When Toston bareback rider Scott "Crazy Legs" Owens hit the ground at the PRCA C.M. Russell Stampede in Stanford July 19, Ben Wrzesinski was not concerned at first.

"My first thought was that Scott was going to get a re-ride," said Wrzesinski, Owens' best friend and traveling partner. "I've seen guys get in a lot worse crashes and get right up."

But when Owens' continued to lay motionless, everyone quickly realized he was in a bad way.

"I nodded for the gate, but instead of turning out, the bronc reared up straight back in the chute," Owens, 28, related.

Horse and rider went all the way over backwards together, crashing into the chute, and breaking Owens' back. The horse then went outside, with the bronc rider still hanging on.

"I heard my back pop when I hit the chute, but I had to hold on so I wouldn't get hung up inside," the 5-foot-9, 150-pound Owens said. "The horse took about two or three jumps before I let go. When I landed, I knew it was serious when I couldn't move."

He was rushed to the hospital in Great Falls, where it was learned his L-1 vertebrae was dislocated, which twisted his lower spine. He underwent extensive surgery, fusing four vertebrae and implanting two steel rods and eight metal screws in his back.

Among those who witnessed the crash were Owens' 4-year old son Spur, who often travels with the two cowboys to rodeos. Wrzesinski rounded up his buddy's gear and drove with Spur to Great Falls, reassuring the worried youngster en route that his dad was going to be OK.

Owens has been in a back brace now for two months. His race for the Montana PRCA championship is over, and his bareback career is over.

According to Owens' wife, Shawna, after a history of second-place finishes this looked like it was going to be her husband's year.

"We were kind of bugging Scott last fall about always taking second," said Shawna, who dubbed her husband "Crazy Legs" for his unique dancing style. "His dad and I kept telling him he needed to get serious and get in shape. So he did."

Owens, a former wrestler and football player for Havre High, spent last winter working out with Townsend's Cobra Wrestling Club. The extra training was paying off.

Riding a hot streak, during the third week of July, he won the Shelby Rodeo (collected $988), and placed second and third at Three Forks and Havre, respectively. This boosted his lead in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit to $2,000 over second place.

Then came the fateful Stanford event.

"I don't know if he would've won it (the MPRCA), but he was damn sure on pace to do it," said Wrzesinski, who is the defending NRA bareback and all-around champion.

His lead was such, that two months later he still sits third.

Owens, who will not be able to work his in-laws' ranch for at least a year, has incurred a large amount of medical bills.

The rodeo community, family and friends have banded together to help the Owens family, which Shawna, Scott, Spur and daughter Sterling are grateful for. And this weekend a special benefit will be held to help defray their hospital debt.

The Crazy Legs Classic rodeo and function will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, at the Broadwater Arena. The all-day affair consists of barrel racing, team roping, bareback and saddle bronc riding. Festivities include a taco feed, live music, dancing, refreshments and a live auction.

There will also be a drawing for a yearling philly, donated by Owens' grandparents, Ed and Judy Solomon.

Wrzesinski, who broke his leg in early August and was scheduled to have the cast removed this week, also plans on riding Saturday to show support for his buddy.

"Scott and Ben have been through good times and bad times together," said Ben's wife, Kirsten Wrzesinski. "They've always helped each other through the tough personal times and rodeo slumps, and we want to do everything we can to help Scott's family get through this."

Being laid up has been difficult mentally on Owens. A lifelong athlete, he rode his first bareback at 13 years of age.

For the Havre Blue Ponies, on the gridiron he was a two-time all-conference tailback. His best game occurred versus Livingston, when he raced for over 100 yards and three touchdowns. In wrestling, he placed third at 140 pounds at the 1999 Class A state mat meet.

Owens, who was a two-time High School NFR qualifier, captured the state prep bareback championship as a senior.

Receiving his pro card six years ago, he has posted lifetime high rides of 89 points twice - on "Up the River" in Ennis, and an arena record on "Dream Boat Annie" in Hamilton.

Owens is one of the few contestants to ride "Painted Smile," a rank bucker that has appeared at the Wrangler NFR finals numerous times.

In 2008, he entered the MPRCA Finals in Great Falls in seventh place. But after collecting $4,500 by winning two go-rounds and taking fifth in the average, Crazy Legs leap-frogged four places, finishing second for the year-end standings and qualifying for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello.

Kirsten Wrzesinski described how Scott and Ben have traveled tens of thousands of miles rodeoing together, and how the friendship has encompassed both families.

"Sometimes it was just the two of them, and sometimes they were with a carload of cowboys," Kirsten said. "But the funnest times are when our two families travel together. The Owens' have become like family to us."

Scott initially believed he would be able to ride bareback again, but has since resigned himself to the fact that will never happen.

"I've talked to several specialists, and they all told me, 'Yeah, one out of a hundred doctors will say you can ride again, but that guy would be senile,'" Owens said during an interview recently at the L-C Fairgrounds, accompanied by Wrzesinski and Spur.

"But I will definitely be back in rodeo, calf roping and team roping with Ben," the soft spoken cowboy said. "As soon as I'm out of this brace and the doc gives me the OK, I'll be practicing roping. If I can practice this winter, I'll have a good start for next spring."

"Isn't that right, Spur?" he asked his son.

"Yep!" Spur nodded, looking up at his dad.

For information on the Crazy Legs Classic, contact Dick Lyman at 406-799-1469, or John Walsh at 406-439-2843; or email compnews@mt.net

Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net

Related

• Owens benefit scheduled for Sept. 19