We all watched in horror when catastrophe struck on Clay Smith’s 2022 rodeo season on the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona this summer season. The freak neck-rope accident that broke each bones between Clay’s proper knee and ankle occurred on June 28, and despatched him to the sidelines for surgical procedure. Doctors mentioned to sit down tight for 3 to 4 months. It was astounding when Clay got here again solely a month later, which was solely doable with the assistance of a really particular sorrel horse by the identify of Flinty.
Freak Accident in Prescott Sidelines Clay Smith’s Summer Run
The two-time champ of the world was truly using Flinty when he acquired harm.
“Pecos was Flinty’s first pro rodeo, and Prescott was only his second one,” Smith mentioned. “But the accident had nothing to do with him. It was just a freak deal that will hopefully never happen again.”
The wreck was not his doing, however Clay’s unimaginable comeback has all the things to do with this horse.
“He’s irreplaceable is what he is,” mentioned Smith, who fell quick on the earth standings whereas residence therapeutic up. “For a guy who didn’t have a chance—Flinty gave me a shot. And he has me excited for next year, no matter how this all ends in 2022.”
Smith was sq. on the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bubble, and he completed the common season thirteenth. He returned far sooner than anticipated, due to household, mates, Flinty and his unstoppable will to win.
He’s Back! Clay Smith Returns to Rodeo After Injury at Prescott
“My wife (Taylor) ordered a tall walking boot that you put air into to keep everything straight, tight and stable,” Clay mentioned. “My leg broke at concerning the shin, so if my foot turned within the stirrup, it might not have been good. A neighbor introduced me a walking-boot stirrup, and I needed to substitute my common fender with one product of actually skinny leather-based for extra flexibility. With the skinny leather-based fender, I may tie a string from my again girth to the skin of the stirrup to maintain my foot and toe turned out and sq..
“I also ordered a Magic Seat (think Velcro in the seat of your saddle; Martha Josey first used it in the barrel racing), because the last thing I needed was to get blown out of the saddle. That kept my butt down in the saddle more, so I wouldn’t get thrown around. Flinty’s the smoothest horse I’ve ever ridden out in the arena, but he leaves there so hard he will blow you out the back.”
Flinty’s handed by some notable fingers in his eight quick years right here. He’s an personal son of Corona Cartel, and was raised by Gary McKinney, who owns the Lazy E Arena and Reliance Ranches.
“They ran Flinty on the track, and had high hopes for him as a racehorse,” Smith mentioned. “He had some great outs, then he hit the starting gate leaving there, and they couldn’t get him to start good after that.”
Interestingly, scoring is considered one of this horse’s nice strengths now. Perhaps that’s as a result of after McKinney, Flinty’s journey subsequent included Trevor Brazile shopping for him as a 3-year-old barrel-horse prospect for his spouse, Shada.
“The way I understand it, Trevor then started heading on Flinty when he was 4 or 5,” Smith mentioned. “I feel Wyatt Imus purchased him from Trevor, then Kaleb Driggers purchased him, then he offered him to Clint Summers. My father-in-law, Jason Richey, purchased him from Clint in 2020 when he was 6, and instructed me he was the quickest horse he’d ever ridden. I rode him on the BFI a pair years in the past.
“Jason let me ride Flinty to finish him out and season him a little at the jackpots, and I loved him. Speed Williams borrowed him for the US Finals from Jason, then I bought him right after that, in April of this year. The plan was for him to be my jackpot horse. I like to jackpot on a horse for about a year before I rodeo on one. If they stay scoring at the jackpots, they tend to stay more solid rodeoing.”
Flinty would get the decision at long-score occasions, “Because he can score and really run,” Smith mentioned. “His best quality is running, and I wanted to keep him running for the long-score average rodeos and jackpots. I don’t like to brag and say I have the best horse in the country, because every horse has a hole or something he could do a little bit better.”
He largely rode a sorrel horse he purchased from Clay Deen in East Texas in 2019—General—in short-score setups this yr. But it’s been Flinty when working arduous was required.
“The hardest thing to overcome since I got hurt is trying to get up to the front of my horse and kick,” Smith mentioned. “I haven’t had sufficient power to stand up in my saddle, drive with my ft and assist my horse get to the cow. I sit just about flat on my butt, and haven’t been capable of hustle my horse. Flinty’s principally needed to run to cattle on his personal with out me driving him.
“If I’d broken my left leg, there’s no way I could have done this. It’s been hard sitting on my butt and trying to keep more weight running down the left side. But if I’d broken my left leg, I don’t think I’d have had a chance.”
Clay was suggested by his surgeon to remain seated for 12-15 weeks, as that’s typical therapeutic time for his harm. Dr. Tandy Freeman eliminated his staples at two weeks post-op, took X-rays and at Smith’s request despatched them to Clay’s orthopedic surgeon good friend, Dr. Dan Carrol, in Kansas City.
“Dan said it looked like the people in Phoenix who did the surgery did a great job,” Smith mentioned. “I talked to him about rigging up my stirrup and coming again early. I used to be apprehensive about bending the rod they put in my leg, however I assumed if I may come again proper at a month for Dodge City, I might need an opportunity to make the Finals.
“Dan told me I didn’t need to be walking on it, because it might break the four little screws holding that rod in place. He told me if it was bearable, it probably wasn’t going to kill me. That got me fired up. To me, it was worth a little pain to try to make the NFR.”
Smith’s first rodeo again with associate Jake Long was the primary week of August in Abilene, Kansas. They positioned second, which gave Clay nice hope.
“That week was huge for us,” Smith mentioned. “Second at Abilene, third within the common at Lovington (New Mexico), we positioned within the common at Castle Rock (Colorado). And profitable Dodge City was an enormous hit. We went on to win Ellensburg (Washington) and Canby (Oregon). My associate’s roped pretty much as good behind me as anyone I’ve ever seen.
“This has been a very challenging year. I’m thankful, but I’ve also been frustrated. It’s been a battle, but I’ve been blessed with a great family, partner, friends and this horse. The good Lord wanted me to get something done, I guess, because I couldn’t have done this on my own.”
