and the stockpen of steers.

"The steers tonight ... I knew was going to be faster than last night," said Miller. "Same herd, but we just knew tonight's were a little better."

Miller said he didn't have a particularly good run, but that his start was good and his horse was strong.

Photos | Results: Round Two and average | Round One

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