Behind the scenes help at Canadian High School Rodeo Finals

By Brenda Hunter

The Canadian High School Rodeo Finals held in Brandon this past long weekend saw cowboys and cowgirls competing for titles in their chosen events. However, there was at least one local person there taking part behind the scenes who didn’t have his sights set on catching a steer or making an eight second ride.

Athletic Therapist (AT), Dillon Hunter of Kenton, has been a member of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Sport Medicine Team (CPRSMT) since 2017, and was in attendance at the event to provide care, education and treatment, as well as to build trusting relationships with the young cowboys and cowgirls.

“The best part about rodeo is the relationships we make,” said Hunter about his involvement with the sport. “It’s one of my favorite parts of the job. A community between the rodeo athletes exists, which is quite different from many other sports.”

The sport of rodeo is synonymous with toughness; both mental and physical. This could potentially make it more difficult for folks like Hunter to do their jobs. However, because of the strong relationships they build, this mindset and the unwillingness among cowboys to ask for help is being overcome.

“The athletes know that I understand where they are coming from and the culture that follows,” explained Hunter, who credits his rural roots with helping his career as an Athletic Therapist and with the CPRSMT. “Having a strong relationship with our athletes is so critical because when they trust us, they will tend to tell us more about what’s going on. Coming from the agricultural community, we understand the mentality and injuries the athletes deal with, and until recently, had very few resources to help them manage with both the physical and mental injuries. By being at these events the CPRSMT is helping to change the mentality of the sport by educating athletes.”

This is actually one of the reasons Hunter first pursued a career in athletic therapy which has taken him across the world and given him the opportunity to be involved in many sports: rugby, la- crosse, football and hockey to name a few, some even at a professional level including the Stockton Heat (now the Calgary Wranglers) of the American Hockey League (AHL).

“I love working in the sporting environment and helping high performance athletes return to their sport,” he said of what inspired him to get involved with athletic therapy. “I really enjoy educating athletes and clients about what’s going on and why something is happening, which I find really helps to empower them in their own healing process.”

The CPRSMT arrives at an event at least two hours prior to the start of the performance which allows time to perform any new injury assessments, complete injury follow ups, provide any stretching, manual therapies, taping or exercise prescriptions that are needed. Hunter works alongside a chiropractor and registered massage therapist as part of the team, and in conjunction with the local EMS for injuries requiring immediate medical assistance.

Athletic therapists are the first to respond in the arena.

However, their job doesn’t end once the rodeo is over and the crowds have dissipated; they continue to assess and treat injuries and are involved in rehabilitation plans, ensuring the athlete has continuity of care.

His agricultural background helps him to relate to the characteristics of the extreme sport of rodeo: what drives the cowboys and cowgirls, being comfortable in a non-clinical setting with livestock nearby, and the fast-paced, split-second decision making that takes place during a rodeo.

“Working on the CPRSMT keeps me on my toes, since you never know what you’re going to come across when it comes to injuries,” he said. “Things happen pretty fast and we have to rely on our training, experiences and gut feels.”

He has seen his fair share of wrecks: from a lacerated liver, a knee completely obliterated from a bad dismount, and his worst to date, a crushed chest.

“Likely one of the worst (wrecks) was an athlete who got his chest stepped on following a ride. This resulted in him losing consciousness that required sternal rub for him to regain consciousness where he began to cough up blood. We were able to get him out of the arena and he got to the hospital where he was put on a ventilator. He (had) sustained six broken ribs and a fractured clavicle.”

Through his service with professional rodeo sport medicine, he attends between 20 to 25 events per year.

The CPRSMT covered 179 rodeos and bull riding performances in 2022 and has grown substantially in the 40 years since its inception from four volunteers in 1983, to over 60 caregivers currently. He worked the recent PBR event held in Brandon earlier this year.

Hunter recently moved back to Manitoba from Alberta, where the sport of rodeo is abundant and the CPRSMT team is based.

“We are currently building our team out here and starting the conversations that will help raise the funds/ sponsorships to get us to more events in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan.” Hunter, plans to resume his education in the related field of physiotherapy and continue with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Sport Medicine Team in hopes of opening a private clinic/ training facility in the area.

“I want to allow more rural athletes to have the same training opportunities that are in the urban areas,” says Dillon Hunter.

By Anne Davison

Engines roar and bodies smash – car bodies that is. And the drivers just don’t quit until their hot wheels won’t turn anymore.

For something completely different on rodeo weekend, Demolition Derby drivers will do their best to render the other guys’ cars inoperable. It makes for a fun filled Sunday afternoon, August 20, in Virden.

You’ll not see many derbies in Manitoba this year. Virden Wild West Daze Derby is becoming unique. There’s pressure on the sport with the many costs involve and the scarcity of good metal oldies. So enjoy the derby while you can.

One of the organizers, Treasure Sparks says metal cars that are easiest to customize and are up to taking the hits are at a premium these days.

Derby drivers need metal!

Derby drivers “are looking for cars older than t he ‘90s, cars of the ‘80s and older,” says Sparks. And of course, the Virden derby accommodates t rucks, small cars and ladies’ events with special classes.

First, they customize the car – which represents many hours of work. Then comes the special paint job to identify the car with a number and to brand the car with the sponsor or business that makes it all possible.

Building a derby car means making it ‘safe’ for the collisions on the track. The fire department is always at the ready in case they’re needed. But there are a few rules to make the smashup safter. While stock gas tanks can be used, the tank needs to be in front of the rear axle, or mounted in the rear seat area, strapped down and covered. The battery also has a special place on the front floor – strapped down.

Among other customizations, you’ll notice the absence of glass in the car windows. No chrome on these cars.

The track is kept watered and that’s a nice f eature for dust control, however slippage is also