Tom Reeves 

Indian Rodeo News missed Tom Z. Reeves this year at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. 

The Saddle Bronc Riding was a spectacular event this year, as always.  We witnessed some of our forever lasting heroes with yellow flags on the ground and some cowboys just had some tough draws. 

Tom Reeves, we all missed you; and were glad your back!  Indian Rodeo News wishes you the absolute best in 2004.   This what Tom had to say about his absence and recovery.

Carmela Scott/ IRN/ PRCA reporter

Courtesy of the PRCA, PSN and WildCard Rodeo, RoughStock Inc.

By Kevin Carmody

PRCA Writer/Publications Manager

"THAT CRAVING FEELING"

Though his perspectives on life have changed somewhat Tom Reeves is still in good shape and hungry to compete again after playing the role of spectator since May

After a fateful flying dismount last May in Stephenville, Texas, Tom Reeves saw his season come to an abrupt end. However, several months away from rodeo didn't exactly sadden the 2001 saddle bronc riding world champion.

The wear and tear that goes hand-in-hand with being a full-time rodeo cowboy had caught up to Reeves, even as he began to defend his first world championship for which he so long persevered.

Reeves had already taken a month off, then got hot in the spring, winning his event title at the Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo and placed high at the Angelina County Benefit Rodeo in Lufkin, Texas. It wasn't long after that when Reeves entered the Top 15 for the first time. He had thoughts of finishing up his career at the 2003 Wrangler National Finals.

Then, those plans changed.

"I like to jump off a lot," Reeves said. "After the whistle in Stephenville, I jumped off, but the horse lunged at the same time, and when I landed, I stuck my foot in the ground, and the knee spun all the way around. It pretty much ripped my knee all the way out.

The injury, which consisted of torn ACL and MCL ligaments in the knee, required surgery the following month. He knew his year was over, but he knew he could still compete.

But while he was recovering, Reeves kept himself quite busy.

 “ I started laughing after the knee quit hurting. I thought about it, and I needed the time off. ”

  — Tom Reeves

He started a home building business, bought a few quarter horses and established a rodeo livestock company, for which he has been contracted to work the South Dakota high school finals and a handful of college rodeos.

The time off also gave back Reeves the desire to ride.

"I started laughing after the knee quit hurting," Reeves said. "I thought about it, and I needed the time off. I guess I could have ridden with it, but in saddle bronc riding, your legs have to be 100 percent, to me, if you want to win.

"I'm still in good shape, and I'm still craving it. The injury just changed my perspective, not for any reason other than rodeo is a sport that has been really good to me, and I'm totally thankful for that. I'd just as soon compete."

Reeves plans on riding practice horses in the near future, then heading out to the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, starting in Denver, Jan. 15-25. After that, Reeves hasn't set any concrete goals.