Right time arrives for Ryan Gray to hang up his rodeo spurs

The decision was made once and for all well in advance of the events of Nov. 11–13 in Dallas, Texas.

But the broken shoulder Ryan Gray suffered during the final weekend of the inaugural season of the Elite Rodeo Athletes tour certainly made his decision to retire that much easier.

Bigger forces were at work pulling the Cheney High School grad off the wild bareback horses on which he has made a living since 2002.

Word of him hanging up the spurs circulated through the U.S. Airlines Arena in Dallas and on social media. And Gray wanted — and did his best — to go out on memorable notes, some certainly much better than others.

“The last night I rode, the crowd gave me a standing ovation so that was pretty special,” Gray said. Then a good friend sponsored him to wear a Donald Trump “Make America Great Again,” ball cap on the top of his cowboy hat. The Texas crowd naturally loved the gesture.

But it all took place with the pain of the shoulder that Gray never really thought was anything other than just sore, a daily by-product of the profession.

And perhaps in an embarrassing twist, the injury didn’t even happen in the throes of competition. “I went to go reach for the pickup man and the horse kind of ducked out from under me,” Gray explained.

Those with weak stomachs, or who are subject to fainting when confronted with talk of graphic medical issues, might want to skip the gory details that follow. Gray eventually made the Friday ride and finished second, not knowing the feat came with fractured shoulder.

Gray was ejected Saturday, and “Kinda’ fought through it,” he said. Sunday during his ride, “It just pulled off all the way,” breaking a half-dollar size chunk of bone where the rotator cuff and arm attach.

As timing might have it, since he was already in Dallas, it saved Gray from having to book a flight back to see Dr. Andy Freeman, doctor to the stars of the bucking horse and bulls crowd.

Surgery took place Nov. 18 and Gray was to fly home the next day with his old career officially in the rear view mirror and a new future ahead.

As one of the group of cowboys who just a year broke ranks with the Pro Rodeo Cowboys to compete with the upstart ERA in its inaugural season, 2016 was unlike any other year in Gray’s career for a number of reasons.

For one, rather than endlessly chase the rodeo Santa Claus every June and July during Cowboy Christmas — the time competitors ride and rope nonstop collecting bucks to qualify them for the National Finals Rodeo in December — Gray actually had time off and got to know his family.

ERA built an eight-city schedule for 2016 with a Fox Sports television contract, which enhanced events payouts. The schedule was designed with a large opening in the middle of summer to allow ERA members to ride PRCA events.

But the PRCA locked out those cowboys who chose to compete with the rival ERA and had a court decision last February back that up.

As a result, Gray spent more time on the family ranch near Reardan and enjoyed it with his wife, Lacy, and children, Ransom and Laramie. That time helped him with the decision to retire. “It’s pretty awesome to be close to home,” Gray said. “I just don’t want to miss out on these years.”

The 33-year-old also laid the foundation for his new career with the formation of Grayt Construction, a firm whose name is a play on words. Gray operates his own sawmill and builds fencing and outbuildings.

His bolt away from PRCA was something Gray said he and the other ERA founders needed to do to foster the future of the sport. “Our focus has been creating opportunities for guys to make a better living and have a family life as well,” Gray said.

“Financially, I didn’t make the money I made last year,” Gray said, not caring to disclose the number. Gray’s $67,475 in 2015 winnings left him three spots shy of qualifying for the NFR, where huge money can be earned. But he sacrificed weeks at a time away from his family to fall short of qualifying for Las Vegas.

Physically, he said he could still rodeo, but Gray wants to someday be able to throw a baseball and play catch with his kids, the best reason around for him to retire.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.