Dan Mortensen and Glen O'Neill are icons of the saddle bronc world.

But, this last year might have been the last time fans will have seen the two stars display their usual magic in the rodeo arena.

Both are beat up and sore, and are frustrated for not being able to consistently compete at their usual high level. Mortensen, a six-time world champion, says that breaking rodeo legend Casey Tibbs' record of six world titles is no longer a priority.

Instead, Mortensen, from Billings, Mont., is looking forward to a period of rest. "This fall, I wasn't riding the way I needed to be," he said. "If I can't be healthy and ride the way I need to, I shouldn't be riding."

"As competitive as rodeo is, if you're not healthy, you're wasting your time," said O'Neill, 33, who won the world championship in 2002.

Mortensen turned 38 last week, and he says the large purses that Houston ($1.275 million) and San Antonio (more than $1 million) are offering to start the 2007 season will not entice him to return to the tour this year.

Mortensen says he's been riding with a nagging neck injury since September, which involves a pinched nerve numbing his riding arm.

"I've lost all the strength in my arm," he told the Billings (Mont.) Gazette. "I haven't been able to lift my rein, and I've had horses jerk it out of my hand."

Mortensen rarely bucks off a horse, but this fall it's become commonplace. He discussed his decision with his wife Darla and met with Dr. Tandy Freeman of Dallas, who is rodeo's primary physician.

"Tandy said a good nine months off would help my neck," Mortensen said. "And I put a lot of value in his opinion."

Mortensen says he might give his riding a shot in early July during the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede, which offers $1.6 million in prize money but is not sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.

He says his time off would not cause a problem at Calgary, since he's already qualified for the giant event.

"The Stampede is the only exception," he said. "And with the PRCA ending its season in September next year, I could start over in October. That will give me enough time to decide what I want to do."

In 2004, O'Neill and Mortensen were running one-two in the world standings. O'Neill broke his leg at Omaha that put him out of action for six months. Six weeks later Mortensen shattered an ankle in Dallas at the Texas Stampede that put him out of action for four months. Both have been fighting injuries since.

O'Neill, from Didsbury, Alberta, twisted an ankle and stretched ligaments in his foot after bailing off a horse at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo earlier this month.

"Injuries are part of rodeo and I understand that." O'Neill told the Calgary Herald. "I think a few guys wondered why I turned out of the last two rounds at the NFR, but I know my limits."

He said he's in no hurry getting back on a bucking horse.

"I'm going home and rest up," he said. "I'll see how the winter goes. "When Calgary rolls around in April and I'm not healthy, I might be done."

Ranger College cowboy top rookie: Steven Dent, a sophomore at Ranger (Texas) College, won the PRCA's Rookie of the Year honor in two categories this year.

He won the all-around rookie of the year by earning $42,598 and the bareback rookie award with $31,969. He placed seventh in saddle bronc riding. Collegiate rodeo allows its membership to also compete on the professional level.

A standout football player, track competitor and wrestler in high school at Mullen, Neb., he narrowed his collegiate sports choice to football or rodeo, and rodeo eventually won out.

"I decided the chance of me making a living in the PRCA is better than me making a living in the NFR," Dent said.

Other top rookies were Daniel Yates of Red Lodge, Mont., in steer wrestling; Keven Daniel of Altha, Fla., and Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev., in team roping; Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Nev., in saddle bronc riding; Cody James of Monticello, Ark., in tie-down roping; Tyler Mayse of Ponca City, Okla., in steer roping; and Edgard Oliveira of Denton in bull riding.

E-mail knocke1@aol.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DEC. 22-23 – Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth. 8 p.m. Box seats, $15; VIP Club seating, $15; General admission $11.50; Children (3-12), $8; Seniors (60-up), $9.50; www.stockyardsrodeo.com, 817-625-1025 or 817-323-2855.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, JAN. 4-6 – Dodge Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo, Heart O' Texas Coliseum, Waco, Texas. 7 p.m.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, JAN. 4-6 and WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY, JAN. 10-13 – Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo, Ector County Coliseum, Odessa, Texas. 7:30 p.m.