ProRodeo Sports News - August 4, 2023

Xplosive Ben Andersen continues hot stretch in Pollockville XTREME BRONCS POLLOCKVILLE, ALBERTA

BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he matchup was explosive: one of the hottest bronc riders on the planet against one of ProRodeo’s best horses for all the marbles at one of the biggest events of the season, the Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville, Alberta on July 29. When Ben Andersen leapt from his saddle after riding Calgary Stampede’s X-9 Xplosive Skies during the short go round, he likely landed back in Las Vegas for his second trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Andersen tied for the high marked ride of the season, scoring 94 points aboard the electric bucking horse, who already has the 2021 Pendleton Whisky Let ‘er Buck Bareback Horse of the Year title on her resume. With 183.5 points on two horses, Andersen clinched the win and added $16,239 to a fabulous July run that has him ranked fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. “That is the buckingest horse I’ve ever been on,” Andersen gushed of Xplosive Skies. “It was amazing and unexplainable.” Few bronc riders have enjoyed the success Andersen has since the Fourth of July. He won second to cousin Dawson Hay at the Calgary Stampede, a win worth more than $20,000, then claimed nearly $9,000 at Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days just a few days before Pollockville. “It’s so cool and I’m so excited to keep it rolling,” Andersen said after more than doubling his season earnings during July. The winnings have come in spite of a pulled abdominal muscle, which has herniated slightly due to an injury sustained in Calgary. “It feels better,” Andersen downplayed the injury. “I’ve been icing it.” Winning a ton tends to assuage pain, as does the chance to match skills with the horse everyone wants in Xplosive Skies. “X-9 is the go-to everywhere,” Andersen said. “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.” Turns out, he just needed to make his own opportunity. As is the custom at the Hardgrass, the finals qualifiers get to choose their dancing partner for the final round and Andersen earned the first pick with an outstanding bronc ride in the long go aboard another Calgary horse, Annual News. “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, obviously, but he was really good, and I was able to get a good stroke going.” Andersen earned 89.5 points on the ride to win the round and ensure that he got the horse everyone wanted for the finals, with plenty of good reasons. Dawson Hay won the Calgary Stampede aboard Xplosive Skies 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.

Billie-Jean Duff photo Canadian Ben Andersen was on a roll in July and things kept picking up speed on July 29, when he captured the title at the Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville, Alberta. Andersen clinched the win with his 94-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/4/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 8/4/2023

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