Tyler Corrington is back in the saddle again. Quite literally.
Sidelined in August 2015 with a broken leg, he was out for months, stewing, marinating, frustrating, waiting.
Used to life at eight seconds a go, he was instead staring at days, weeks, months. Chunks of time, rather than flashes.
It took until January to get his mojo back — had some luck in Odessa, won a round in Denver — and, he said, “The lightbulb clicked on, I can do this.”
Saturday at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo was just another reminder.
He scored an 84-point ride atop Sooner Nation to slide into second place in saddle bronc riding heading into Sunday’s finals, a big payday coming and more importantly, a boost to his confidence.
“It’s huge — I’m married now, so the money means a little more, and it’s just like anything — it’s overcoming obstacles,” he said.
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“You get to doubting yourself and then you bear down and say I can do this again. A winning streak always gets your confidence going; you feel good about what you’re doing and next time you’re on a horse you feel a little better.”
Corrington is used to this kind of feeling. A three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and a former PRCA saddle bronc rookie of the year (2006), Corrington is no stranger to success, particularly not in Tucson.
He said it was his ride in Tucson in 2011 that helped carry him through the year, as he won the whole thing and then continued all the way to the NFR.
“That kind of kick-started my career,” he said. “It gave me the confidence to continue on through that year. It’s a hard rodeo to work because it’s out here by itself, but you’re outside for the first time of the year, pay’s great, horses are good.”
After what he describes as a “rebuilding year,” Corrington is now just starting to feel like his leg is going to be fine. No small feat in the world of rodeo.
“A lot of it depends on time of year. A small injury in January, you’ve got a couple months to heal up. If you do it in the fall and come back in the winter — you almost make it a crunch time.
“I came back at Houston and didn’t have the right mindset. It took me a little longer probably than a lot of guys.”
But the struggle is worth it, to have one more shot at the top of the mountain.
Corrington followed in the footsteps — bootsteps? — of his father, Doug, a champion on the Great Lakes Circuit.
With three NFR appearances under his belt, he just wants one more chance to take home a title.
Saturday went a long way toward that goal.
