Following a bruising year of competition that saw Merritt’s Ty Pozzobon endure a torn-up knee, a concussion and a sports hernia, the 23-year-old cowboy and professional bull rider has decided to take some time off from the sport he loves.
Pozzobon will shut things down for at least six months to allow his various body parts to heal, and to have surgery on his hernia.
The decision was made after Pozzobon returned to action for the first time in over three months at the PBR Canada bull riding event in Red Deer on Feb. 21.
Pozzobon successfully rode his bull, Slump Buster, to a score of 81, but afterwards experienced light-headedness and dizziness — lingering symptoms of the concussion he received back in November at the PBR Canada Finals in Saskatoon.
“He just wasn’t feeling himself,” said Ty’s mom, Leanne. “It’s just like what Sidney Crosby went through. I’m just glad that he’s decided to take some time off. He had to make the decision for himself.”
The break won’t stop Pozzobon from still helping out his buddies. This past weekend, he was in Claresholm, Alta. lending a hand at his good friend Chad Besplug’s invitational bull riding event.
Pozzobon will fly to Dallas in the next week or two to have his hernia dealt with.
After that, Pozzobon plans to immerse himself in his burgeoning bucking-bull contracting business while his body heals.
“He has about 25 young bulls in his corral,” said his mom. “Ty’s been building up his herd for the last few years.”
Pozzobon will focus on developing the young animals into stars of the future in the sport of bull riding.
“As two and three-year-olds, the young bulls are ‘dummy-bucked’,” explained Leanne. “They compete with a dummy on their back that is released by way of a remote control when the ride is done.”
The young bulls are entered in futurities, which are much like showcase events, Pozzobon’s mom said.
Pozzobon will also be spending some time at home, helping his family with the annual spring calving. While at home, he’ll be working diligently on the plans for his third-annual Ty Pozzobon Invitational Bull Riding, scheduled for May 30 in Merritt.
“Ty’s not sure yet whether he’ll be cleared to ride, but I’m sure that his many fans will still come out and support it,” his mom said.
This year’s Ty Pozzobon Invitational will once again attract some of the best bull riders and stock in the world, and include lots of pomp, pyrotechnics and bone-crunching thrills and spills.
Two-time Ty Pozzobon Invitational champion Chase Outlaw will definitely be on hand to attempt a three-peat.Watch for much more coverage in future issues of the Merritt Herald.
