Rocker Steiner Pulls Out of Hermiston Rodeo on Doctor's Orders

For Rocker Steiner, the road back to the rodeo arena will be a little longer than he hoped.

After months of rehabilitation following neck surgery, Steiner had entered the rodeo in Hermiston, Oregon, with plans of making his return to competition. However, following a recent appointment with his surgeon, the bareback rider announced he will doctor release and remain sidelined for at least a few more weeks.

Steiner shared the update with fans on social media, admitting he may have been slightly ahead of schedule in planning his comeback.

"Might have jumped the gun a little bit," Steiner wrote. "Saw the doc this morning, and he strongly suggested a few more weeks off."

The decision comes after a remarkable start to Steiner's 2026 season that once appeared destined for another run at a PRCA World Championship.

Earlier this year, Steiner collected a $100,000 victory at The American Rodeo and won RODEOHOUSTON for the second consecutive year. The success pushed him to No. 1 in the PRCA World Standings as the season gained momentum.

Then came an unexpected setback.

Steiner announced he would undergo neck surgery, a procedure that would sideline him through a significant portion of the summer run. Surgery took place June 2, forcing one of the world's leading bareback riders to watch from the sidelines during some of the most important weeks of the regular season.

His recovery, however, has been anything but idle.

Steiner has regularly shared glimpses of his rehabilitation on social media, including time in the gym and working on the spur board as he rebuilt the strength necessary to return to bareback riding. By August, his progress had appeared strong enough that a return at Hermiston seemed within reach.

His surgeon ultimately advised otherwise.

"The risk of me re injuring my neck is still too high and if I have another surgery chances of me ever riding again are very low," Steiner explained.

For a cowboy accustomed to taking risks every time the chute gate opens, listening to that advice may prove more important than any single rodeo.

Steiner acknowledged his disappointment but made it clear that protecting his future in the sport outweighs returning a few weeks early.

"I'm upset about it but at the same time excited to just get better and come back when I know I'm gonna be ok," he wrote.

He also apologized to fans who had made plans to see him compete in Hermiston, adding, "I will be back in a couple of weeks."

Despite missing a substantial portion of the summer, Steiner's early-season success has kept him firmly in the National Finals Rodeo conversation.

If he can remain inside the Top 15 and return healthy enough to secure another trip to Las Vegas, his position entering the NFR may matter far less than simply getting there. Steiner has already demonstrated what he can accomplish inside the Thomas & Mack Center, where 10 rounds and substantial go-round money can quickly reshape the World Standings.

For now, though, another gold buckle is secondary to ensuring there will be many more opportunities to chase one.

Steiner even offered a lighthearted message following the appointment, posting a photo with a thumbs-up and writing, "To all the bareback riders yall all owe Dr. Dosset a thank you card."

The comeback is temporarily postponed, not canceled. And after a season that began with some of the biggest victories in rodeo, Steiner's focus has shifted toward making sure that when he does nod his head again, he's ready to stay.