Courtesy of PRCA

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- Bareback rider Winn Ratliff is out of competition for the remainder of the 2017 season after suffering a severe injury during the Matagorda County Fair and Rodeo in Bay City, Texas, on March 2.

"I'll be out six months -- this is a season-ending injury for me," Ratliff said. "It's frustrating I can't compete, but there's always another door open. Once I heal up, I'm going to get back at it again."

The sacrum -- the large triangular bone at the base of the spine that connects the pelvis together -- was shattered, and Ratliff's pubic symphysis was displaced.

"Basically, the horse fell over on top of him," said Justin sports medicine director Rick Foster. "It takes a lot to break that -- a 1,200-pound horse on a 150-pound guy can do that."

Said Ratliff, "It was one of those freak accidents. On the video, it looked like he lost his back footing and the fence scared him since his head was down while bucking - he fell back, and that pressure landed on my back and hips."

There was no doubt in Ratliff's mind that it was a major injury.

I felt a pop and it scared me -- I knew something wasn't right," Ratliff said, adding that he was unable to walk out of the arena. "It was one of those bad deals. The doctor said it's broken completely - -from top to bottom -- the break goes from Zone 1 to Zone 2 and Zone 3 of the sacrum. It was a lot of pressure on my hips; something had to give.

Ratliff is scheduled to undergo surgery March 7 to have a plate and screw put in and to find out if his left joint is injured and if there's any internal damage as well.

"We discussed some options, and he feels this is the best option," Foster said. "As far as I know, he was trying to put weight on it."

Ratliff can stand up, but walking is difficult. It will be 12 weeks before Ratliff can put any weight on his hips, and then he'll enter 12 weeks of therapy.

Ratliff's injury is similar to the one suffered by barrel racer Mary Walker in 2011, Foster said. Walker bounced back from her surgery and won her first world title in 2012 at the age of 53. Ratliff is currently 27 years old.

"I'm very fortunate and glad I'm not paralyzed," Ratliff said. "It has crossed my mind that I could have not been able to walk again, but thankfully God laid his hands on me and I have a chance to walk."

Ratliff was ranked sixth in the WEATHER GUARD PRCA World Standings as of March 6.

"God has a plan for everything -- we might not understand, but he is always in control, and if we follow his will, he won't lead us astray," Ratliff said. "It's not like I'll never compete again; it's just a jam in the road. Every tragedy has something good come out of it, just have faith and believe and not be a Debby Downer."