Tuf Cooper Out with Hand Injury

Four-time PRCA World Champion Tuf Cooper is going to be out action after suffering an injury to his left hand in Logan, Utah, Aug. 14.

Cooper, who won tie-down roping world championships in 2011-12 and 2014 and the all-around world title in 2017, talked to ProRodeo.com about the injury.

“I got a coil in my left hand getting off (my horse),” said Cooper, 30, who was competing at the Cache County Fair and Rodeo. “It locked down on all four of my fingers. My index finger is the one that took most of the damage. It fractured my (left) index finger and broke the finger nail off, and I had to get I think 30 stitches to fix it. They got me stitched up and cleaned up real nice at the hospital in Logan. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before.”

Cooper, who is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in all-around and tie-down roping, is planning to see a hand specialist in Colorado Springs, Colo., later this week.

“I’m hoping to see him on Wednesday, and if not Wednesday, definitely by Friday,” Cooper said. “He was thinking I would be out four weeks, but that’s just what he told me over the phone. I will have a better idea of how long I will be out when I see him in person.

“After I see the specialist, I will go home and rehab my left hand. Worst-case scenario, I will be ready for the last couple weeks of the season. Hopefully, I will get to return before then, but I’m going to do what’s best for my (left) hand.”

The PRCA regular season concludes Sept. 30.

“I’m really thankful that I’m a position (in the world standings) where I don’t have to keep rodeoing,” Cooper said. “It was an accident, and I just thank God it wasn’t any worse. It is awesome the rodeo community we have, and I can’t thank people enough for all the support.”

Courtesy of PRCA