ANDY CHRISTENSEN
Andy Christensen purchased his very first horse when he was in the 7th grade. He paid $1000 for the nice palomino gelding named Corky. As he entered high school, he moved up to an 18-year-old mare that had roped a ton of steers. Off he went on the rodeo trail.
Andy continued his education at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, where he roped with the college rodeo team.
After serving an LDS mission in Fresno, CA, Andy returned home and bought two nice horses from Vance Ward in Idaho. He then tried his hand at buying and selling horses. “I 
made some really nice horses- I’d buy ‘em kind of cheap, ride ‘em a while and then sell ‘em for more money. When I sold one for $12,000, I was pretty excited!”, Andy recalls.
Inspired by his good friend, Cory Shelman, Andy decided to try his hand in the show pen. He started in the NRHA and rode with a few trainers in Utah while he worked construction.
In March 2005, he realized that he would be much happier in a career working with horses, instead of construction, so he called the Buffalo Ranch in Farmington, Utah to see if Todd Adolph could use some help. “ They hired me as an assistant trainer and it’s all history from there”, Andy says. “ I’ve got a pretty nice job, riding really nice cutting horses. Working with Greg Smith and his family is a lot of fun, too. I couldn’t ask for any better!”
Andy has had a fantastic show season this year– He was the $2,000 Limited Rider Champion of the 2007 ICHA/UCHA Mountain West Saddle Series, and he placed 4th in the Open in that series, as well. Andy was also the $2,000 Limited Rider Champion of the 2007 Idaho Championship Series.
Andy and his wife, Brandy, live in Syracuse, Utah. They have a daughter named Ashlyn and are expecting a new baby in early November.
Photo Credit: Laurie Errington
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