While horse sports start to move towards normality after the August break-out of equine influenza (EI), Mansfield said events for the year were still to be confirmed.

Mansfield is the bareback director on the board of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

“I am hoping to return to bareback bronc riding at the Emerald Sunflower Festival Rodeo and a rodeo at Roma on the Easter weekend,” Mansfield said.

As a member of the APRA board, the Tamworth cowboy is constantly in touch with the riders who love going eight seconds on the back of a bucking bronc with a bareback rigging rather than a saddle for support.

“The break from rodeo has given me and a few other cowboys the chance for a few niggling injuries to heal,” Mansfield said.

“I really miss rodeo, it is as if you are going out to start a whole new life.”

While horse events are few and far between, it is full steam ahead with bull riding.

The Bull Riding Super Series will finish with rodeos tomorrow and Saturday at Narrandera.

The top-10 after the rounds will vie for a bonus $4000 prizemoney in a finals round at Narrandera.

Upper Horton cowboy Ryan Gill is in the first section of the 48 bull riders nominated for Finley.

He will buck out in the third section at Narrandera.

Former New Zealand cowboy Frazer Babbington was one of the stars at Warwick in October and along with former national champion Jason O’Hearn, of Rothbury, would have been worth a dollar or two at Finley and Narrandera if rodeo was a betting sport.

The rodeo focus will turn to Tamworth on January 24-26 when the Tamworth Pro Bull Riding Bucking Thunder Downunder is held at the Tamworth Showground Indoor Arena.

There is $4000 prizemoney in the open bull ride and $1000 for the rookie bull ride. More information from the APRA call 07 4661 8183.