Two-time World Champion header Clay Smith will miss an extended period of time after breaking his leg in Prescott, according to ProRodeo.com.
His brother says he had surgery in Phoenix to repair a broken tibia and fibula.
“The neck rope was either malfunctioning or put on wrong and it came around and caught his leg,” Britt (Smith) told ProRodeo.com. “It went around his horse’s chest and caught his right spur. They have not said yet how long Clay will be out. They tie the neck rope on the steer, and when it breaks off the steer’s neck it is supposed to go on the ground, and it went up to the right and caught his spur.”
Smith, who is No. 8 in the PRCA World Standings, had recently begun roping with Jake Long after beginning the season with long-time partner Jade Corkill.