DENVER (AP) - A Wyoming cowboy has got his thumb back after losing the finger while roping a steer at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.

Justin Johnson had been competing in a team rodeo event when the incident happened last week.

The cowboy and rancher from outside Casper says he roped a steer by its hind feet and was trying to wrap the rope around the saddle horn when his thumb got stuck. The rope then sliced his finger off.

Johnson says his son later found the thumb still in his roping glove.

The 48-year-old is now recovering after doctors reattached his thumb at a Denver hospital.

Healing is expected to take several weeks, and Johnson says he can't wait to get back in the saddle.

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