It’s been a long week in the operating room for living-legend heelers. Seven-time Champ of the World Clay Cooper had rotator-cuff surgery in Reno on Wednesday, August 14. Then eight-time World Champion Heeler Rich Skelton had rotator-cuff surgery in Colorado Springs on Thursday, August 15.
There was a specific injury behind Champ needing surgical repair on his roping-arm shoulder. Not Rich.
“I don’t remember anything out of the ordinary happening,” Skelton said. “The doctor asked if I remember falling or hurting it, and I really don’t. I think it was just long-term wear and tear. I’ve had my (right) shoulder get sore before, but it never hurt. I went to some ropings and rodeos over the Fourth this summer, and after roping a bunch of steers at a jackpot it was just throbbing.”
Dr. Chance Henderson operated on Skelton yesterday. Henderson used to rope calves, and served his country for 31 years in the U.S. Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel Chance Henderson. He’s the same surgeon who worked on 26-time World Champ Trevor Brazile’s roping-arm shoulder earlier this year on January 4 after long-term heavy use and “a few straws that broke the camel’s back” took their toll on Trevor.
In Rich’s case, Dr. Henderson “fixed the tear in the rotator cuff, and did some reconstruction work on the biceps muscle to avoid problems with that later,” Skelton said.
Rich will start rehabbing his roping arm in physical therapy next week.
“Chance told me in three months I can be swinging a rope, and in about three and a half months, I can be roping again,” Skelton said. “Trevor told me his heading felt pretty good in four months, but it took about six to have enough strength to heel. We’ll see. Whatever it takes.
“This is only the third time I’ve ever taken a break from roping. The first time was when I cut my thumb off at the jackpot in Odessa in 1994, which right after the NFR when I was roping for a living was way worse timing and much more devastating. The second time was three years ago, when I had surgery to get two new disks in my neck.”
Skelton, who’s 58 now and will be recuperating at home in Llano, Texas, with wife Rhonda handling the nursemaid duties after driving him home from Colorado, is taking the timing of this injury timeout in stride.
“If I was younger, and was out there rodeoing trying to make the Finals, it would bother me more,” he said. “Right now, it’s not as crucial, because I can do some schools, and still stay active. I’ll spend some time with my friends at Reliance Ranches, and will probably be the video guy when they rope. I started an oilfield chemical company we call Riata Chemicals with a friend, and can devote some time to work on that. This little break from roping will also give me some time to find some nice horses to ride when I get back at it.”
READ: Practice with a Purpose with Rich Skelton
With today being the visitation for 18-year-old ranch and rodeo cowboy Ash Ashford, and tomorrow his memorial service, there’s plenty of perspective all around us to keep Skelton from whining about this minor setback.
“Two years ago, I had a blood clot in my lungs and almost died,” Rich said. “That poor family is fixing to bury their son. What I’m going through right here does not fall under the category of devastating. I’ll get healed up and be back at it, so no complaints from me and prayers for the Ashfords.”
Skelton will, in fact, be healed up just in time to head to Las Vegas in December to be recognized as one of this year’s Vegas NFR Icons. This year’s big three on that are Speed (Williams), Rich and Joe Beaver. All three own eight gold buckles, and will now have a banner hanging from the rafters of the Thomas & Mack Center in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in that arena.
