After recently returning to the saddle, two-time World Champion Shad Mayfield has undergone a second hip surgery as he continues a long-term recovery process.
Just weeks after getting on a horse again, Shad Mayfield has hit pause again.
The 2020 PRCA World Champion tie-down roper underwent a successful left hip surgery performed by Dr. Thomas Byrd a few months ago right after the 2025 NFR. This was a lingering injury that has impacted Mayfield for years and finally had to be addressed.
This week, Mayfield announced that he went ahead and had his right hip surgery now as well. This update comes shortly after Shad shared that he was back riding his horses again. Ultimately, he decided to move forward with the second surgery.
This was not an easy decision for Mayfield who is just waiting to get back into the arena to do what he loves. However, with longevity in mind it was the right thing to do.
“This one’s hard for me to even put into words…” Mayfield said. “Stepping away from rodeo again… it eats at me.”
For the past three years, Mayfield says he has been competing through pain. This was something fans may not have fully seen behind the results. He kept winning, but was doing so at a cost.
“A lot of people only see the runs, the wins, the good moments… but they don’t see the pain, the frustration, the nights you’re laying there wondering if your body is ever going to feel right again. I tried to push through it. I tried to outwork it. I tried to ignore it. But deep down I knew I wasn’t the best version of myself, and that’s not who I want to be." Mayfield continued.
That realization led to the decision to address the issue fully, even if it means missing more of the season. Shad is only 25 years old, and making a full recovery now is crucial to ensuring his health and strength in coming seasons.
“If I want to come back and compete the way I know I’m capable of… I had to do this the right way,” he said.
The procedure was successful, and Mayfield is expected to begin rehabilitation soon as he shifts his focus toward a full recovery. Throughout the process, he’s leaned on his faith.
“I truly believe God has a plan through all of this,” he said.
For now, the focus is on patience, something is obviously hard for a cowboy that wins for a living.
“Right now, it’s about healing… it’s part of the journey,” Mayfield said.
When Money Mayfield returns, he made one thing clear.
“When I come back, it won’t just be to compete… it’ll be at 100%.”
Although this is a tough pill to swallow for a champion like Shad, this isn’t a step back, just a a reset, one he believes will make the comeback that much stronger. This is likely just the beginning of an amazing comeback.
Shad already has two gold buckles on his shelf, and an impressive career thus far. He was forced to slow down for the 2026 season, but only to comeback in 2027 with a vengeance. We have watched cowboys and cowgirls come back hungrier than ever, and Mayfield will be no different.