Record Ride Leads Ben Andersen to Snake River Stampede Title
When you draw a great horse at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, you absolutely want to take advantage of such good fortune. The hope, obviously, is to have a strong ride that earns a correspondingly strong score.
At the 2021 NFR, aboard 2020 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year Womanizer, Ben Andersen did not have that ride.
“She bucked me off,” Andersen said.
Fast-forward to the Snake River Stampede, held July 19-23 in Nampa, Idaho, and it was a very different story during the NFR Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky rodeo. In saddle bronc riding, the Snake River features one go-round, then a final round, and the Stampede awards an average winner, as well. Both of Andersen’s rides were on the final day.
And in that second go, under the Saturday night lights, the 22-year-old spurred Cervi Brothers’ Womanizer to a Snake River record 90.5 points.
“This was a little payback,” Andersen said with a laugh. “I was really excited when I saw I’d drawn her. I knew the horse was good. She gets out there, and on that first jump, she punches back into you. So I knew I needed to get a good spur-out and just rock and roll from there, and that’s what I did.”
That rock-and-roll effort gave Andersen a first-place go-round check of $1,650. But his Snake River success didn’t end there. Andersen also notched an 83.5 in the first go atop Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Ken Mare Honker.
That ride was only good enough for a three-way split of sixth place and $577. But when combined with the high-flying ride on Womanizer, Andersen emerged as the average winner with 174 points on two head. That added another $4,326 to his Nampa earnings.
“That first horse was good. I didn’t know the horse, but I spurred out good, and she went,” Andersen said. “I kept being aggressive. It was a fun ride.”
Honestly, both rides were fun, and very well-timed. Andersen, aiming to make his second straight NFR, entered the Snake River Stampede sitting 23rd in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, with $48,205. A $6,553 night in Nampa should move Andersen up a couple of slots, with his season total now at $54,758.
More important, the payday gives him a needed momentum boost for the rest of the season, as he tries to climb into the Top 15.
“It’s a nice bump, a key rodeo for me, for sure,” Andersen said, before outlining what he needs to do in order to return to Vegas. “It’s definitely all mental. I’ve just gotta have fun and ride bucking horses. We’re doing something we love every day, so just enjoy every moment and pray them good horses just stay underneath you!”
Other winners at the $442,010 rodeo were bareback rider Cole Franks (170 points on two head); steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack (11.8 seconds on three head); team roper Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II (13.9 seconds on three head); tie-down roper Cory Solomon (22.2 seconds on three head); breakaway roper Brighton Bauman (3.8 seconds on two head); barrel racer Dona Kay Rule (31.84 seconds on two runs); bull rider Ky Hamilton (177.5 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA