When cowboys and cowgirls sign up for the Pendleton Round-Up, they know theyre in for a close brush with danger. Whether its an adrenalin-fueled bull ride, a high-speed race around barrels or a skidding duel with a steer, the sport of rodeo remains as dangerous as ever.

Thats why Round-Up hires on-site health professionals. The team works out of the Justin Sportsmedicine trailer just north of the arena, the contestants first line of medical defense.

I dont think things have changed that much. Its fairly the same, said health coordinator Debbi Green, discussing the number of rodeo injuries. Green has worked as an athletic trainer at Pendleton High?School for 11 years and Justin Sports for 15. High school football games keep her busy when shes not traveling to rodeos across the Northwest, taping up legs and mending scrapes.

For Green, Round-Up is just another day in the office, albeit a busy one. The medical trailer sees about 200 injured contestants at Round-Up every year.

On Wednesday, Green spent a great deal of time preparing steer wrestlers and bull riders for their competitions. I do a lot of taping to prevent ankle injuries, said Green while taping up 32-year-old California bulldogger Billy Bugenig. With rough stock events, a basic wrap around the ankle is imperative in preventing sprains, cuts and general damage.

In Pendleton, steer wrestling is sometimes more dangerous than bull riding due to the arenas grassy field.

This is one of the only places we rodeo on grass, said Devin Dice, a program manager at Justin Sports. Dirts a lot more forgiving.

Dice explained the grass at the Round-Up Arena isnt like a familys freshly mowed lawn it gets torn up and patted down by hoofs as the day goes on. Bulldoggers, who have to leap off their horse and tackle a running steer, often show up at the trailer with grass burns and scrapes. One time a contestant even had a dislocated testicle, the trailer staff said.

Dice, 47, of Melba, Idaho, has been a health manager at Justin Sports since 1997. The companys rodeo program travels 40,000 miles a year, visiting more than 150 rodeos in the Professional Rodeo?Cowboy Association. Medical trailer access is free for contestants, the court and even rodeo clowns but it doesnt cover serious injuries like harmed organs and fractured spines. For that, the Round-Up sends the patients to St.?Anthony Hospital in Pendleton by ambulance.

Derek?Frank, 24, is a steer wrestler from Alberta, Canada. After missing his steer and hitting his hip Wednesday, he came to the medical trailer for an ice pack and a free massage. He said?Pendletons grassy arena was a unique challenge but he enjoyed the experience.

The crowd and atmosphere here is unbelievable, Frank said. Everybody knows (the Round-Up) in Canada, too.

Contact Patrick Mulvihill at pmulvihill@eastoregonian.com