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Polar Express offered valuable, hands-on lessons for veterinary students.

Back on Track: All aboard Polar Express as bucking bull's life is saved

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Media Contact: Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Manager | 405-744-6728 | cvmcommunications@okstate.edu

Eight seconds of fame.

That’s what elite bucking bulls look forward to during every event.

Polar Express is no exception as he is known for his extraordinary appearances at the National Finals Rodeo and multiple Professional Bull Riders Association events.

After wrapping up an excellent NFR in 2023, Polar Express was purchased by Jason and Chase Sterk of Sterk Bucking Bulls, located in Irene, South Dakota. The bull was going full force into 2024, but as he was bucking at a PBR event in South Carolina, he sustained an injury to his left hind leg that would put his career on hold.

Between the time he got in the chute and when they opened the gate, Polar Express injured his left hind metatarsal bone, just above the ankle. The on-site veterinarians took immediate action and decided he would need more extensive care.

“I got a phone call late that night saying we are headed your way with a bucking bull that has sustained a fracture coming out of the bucking chutes; we are going to bring him straight there,” said Dr. Meredyth Jones, former Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine professor.

Because of his condition, Jones encouraged Sterk to haul Polar Express to the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. There, they would work alongside Jones to stabilize the bull’s leg to make the long drive to Oklahoma safely.

During his short stay in Raleigh, Polar Express was seen by Dr. Jennifer Halleran, assistant professor, who completed her large animal internal medicine residency at OSU. Due to her history with the OSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, she was knowledgeable about injured bucking bulls.

“We talked on the phone about what needed to be done and what would be the best options for transportation,” Jones said. “Dr. Halleran knew what needed to be done and what we would want.”

OSU veterinarians change bandages and check surgery location.

After X-rays and wrapping his leg in a bandage, Halleran successfully stabilized it and Polar Express was on a trailer headed to Stillwater. Awaiting his arrival, Dr. Michael Schoonover,  associate professor in equine surgery and sports medicine, and his team reviewed the radiographs that Halleran took and started a game plan.

“We showed up at the OSU teaching hospital about 4 a.m. and everyone was waiting for us, excited to help save Polar’s life,” Sterk said.

After arriving, new X-rays were taken and the rodeo athlete’s initial bandage was changed. He then spent the day resting while the team got its next steps together.

“On Monday morning, the equine surgical team had a plan and was ready to perform the surgery,” Schoonover said.

Because of the injury’s complexity and where it was sustained, it took the food animal veterinarians and the surgery and sports medicine team to get the best possible outcome.

After reviewing the radiographs, the veterinarians proceeded with a transfixing pin cast. The cast extended from the foot to the hock. Two large pins were placed in the upper, proximal part of the cannon bone.

The transfixion pin cast integrates the pins into the cast itself. This redistributes the weight away from the leg and fracture area, allowing the bone to heal as the cast bears the weight directly.

“The goal of the pin cast was to allow the bone to heal while minimizing the risk of complications like infection at the pin sites,” Schoonover said.

After surgery, Polar Express spent many months at the teaching hospital receiving around-the-clock care to ensure his fracture was healing correctly.

Following numerous X-rays and checking the pins, they slowly began removing them. When all the pins were removed, the cast was replaced. During the healing process, Polar Express had many cast changes to ensure the fracture and the open wound were healing correctly.

The bull returned home after many months of healing to finish recovering. He is now living on the South Dakota ranch and getting stronger every day.

“After the stay at the OSU hospital, Polar came out a different bull,” Sterk said. “They spoiled him and now he loves scratches. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; the whole process was top-notch, and we can’t thank you enough.”


Photos By: Taylor Bacon

Story By: Kinsey Reed | Vet Cetera Magazine

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