IN the short four years Ben Maytom hasbeen rodeo riding, he has accumulated a drawer full of belt buckle awards, but none carry quite as much weight as the ones he returned home to Australia with two weeks ago.
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The Stroud local has just returned victorious from the International Professional Rodeo Association National Finals (IPRA) in Oklahoma City, a goal to which he has been working towards since April last year.
He broke his foot in Round Two while dismounting off the horse, but carried on to win the Average title in the Saddle Bronc event regardless, the first Australian to ever do so. Far from being average, this means his points average accumulated over four rounds was higher than those of his 15 competitors from across the globe. Maytom’s win and that of winning Round One follows a seven-month campaign on the IPRA circuit, and backs onto his success in saddle bronc riding in 2014, when he won Rookie of the Year.
The global award was made all the more sweeter with his best mate and brother in law, Tamworth’s Luke Morgan, winning the other top award for the international event – the World Title in Saddle Bronc riding as well as Rookie of the Year.
Together with fellow Australian Ty Parkinson who won three Rookie world titles they showered great kudos on Australia with their rodeo successes, which could be credited to riding in up to 150 rodeos over the duration of the season.
“Saddle Bronc riding is similar to bareback on bucking horses but with a saddle. You need to stay on for eight seconds and have technique,” Maytom said, saying it often just depends on the horse you draw.
“I try to keep it basic when I’m riding - lift, keep the body square, hips down, body back, shoulders behind hips so the power of the horse doesn’t throw you over the front.”
Maytom, an experienced campdrafter and equine therapist, credited Morgan with much of his success as it was Morgan who gave him his first lessons four years ago. The rodeo ladder is based around how much prize money is earned during the year, and although $5000 separated the two friends at the start of the finals, the gap had closed to $150 between them by the end.
Both Maytom and Morgan are hoping to head back to the States for another season within the next 12 months.
