Written by: Courtesy

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Cody Emerson of Marble Falls, Tx is a Professional Rodeo Bullfighter.

A rodeo bullfighter is a mighty, selfless and heroic job.  A bullfighter is not a matador. A bullfighter is not the rodeo clown that keeps the crowd laughing. The bullfighter has one job. Step in the line of defense between a rodeo bucking bull and the bullriders to keep the bullriders safe once the bullrider has completed his ride. They put their lives on the line every time they step into the arena dirt. And the adrenaline rush probably doesn’t hurt either.

Cody was doing just that task at the 2022 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in January at the new Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Tex; where the bulls horn picked him up, rolled him over in which Cody hyperextended his foot, resulting in the ligament separating off the bone in the foot. This injury is referred to as Liz Franc.

Cody is a crowned World Champion Bullfighter, National Finals Rodeo Freestyle bullfighting qualifier and has been nominated for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Bullfighter of the year 3 times. So, the lack of skill or talent wasn’t the cause of the injury but merely doing his job. It resulted in surgery.  12 weeks of no weight bearing, physical therapy and mental game strengthening to be ready to come back to the sport he loves so much.  12 weeks of no weight bearing didn’t keep the cowboy down. He purchased an iWalk peg leg to use to stay active and be able to live a somewhat normal life in the meantime. Cause “you can’t keep a good man down”

Cody will return to the rodeo arena to protect bullriders this coming week. 5 months since his injury at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Ar.

I know the rodeo community would enjoy hearing about a talented cowboy that has the Texas grit. A comeback story of a rodeo bullfighter from the Texas Hill Country, the Cowboy way.

I am not a journalist, I am not a writer but I believe this is a story that rodeo would love to hear.

 

-Sierra Emerson

@mrssierraemerson

#210.859.0048