Logan Hay’s signature win of his breakout 2022 saddle bronc riding season came in his home country of Canada at the iconic Calgary Stampede.
After not having the best Canadian Finals in 2021, Hay was relying on a good winter and spring run to get the call for his first shot at a Stampede title. He did just that, but once in Calgary, the start to the rodeo was not what he had in mind.
“I didn’t completely kick their butts in my pool, I barely snuck in actually,” Hay said. “I felt like I rode as good as I could on every horse.”
It came down to an 85-point ride on Sergeant Whitney in Round 4 of his pool and a waiting game until Zeke Thurston, the King of Calgary, scored an 84.5 to move Hay on to the Final Four.
“It was pretty tense, Zeke got a re-ride and the whole time everyone was talking about Zeke because he’s a three-time winner,” Hay said. “I didn’t think I was going to get back.”
“I ended up being in the Final Four with (my brother) Dawson, (fellow Canadian) Ben Andersen and our good friend Lefty (Holman). It was pretty special.”
In the Showdown Round, Hay was first out and scored an 89.5 before he had to sweat out three more rides. He said there was no pressured being first out and he was just trying to make the best ride possible.
When it was all said and done, Hay was crowned the Champion of the Calgary Stampede.
“I was running across there, that was the coolest feeling I’d ever had bronc riding, running across that arena knowing that I’d won probably the coolest rodeo… to get there my first time and then win it, it really did leave me speechless.”