Bridger Anderson has placed five times over the course of the National Finals Rodeo, his most recent coming with a 4.2-second run to finish fourth in Thursday’s eighth round.
(PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON)
LAS VEGAS – Slowly but surely, Bridger Anderson is having a solid run at the National Finals Rodeo.
He has yet to win a go-round, but he’s gathered paychecks five times so far. His most recent came during Thursday’s eighth round when he tipped his steer over in 4.2 seconds to finish fourth, worth $15.377. He’s amassed $89,546 with two nights remaining, with fourth-place-or-better finishes four times.
“I’m trying to win the round,” said Anderson, a three-time NFR qualifier from Carrington, North Dakota. “I think (Thursday) was the second best start we got all week. We had a steer that we knew we had to bear down, do things right on the ground and get them down in a decent fashion, and I felt like we did a good.
“My horse felt great, probably the best he’s felt all week. Dad put some shoes on him today while I was doing some other stuff. He’s feeling good, and I’m excited for the next two nights.”
His best finish came in Round 3, when he posted a 3.9 to finish second. That was worth $28,980, but he also claimed third-place paydays on Nights 2 and 7. A key ingredient is Whiskers, a 16-year-old bay gelding that has been a crucial part of Anderson’s success.
“It’s insanely hard trying to get the start here, because the arena is so short and the barrier is so short that it’s something we don’t see for the rest of the year,” said Anderson, who pushed his season earnings to $198,873; he is ninth in the world standings. “The start is crucial. If you miss it at all here, you’ll end up at the back fence, and there’s no money down there.”
Anderson has stayed away. He did suffer two no-times – in Rounds 1 and 5 – and just missed out on a payday on the fourth night; he finished seventh, but only the top six earn money in Las Vegas. He knows the key to success comes with placing in the rounds. Two years ago during his last venture the NFR, he cleared about $120,000 in 10 days. He’s on his way to doing something similar, but it will depend on how he finishes this week.
This is, after all, the best opportunity he has to make a lot of money in a hurry. He’s just been steady in his approach.