Veteran Bareback Rider Orin Larsen Set to Return from Thumb Injury

Veteran bareback rider Orin Larsen, an eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier (2015-22), is returning to action at RodeoHouston, March 9-11.

Larsen has been sidelined since Dec. 3 when he broke his right thumb at the 2022 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Larsen said the injury required surgery on Dec. 12 in Austin, Texas, to repair.

“I got on a couple horses a couple days ago and it felt pretty good,” said Larsen, 31. “The game plan is to go rodeo and have fun. I’m ready to get back and ready to see my buddies and spur some bucking horses.”

Larsen broke his thumb during his 63-point ride on Legends Rodeo Stock’s Illegal Smile in Round 3. He was forced to miss the final six rounds of the NFR due to the injury.

Larsen finished 14th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $133,784. He earned $22,125 at the NFR, highlighted by him taking fourth in Round 1 with an 86-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Sippin’ Firewater.

Larsen finished a career-best second in the 2019 world standings.

Courtesy of PRCA