Roping Through Pain: Shad Mayfield’s Relentless Pursuit of Gold

At 23 years old, Shad Mayfield is the very picture of a cowboy chasing destiny. His 2024 season has seen him dominate both the all-around and tie-down roping standings, but the story beneath the glory is one forged in pain, grit, and an unwavering belief in his own ability. As the bright lights of Las Vegas and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) approach, Mayfield is determined to seal his legacy with not one, but two gold buckles.

To understand the resilience that defines Shad Mayfield, you have to go back to where it all began—Clovis, New Mexico. It’s a place where ranching and rodeo are not just pastimes but a way of life. His father, Sylvester Mayfield, was a pioneer in his own right. In 1985, Sylvester became the first cowboy of color to qualify for the NFR in a timed event, breaking the sport’s racial barrier and blazing a trail for his son. Shad grew up watching his father’s achievements and absorbing his relentless work ethic.

“I was born into it,” Shad says with a casual smile, but behind the words is a childhood marked by long hours in the practice pen, roping calves under the hot New Mexico sun while Sylvester pushed him to be better. His father didn’t just teach him the technique of roping—he taught him the toughness required to excel in a sport where mental fortitude is as important as physical skill.

By high school, it was clear Shad Mayfield was special. In 2018, he won the National High School Rodeo Association’s Tie-Down Roping Championship, a title that announced his arrival as a future star. He turned professional the same year, and the world quickly took notice. While many rookies struggle under the pressure, Mayfield thrived. In 2019, he finished 12th in the world, securing his first trip to the NFR at just 19 years old. But 2020 would be the year that solidified his place in rodeo history.

As a 20-year-old, Shad captured the PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship in a season disrupted by the pandemic. It was a chaotic year for many, but Shad kept his focus razor-sharp. He seized every opportunity, and when the dust settled, he was the one holding the gold buckle. It was a moment that could have led to complacency, but Shad, true to form, wasn’t satisfied. He wanted more.

His journey after 2020, however, wasn’t without its challenges. Rodeo is brutal on the body, and for Shad, it was his hips that became the primary battleground. In 2023, a sharp, persistent pain in his right hip revealed a torn labrum—a devastating injury for a tie-down roper whose explosive speed off his horse is critical. Later tests determined he had torn his labrum in both hips. Doctors advised surgery in 2024, but Shad had other plans.

“I couldn’t afford to lose half the season,” Shad recalls. “If I could walk, I could rope. Simple as that.”

Instead of going under the knife, Shad chose to push through the pain. He doubled down on physical therapy, spending hours in rehab, building strength in his hips, and managing the inflammation that threatened to sideline him. The mental toughness that had been ingrained in him since childhood became his greatest ally.

Despite the injuries, Shad’s performance in 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the start of the season, he roped with precision and speed, claiming the top spot in both the all-around and tie-down roping standings. To those watching, Shad appeared as dominant as ever, but few knew the extent of the pain he was fighting through each time he stepped into the arena. He adjusted his technique, conserving energy where he could, but when the moment of truth arrived, he was as sharp as he’d ever been.

By midseason, it was clear that Shad Mayfield was having a year for the ages. His name sat atop the world standings, and his versatility in all-around events made him a favorite to capture both titles at the NFR. The whispers that the injuries might have slowed him down had long since faded. Shad’s dominance in 2024 wasn’t just a product of talent—it was a result of his resilience, his refusal to quit, and his ability to dig deeper than his competition.

Now, with the NFR in sight, Shad is laser-focused on the prize that has driven him all year. Las Vegas is where legends are made, but it’s also where dreams can shatter under the bright lights and high stakes. For Shad, though, pressure is just another part of the ride.

“I thrive on it,” he says. “This is what we work for—the moment when it all comes down to what you’ve got in the tank.”

The injuries will still be there, and surgery might eventually be inevitable, but Shad Mayfield isn’t thinking about that now. His mind is on gold buckles, on crossing the finish line as the best in the world, and on the legacy he’ll leave behind.

As the world watches, Shad Mayfield will ride into Las Vegas, his eyes set on making history. Because for Shad, 2024 isn’t just about winning—it’s about solidifying his place as one of the greatest tie-down ropers to ever step into an arena. The stakes have never been higher, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that when the lights shine brightest, Shad Mayfield rises to the occasion.

In 2024, Shad Mayfield isn’t just chasing gold—he’s chasing immortality.