Teen rodeo star severely injured; community rallies for recovery
Briggs Madsen works to keep a positive attitude while he is at Primary Children's Medical Center recovering from a spinal injury he suffered at a rodeo this fall.
This photo was taken of Briggs Madsen shortly after he entered Primary Children's Medical Center after having injured his spine in a rodeo accident this fall.
Early on in his recovery, Briggs Madsen struggled to move his limbs. He suffered from a spinal injury in a fall high school rodeo in Vernal.
TREMONTON — There’s no arguing a person has to have some serious passion in order to compete in rodeo.
And that passion is for the competitors as well as the extreme sport itself.
An Aug. 22 incident left a young, accomplished athlete, 15-year-old Briggs Madsen of Honeyville, in need of costly medical assistance and the rodeo community is responding in a big way. Fundraisers are set for Oct. 8-10 but efforts to collect items for silent and live auctions at the three events are underway now.
“The rodeo community all rallies around as a family,” said Haylee Woodward, who is related through marriage and is organizing the events. “Everyone just kind of supports each other whenever things happen. It’s amazing to see people support and be willing to help. It’s been pretty incredible.”
Briggs was severely injured when a horse pressed him against the chute wall while preparing to ride a saddle bronc horse at a high school rodeo in Vernal. Five of his vertebrae were crushed.
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Briggs Madsen works to keep a positive attitude while he is at Primary Children’s Medical Center recovering from a spinal injury he suffered at a rodeo this fall.
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This photo was taken of Briggs Madsen shortly after he entered Primary Children’s Medical Center after having injured his spine in a rodeo accident this fall.
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Early on in his recovery, Briggs Madsen struggled to move his limbs. He suffered from a spinal injury in a fall high school rodeo in Vernal.
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Fellow cowboy competitors visiting Briggs Madsen in the hospital from left to right are: Defending PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider Kaycee Field, bullrider Chandler Bounds, RFD-TV’s Million Dollar Winner Richie Champion,bareback rider Mason Clements and bareback rider Jessy Davis. Madsen has been recovering from spinal injuries at Primary Children’s Medical Center.
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Briggs Madsen works his legs with physical therapist Lisa Barnes during physical therapy at Primary Children’s Medical Center. His spine was injured at a high school rodeo this fall.
Brigg’s father, Doug Madsen, said his son discovered after the accident that he couldn’t feel his legs. Doctors told him the lower part of his body had been disconnected during the injury.
“He was life flighted to Primary Children’s, that’s where he has been ever since,” Doug Madsen said. “He is doing good, making good progress.”
Doug Madsen said his son spends most of each day in physical therapy but he said his son is a fighter who plans to work hard enough to compete again in his favorite sport.
Briggs was the winner of the junior steer riding in Calgary, the first American one-handed rider to win. He repeated as champion two years later. He also is a national miniature bull riding champion and has qualified for national junior high and high school rodeo association finals.
“The kid is pretty damn popular,” said Tom Close, one of the event organizers. “He has such a personality. He grins from ear to ear.”
(Story continues below photo)
Courtesy photo
Fellow cowboy competitors visiting Briggs Madsen in the hospital from left to right are: Defending PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider Kaycee Field, bullrider Chandler Bounds, RFD-TV’s Million Dollar Winner Richie Champion,bareback rider Mason Clements and bareback rider Jessy Davis. Madsen has been recovering from spinal injuries at Primary Children’s Medical Center.
Though Briggs is tough competition, his rodeo family is pulling for his recovery.
“There are so many people that have responded because there are people not only in our state but in other areas that know him,” Close said. “He won those two events at the Calgary Stampede.”
Briggs is scheduled to be transferred Thursday, Sept. 17, to Neruo Works, a spinal chord rehabilitation facility in Sandy.
(Event details are included below the photos)
Courtesy image
Briggs Madsen works his legs with physical therapist Lisa Barnes during physical therapy at Primary Children’s Medical Center. His spine was injured at a high school rodeo this fall.
EVENTS TO FUNDRAISE FOR BRIGGS
OCT. 8
A dinner and live auction for Briggs will be held at 6 p.m. with the auction starting at 7 p.m. at the Golden Spike Event Center, 1000 N. 1200 West in Ogden.
Dinner includes a pulled pork sandwich, drink, potato salad and brownies. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for those under 18.
OCT. 9
A team roping event is set for 7 p.m. at the new indoor arena at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds, 320 N. 1000 West in Tremonton. Sign-ups will be at 6 p.m.
One feature of the events will be a No. 12 slide, where contestants may pick one draw for $100 or draw both.
Contestants may enter up to three times. USTRC numbers will be used for those who have them. Those who don’t will be assigned a number.
OCT. 10
An open and a 15/40 4D barrel race will be held at the indoor arena at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds. Cost of racing is $25.
Time only runs will begin at 9 a.m. and cost one for $3 or two for $5.
The 15/40 race is set to start at 10:30 a.m. with the open race to follow.
Both the team roping and the barrel racing events will feature 50 percent payback and 50 percent to the Madsen family.
There will be a raffle and silent auction at all three fund-raising events.
To enter, email Nicole Porter at nikiwhiting@hotmail.com.
For information or if you would like to donate something, call Porter at 435-770-3972, Derrick Porter at 801-648-5316, Woodward at 801-792-3492, Danny Christensen at 801-388-5705 or Brenda Johnson at 801-391-3656.
You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook.
