Less than three months after major hip surgery, Shad “Money” Mayfield is already back in the saddle, though the timeline for his rodeo return remains unknown.
The road back has begun for World Champion tie-down roper. Shad Mayfield.
Less than three months after undergoing significant hip surgery, the two-time PRCA World Champion recently shared that he is back on a horse. This is a milestone that suggests his recovery may be progressing faster than many expected.
“Almost three months out of the saddle,” Mayfield posted on social media alongside a video of the ride. “Felt good to be back.”
In the clip, Mayfield reassured fans that the return to the saddle came only after being cleared by his doctor. His recovery is moving in the right direction and marks an encouraging step in the recovery process for one of the professional rodeos best cowboys.
Fans are anxiously waiting for Mayfield to return to the arena. Shad is a fan favorite, and without a doubt one of the best tie-down ropers of his time.
The Texas cowboy first came onto the professional rodeo scene early, qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo in 2019 at just 19 years old. He won the 2020 PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship and later added the 2024 PRCA All-Around World Championship too.
Year after year, Mayfield has remained near the top of the standings, consistently battling for world titles and delivering dominant performances at rodeo’s biggest events. A lot of that success, however, came while quietly battling a serious injury.
A Problem Years in the Making
Mayfield’s hip issues had been building for years.
Following the 2023 NFR, imaging revealed torn labrums in both hips along with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) which is a structural condition that restricts movement in the hip joint and worsens with repetitive motion.
For a tie-down roper, whose event relies on explosive movements and the quick dismount from the saddle, the hips are everything.
Despite the diagnosis, Mayfield continued to compete through the pain. The wins kept coming, and the surgery that doctors recommended was postponed again and again while he chased gold buckles.
After the 2025 season ended, the time had finally come to address the issue. On Dec. 18, 2025, Mayfield underwent surgery on his left hip to repair the torn labrum and correct the impingement.
In a YouTube update shared about a month after the procedure, Mayfield explained that one major uncertainty remained heading into surgery. Doctors were unsure whether the damage inside the joint would require a microfracture procedure, a technique used to repair cartilage damage that often significantly lengthens recovery timelines.
“That was the one thing I really didn’t want,” Mayfield said in the video.
The surgeons would not know until they were inside the joint.
When Mayfield woke up from surgery, they confirmed that the microfracture procedure had been necessary. This means that his recovery time that was originally estimated at about 6 months, now looks more like 9 or 10 months from the surgery. Although this wasn't the plan Shad had, he has longevity and future gold buckles in mind.
He is back in the saddle, which is going to continue to be a huge part of his recovery process. Riding, roping, tying and all of the motions that take place in a tie-down roping run, especially as fast as Shad does it, is not normal everyday movements. Often times the best way to recover and get back to doing what you love as a rodeo athlete, is to just get out there and do it slowly and get your strength and confidence back.
Trusting the Process
Throughout his recovery, Mayfield has kept fans updated through social media, sharing glimpses of his physical therapy and workouts.
“Putting in the work and trusting the process,” he wrote in a recent post from the gym, thanking the team at Resilient Performance for helping guide him through rehabilitation and physical therapy.
While being back in the saddle is an encouraging step, Mayfield has made it clear that the full timeline for his return to competition is still unknown.
“I don’t know when I’m coming back this season or what the plan is,” he said in his video update. “I know I have to go back in soon to make a plan on doing my right hip. That is what we are after for the future.”
Both hips have been affected by the condition, leaving the possibility of another procedure down the road.
Champions Come Back
In rodeo, injuries are often part of the path for the sport’s best competitors.
Rodeo fans recently watched all-around rough stock cowboy , 10 time World Champion Stetson Wright return from his own injury setback. He was out for almost 2 full years, and has comeback better than ever.
History has shown that champions often do just that, returning stronger than ever. It may still be some time before fans see “Money Mayfield” backing into the box at a major rodeo again. But climbing back into the saddle less than three months after complex hip surgery is a clear sign of progress.
Prayers and healing vibes for Shad. We can't wait to see you back in the arena champ!