Three-time Canadian bareback riding champion Jake Vold began physiotherapy thursday after injuring his knee at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas. 

Vold underwent surgery on December 22 to remove a bone chip and replace his medial patellofemoral ligament with a donor ligament after he was smashed into the chutes during round eight of the 10 round competition.

“As soon as I nodded my head that horse left, did a 180 in the chute, and wrapped around the post,” Vold said of “Redigo” from Beutler and Son Rodeo Company. “From marking the horse out I caught my knee on the chute and popped my knee cap out right there. I could feel it right away.”

The impact left Vold with a bone chip, a torn medial patellofemoral ligament, and took him from No. 1 in the average to the sidelines for the remainder of his third WNFR.

“Just a freak deal all around – it’s just the way it goes, that’s rodeo,” Vold said. “I read in Ty Murray’s book years ago that when you get hurt it's usually a sign you need to be home.”

Vold may be home, but he doesn’t seem to be taking it easy. It’s only been two weeks since his surgery, and after one light physio session he’s already set a goal of just three months — the minimum estimated recovery time for his injury.

Although Vold will be missing some top rodeos during the winter months, including high-paying events his successful 2017 year has qualified him for like The American’s $100,000 and Rodeo Houston’s $25,000 Super Shootout, he has a special event in his life this winter to look forward to.

Vold and his wife Sara are on baby-watch for the arrival of their first child.

“Excited, scared, typical of what every new dad feels. We're as ready as we're going to get and we're just counting down the days until she comes,” said Vold, who jokes that although it never mattered to him if the baby was a boy or girl, he still has plenty of blue and camo baby clothes ready to go.

For now, Vold is happy to be on the mend as he awaits both “baby Vold’s” arrival and his return to competition.

“Everybody is so different in this recovery, it’s pretty much going to come down to pain tolerance with how hard I can push it,” Vold said. “It’s frustrating because no one can give me a time-frame, but I’ve got my goals set so hopefully I’ll be back in tip-top shape and ready to go for Cloverdale at the latest.”