1985 IPRA World Champion Kenny Phillips shares his journey from rodeo glory to emergency room doctor…
In the fall of 1986, Kenny Phillips broke his neck… and somehow, that was only part of the story.
Recorded at Mike Swearingen’s Rodeo Reunion in Wyoming, New York, this episode of Beyond the Chutes brings you a powerful conversation with IPRA World Champion bareback rider Kenny Phillips—a man whose life has been shaped by grit, faith, family, and the cowboy way.
From growing up in a rodeo family in the Northeast… To Wednesday night buckouts and learning the hard way… To qualifying for the IFR, winning the 1985 IPRA World Championship, and hitting the road out West…
Kenny lived it.
Then came the wreck.
A broken neck in Arizona. A long recovery. And a decision that would change everything.
Kenny didn’t just come back—he rebuilt. Today, he’s a board-certified emergency room doctor, carrying the lessons of the arena into a life of service.
This episode is about more than rodeo. It’s about resilience… second chances… and the kind of people who shape you along the way.
You’ll hear stories of the Phillips family legacy, the influence of great cowboys, and the next generation—Daylon and Colton—carrying it forward.
And through it all, one truth stands out:
👉 These stories matter.
If you’ve ever been part of rodeo… or just admire the mindset it takes to keep getting back up… this one’s for you.
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