HILLSIDE, AZ — The rodeo community is reeling after a devastating accident involving 23-year-old rodeo contestant Trey Blackmore, who sustained a traumatic brain injury in a serious horse-riding accident on Friday, April 4, 2025, in Hillside, Arizona. The tragic incident also resulted in the death of Blackmore’s horse, casting a shadow of grief over those close to him.
According to family members, Trey was airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix shortly after the accident. Medical personnel confirmed he suffered a brain bleed and, as of April 8, remains unconscious in intensive care. In a heartbreaking update shared by his family, doctors have diagnosed Trey with diffuse axonal injury, a form of traumatic brain damage caused by “shearing”—tearing of the nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain.
“The MRI results were not what we had hoped,” the family shared. “Trey has shearing in a critical area of his brain. We’ve been told it could be weeks to months before he regains consciousness, and the extent of his recovery remains uncertain.”
The news has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit rodeo and equestrian communities, who have since rallied in support of Trey and his family. Social media has been flooded with messages of prayer, solidarity, and stories of Trey’s passion for the sport and his larger-than-life presence at competitions across the Southwest.
A respected figure in amateur rodeo circles, Blackmore is known not only for his skill in the arena but also for his sportsmanship and commitment to mentoring younger riders. Friends and competitors alike describe him as a “true cowboy with a heart of gold.”
In the wake of the accident, renewed attention is being placed on rodeo safety standards. While the sport carries inherent risks, Trey’s accident serves as a sobering reminder of the need for ongoing evaluations of protective gear, animal handling practices, and emergency preparedness at all levels of competition.
As Trey battles for recovery, his family is staying close by his side, navigating a journey that may stretch far beyond the ICU. They have expressed deep appreciation for the outpouring of love and support they’ve received but ask for continued prayers and privacy during this extremely difficult time.
Supporters have already begun organizing benefit rides and fundraising events to assist with what is expected to be a long and costly rehabilitation process. Official updates on Trey’s condition will be shared by the family through trusted channels in the days ahead.
For now, the rodeo world holds its breath—and holds Trey in its heart—hoping for a miracle and standing united behind one of its own.