Ben Andersen Continues Hot Streak with Hardgrass Bronc Match Title
When one of the hottest saddle bronc riders in ProRodeo meets up with one of the best horses on the road at one of the world’s best bronc riding matches the results are bound to be . . . explosive.
Or Xplosive as in Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies, the 2021 Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year, the horse that scorching-hot Ben Andersen rode for the first time to 94 points on Saturday night, July 29 in Pollockville, Alberta, at the Hardgrass Bronc Match.
“That is the buckingest horse I’ve ever been on,” Andersen, 23, gushed after clinching the title in Pollockville with 183.5 points on two horses. “It was amazing and unexplainable.”
Andersen, already ranked fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings thanks to a huge win in Ogden, Utah, just a few days ago, set up the date with destiny in Pollockville after covering another Calgary Stampede bronc, Annual News, for 89.5 points during the long round.
“I got on A-6. Zeke (Thurston) won a round on him in Calgary,” Andersen noted. “I was watching video of that ride and he didn’t look as bucky as X-9 (Xplosive Skies) obviously, but he was really good, and I was able to get a good stroke going.”
As is custom at the Hardgrass, the finals qualifiers get to choose their dancing partner for the final round, and it was a no-brainer for Andersen as the first in line.
“X-9 is the go-to everywhere,” he confirmed. “I’ve been begging Keith (Marrington) and Ken (Rehill with the Calgary Stampede) for years to get her into the bronc riding. I’ve always wanted to ride her and never got the opportunity.
“I had to pick her.”
No one on the planet would have argued with Andersen’s choice. Dawson Hay, Andersen’s cousin, won the Calgary Stampede aboard the mare just a couple of weeks ago. The Hardgrass Bronc Match has been won aboard the now 13-year-old mare the past two years, with Thurston winning in 2021 with a 92-point ride and a year ago with Andersen’s other cousin, Logan Hay, setting a new world record at 95.5 points.
“If that ain’t the bucking horse of the year, I don’t know what is,” Andersen said.
Xplosive Skies is known for posting spectacular scores . . . or spectacular buck-offs.
“Logan said bear down,” Andersen said. “When she hits, it’s all there. She kicks so hard, she hits you in the back of the head and you only have a fraction of a second to set your feet and float before she whacks you in the back of the head again.”
Andersen’s 94-point ride was not only his career best, it also tied for the high marked ride of the season and ended a July where he collected about $50,000.
“It’s so cool and I’m so excited to keep it rolling,” Andersen said. “Even when things are bad, it’s the coolest sport in the world. You get to hang out with your buddies and cousins, see North America and ride bucking horses.”
Courtesy of PRCA