Missouri Thunder Professional Bull Rider Briggs Madsen
Photo: Andy Watson of Bull Stock Media
By Alex Lowe
Briggs Madsen will just not take “no” for an answer. The 24-year-old native of Honeyville, Utah was in action at Gambler Days weekend held August 23rd through the 25th at The Moody Center in Austin, Texas. As a member of the PBR Team Series league entry, the Springfield based Missouri Thunder, Madsen participates in an activity often referred to as the most dangerous eight seconds in sports, professional bull riding.
In a match Saturday evening against the Nashville Stampede, Madsen was slated as the third rider for his team as he climbed atop a bull named Dark Thoughts. Few could blame Madsen for any dark thoughts he may hold about his life given what he has been through. But Madsen is unbreakable, in will and determination, if not in body.
As a 15-year-old, Madsen was thrown from a horse and suffered a cataclysmic injury.
“It is kind of ironic because yesterday (Saturday August 24) it was the nine-year anniversary of my injury. I was on a saddle horse at a high school rodeo in Vernal, Utah. I didn’t put a neck rope on the horse which keeps him from flipping over in the chute. Because of that, the horse flipped over and crushed my back against the back slider of the chute and paralyzed me from the waist down. It was pretty scary especially when they pulled me over the chute and laid me out in the arena. My legs were out in front of me, and they were touching and feeling them, and I couldn’t feel a thing. So, I knew the injury was really bad. It wasn’t until I’d gotten to the hospital that they did the x-rays and told me that I’d crushed five vertebrae in my back. They had to put two rods and eight screws and fuse those vertebrae. I was told there would be only a slim chance I’d ever walk again or compete for that matter.”
Madsen’s paralysis was potentially permanent. Doctors were worried more about getting him to be able to walk again someday. Returns to horseback and bull riding were out of the question. But the young Briggs Madsen was having none of it. After a rigorous physical therapy regimen in which he spent long days exercising and strengthening his body, Madsen progressed to the point of being able to walk again.
“My faith played a really big part in my recovery,” said Madsen who is a Latter Day Saint. “I received a lot of prayers and blessings during that time period. I feel like there was definitely some divine intervention that helped me to be able to walk again. Because, really, it was a miracle. My family stuck by me the whole time. They helped push me when it was hard and when it hurt and when I didn’t want to keep going. Of course, there were a lot of friends along the way that supported me through it all so there were a lot of factors that helped me defy the odds.”
Then came the next goal in Madsen’s incredible comeback. He began working toward getting back into the saddle and riding competitively. It took less than two years for Madsen to make it all the way back to the point where he was riding bulls at the 2017 Utah National Finals Qualifiers. There were many who questioned the decision to return to such a risk-filled sport.
“There were a lot of parents that kind of questioned my parents on it,” said Madsen. “My parents told them that the goal of riding again was what motivated me to walk again. At the end of the day, once I was able to walk again and the injury had healed completely, I wasn’t about to give up then. That was my whole motivation for recovery.”
Brigg Madsen comes from a family of cowboys so his desire to get back into the life he loved should come as no surprise.
“My dad was a saddle bronc rider. My mom runs barrels as well. So, they kind of raised us in the rodeo life. But for me, I grew up watching the movie 8 Seconds and I just took a liking to the sport of bull riding from a young age. My dad was just willing to help me follow whatever dream I had. Because I was so interested in bull riding, he started putting me on calves and sheep which helped foster that desire. They were willing to do whatever it took to help me be successful.”
Kade Madsen followed in his older brother’s footsteps. While Briggs was originally drafted by the Oklahoma Freedom, Kade was selected a year later by the Missouri Thunder. Briggs has since joined the Thunder but the opportunity to ride on the same team with his younger brother will have to wait.
“My brother Kade is out on a mission. He has been for eight months, and he will be for another year but he is still contracted with the Missouri Thunder so we hope to be on the same team again when he gets back.”
On Saturday evening, with his team the Missouri Thunder pitted against the Nashville Stampede, Madsen serving as third rider in the five-man line-up, climbed up atop Dark Thoughts. The bull was ornery in the chute, but Madsen remained calm, not allowing bad memories to distract him from his goal of making the eight.
“I try to block all that stuff out. Of course, it is going to be a mental battle that is probably the hardest part of this sport. But you have to train your brain to not talk you out of things and you just focus on the positive and focus on the task you have in front of you and what you need to do to be successful up on top of that bull. Doing that helps to push any negative thoughts to the back of your mind.”
On this night, there would be no fairy tale ending for Briggs Madsen. When the chute opened, Dark Thoughts quickly got the better of Madsen, tossing him in 3.47 seconds. Madsen bounced back up, dusted himself off and rejoined his teammates. Despite his inability to score points for his team, the Missouri Thunder would go on to win their game against the Stampede, improving to 6-7 on the season.
“The team series has really helped elevate my career. Before I got into PBR Team Series, I was pro rodeoing and I was kind of struggling, not having too much success. But getting into the team series and being drafted as an unknown, learning from the coaches and being influenced by the other riders has helped elevate my game. It has taken my career to the next level. I’ve been on the Oklahoma Freedom and the Missouri Thunder now. As a member of the Oklahoma Freedom we placed fourth in the championship round the first year and then as a member of the Missouri Thunder, we placed fourth again last year. Just being a contributor in helping these teams be successful has been, by far, the highlight of my career.”
Madsen remains grounded in his faith and is proud of his home state.
“There are a lot of great cowboys that come out of the state of Utah. When you go to the high school national level competitions it usually comes down to riders from Texas, Oklahoma and Utah that are among the best. A lot of guys from Utah Utah go on to compete at the professional level. I’m proud to come from such a great state and represent it along with such a great group of cowboys.”
Madsen has embraced his new home with the Missouri Thunder and is active in outreach programs within the Show Me State. In April, Madsen and the rest of his teammates on the Thunder rolled into AG Academy in Springfield to visit with students in grades four through six, giving them a glimpse into the world of professional bull riding. Students were taught about the world of bull riding and the culture of cowboys.
Madsen gave students the opportunity to look through his bag, and presented them with a primer on safety helmets, protective vests, spurs. As is often the case, Madsen was asked to share the story of his incredible fall and rise from paralysis to professional bull rider.
“I tell everyone that asks, attitude is everything,” said Madsen. “No matter what happens to us in life, we have choices to make. We can choose to become better and meet our goals. It is truly up to us.”