Aussie trick rider Dayna Rose Bradshaw sustained serious injuries, including torn arm tendons and extensive knee damage, after becoming trapped in her saddle straps during a fall at the Mount Isa Rodeo in Queensland. The incident occurred with just two tricks remaining in her final performance.
Bradshaw was performing the "Superman" stunt when her grip on the saddle horn slipped. "As we hit the corner, somehow my hand slipped from the saddle horn," she stated on her GoFundMe page. She is unsure if her costume or a saddle change contributed to the mishap. While attached to the saddle by straps, she was dragged approximately halfway around the arena until other cowboys intervened.
The performer suffered a head wound requiring staples and cuts to her lip and chin that needed stitches. Despite the impacts, Bradshaw reported no broken bones. However, further examination revealed torn tendons and hematomas in her arm, necessitating three months of physiotherapy for a full recovery of movement. Her knee injuries include a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear, tears to both the medial and lateral menisci, and a grade two medial collateral ligament injury.
Following surgery on September 5, Bradshaw confirmed the procedure went well but left her in more pain than anticipated due to the use of a hamstring tendon for her ACL reconstruction. She estimates that returning to tricks involving hanging or dragging from her knee could take between 11 months and a year.
Bradshaw has withdrawn from upcoming shows and rodeos, anticipating a recovery period of at least nine months, potentially extending to a year. She hopes to return to performing in 2027. As performing is her primary source of income, she launched the GoFundMe to cover surgical costs, medical bills, and recovery expenses.
She defended her horse, Macey Mae, stating that the animal followed its training pattern and did not panic. Macey Mae was uninjured and has returned home with Bradshaw's other horses. Bradshaw, who has been trick riding for 10 years and began at age 14, shared her experience publicly to emphasize that accidents happen and do not define her career.
