FORT WORTH, Texas ― Brian Canter is planning to return to professional bull riding in January.

Provided there are no more setbacks, it'll have been darn near three years since he last competed at a Built Ford Tough Series event in Fresno, Calif.

He stands just a shade over 5 feet and yet his body endured and withstood a physical beat-down in and out of the arena.

He's undergone several hip surgeries ― the most recent took place last fall ― and had his right knee reconstructed only to sustain a deadly infection, in which doctors were within hours of deciding to amputate his right leg just above the knee.

Canter was adamantly against it.

A procedure like that would have meant giving up on ever returning to bull riding.

He sought other opinions.

After traveling to consult doctors in several U.S. cities ― Oklahoma City, Nashville, Tenn., and Philadelphia among them ― and considering a specialist in Europe, he wound up in Columbia, S.C.

According to Canter, he had a cap put around his hip socket to keep everything away from it and prevent it from becoming agitated.

"Sometimes it'll catch," Canter explained, "but it's going to, like they said, but (there isn't any) pain like there was the last three or four years.

"It (doesn't) even hurt me now to walk around and get up and run and fast stuff. Before, you know, the reactions hurt me a lot. Now it's easing, it's pretty much-I'm 85 percent and I'm happy."

Brian Canter rides Hot Stuff for 92.5 points and the victory at the 2008 BFTS event in Omaha.

The 26-year-old lost three years in what should have been the prime of his career.

He lost the ability to earn a living.

He lost a lot.

However, he still has quite a bit of motivation and support.

He's engaged to his longtime girlfriend Kirsty White, and they're expecting their first son in late February.

He's also had the unyielding support of his best friend Jerome Davis and his wife, Tiffany.

More importantly, according to Tiffany, "The heart is there."

"He's rebuilding from the ground up," she added.

Jerome said it was tough to see.

"You hate to see a guy hit rock bottom, but Brian really did," Jerome said. "This injury's put him in a bind.

"Brian isn't making those six figures (anymore). He's just getting by right now. It's one of those deals, where you (don't) have to tell him. He's learned the hard way. Right now, Brian's having to climb out of the bottom of the hole to come back."               

After months of recovery and rehab, Canter had already begun training twice a day.

He said he's been waking up at 6 a.m. and going to the gym on his way to work with the Davis's ― Canter's been hauling hay, working cattle and moving panels for the past few weeks ― and then returns to the gym in the evenings around 7 or 8 p.m. with his childhood friend Chucky Powel, who helps push him through his workout routine.

Canter said he's employed some of the techniques he learned two years ago while training in California with Jesse Marquez, but until now has been staying within the limits set by his doctor.

Earlier today, he posted on Facebook:

"I think when Brian comes back he'll come back stronger than he ever has," said Jerome, of Canter's plan to start competing in January at Touring Pro Division events. "He's craving it. I can just see it in him and he wants it so bad."

Canter agrees and admitted in the past he was only hopeful, at best.

"I can see it coming," Canter said. "I can just see it be my year. Before it was a 50-50 chance and I was just going to take it and go. That stuff (doesn't) work in bull riding. You (have) to let it heal and let everything else work for you."

Follow Keith Ryan Cartwright on Twitter @PBR_KRC