Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Wall Street can be painful.

Last weekend, Utah cowboy Rylan Wright found out just how hard Wall Street is to ride, and how painful it can be when it knocks you down. And it had nothing to do with the stock market.

The 23-year-old took a nasty hit during the first part of Sunday’s Rocky Mountain Bull Bash at Brent Romick Rodeo Arena in Steamboat Springs. He was knocked unconscious while riding a bull named Wall Street in the qualifying round of the event. He got hung up and twisted around, and when he finally hit the ground, he was stepped on by the spinning 1,600-pound bull. Bullfighters eventually got the animal’s attention and ushered it out of the arena.

“I don’t think the bull had any intention of hurting me. He was just spinning and stepped on my arm,” Wright said. “The bullfighters did a wonderful job, and I can’t thank them enough.”

Wright was rushed by ambulance to Yampa Valley Medical Center, where he was treated for a concussion and a broken upper arm. He was released Monday and is expected to make a full recovery.

“I’ve been in a lot of hospitals, and I have to say that the one in Steamboat Springs was great. The doctors and nurses who took care of me did a great job and also took care of my girlfriend who was there with me. It was terrific.”

Wright said the injury will sideline him for five to seven weeks, and he expects to miss the remainder of the 2010 season. But he said he will be back next year and is looking at the bright side of his trip to Steamboat Springs.

“I’ve been pretty beat up with injuries for most of the season,” Wright said. “This will give me a chance to take a break and to get healthy for next season.”