After making his first National Finals Rodeo appearance in 2022, Logan Hay fell just shy of a second consecutive trip in 2023, however, he came back in 2024 with vengeance. It was a battle until the very end, but the Canadian saddle bronc rider claimed his spot inside the Top 15.
Coming in as the No. 15 cowboy to the Thomas & Mack, Hay has his work cut out for him in Las Vegas as he chases the top of the standings. Although he trails the No. 1 saddle bronc rider in the World, Damian Brennan, by a hefty number, the payout at the NFR can be game changing, and Hay knows he is capable of making up ground fast. In his lone NFR appearance, he won three rounds in a row.
Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs, $4,756
Hay’s season started all the way back in October of 2023 with a second-place finish in Round 1 at the first extreme bronc match of the season. In North Dakota, Hay matched up with J Bar J’s Soul Lunatic for 86 points to cash in and get the 2024 season rolling.
Bucking Battle in Bismarck, $6,003
Hay kept rolling down the road to Bismarck two weeks after the Brad Gjermundson Extreme Broncs and when he nodded his head on Green Bay of Dakota Rodeo, he was 86 points, which would split the win with fellow NFR qualifier Kade Bruno.
With two solid paydays in North Dakota to being the season, Hay entered the Texas Swing with more than $10,000.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $21,000
Hay would advance all the way to the Finals at the Forth Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, but his Texas Swing highlight came at the second Texas Swing Rodeo, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
First, he advanced out of Bracket 4 with $6,000 after winning a round and finishing in the Top 3 in two others.
Despite barely making it out of the Semifinals, he did not slow him down when the Finals came around and he matched up with Calgary Stampede’s Tokyo Bubbles. The Canadian duo teamed up for 87.5 points to deliver Hay his first career Texas Swing and lone PRCA Playoff Series win of 2024.
Red Bluff Round-Up, $6,010
In April, Hay drew Brookman Rodeo’s Rude Roomate at the Red Bluff Round-Up to be 87 points. This made him the No. 2 cowboy and it was one of his Top 5 paydays of the regular season.
During the California Swing, Hay went over to the Clovis Rodeo after Red Bluff where he found himself in the money yet again. An 87.5-point ride on Burch Rodeo’s Moose was good enough to be third and another $4,700.
Calgary Stampede, $7,675
Back on his home turf, Hay kicked off his Pool C at the Calgary Stampede with a strong start. A match up with Calgary Stampede’s Exciting Bubbles would be worth 89.5 points and a good chunk of the change that Hay would leave Calgary with. Hay’s ride was the highest in any of the three pools.
He added to it when he placed fourth in Round 2 to advance to the Semifinals.
Utah’s Own PRCA, $3,836
In the beginning of the final month of the season, Hay was all gas when he picked up a win in Salt Lake City. Aboard Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Crossbreed Cap, Hay put an 89 on top of the leaderboard to take the win over his cousin and traveling partner Ben Andersen.
Young Living’s Last Chance Rodeo, $4,210
It was only fitting that the final horse of Hay’s 2024 regular season was Legacy Pro Rodeo’s Bitter Fight. Hay was giving it his all to make the Top 15 and this final payday helped him do just that.
The 87.5-point ride that he would make split the win in Mona with Allen Boore and when the dust settled, Hay finished with about $2,000 more than Ryder Sanford, who was fighting for his own NFR chance at the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup.
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