01/29/2026
It’s been forever since I last shared anything about my kids here, but today my heart is too full not to.
McKenzie is an incredible, hardworking, big-dreaming, even bigger-achieving young woman who pours her whole soul into everything she loves. And barrel racing? That dream has tested her in ways most people can’t imagine.
Six months ago, she stepped into the arena for her very first race. Three weeks ago, she didn’t just compete—she won.
The road to that moment hasn’t been smooth. There have been broken bones, terrifying moments when she was flung into a fence, heart-stopping seconds when control slipped away mid-run. Yet she got back up, dusted herself off, and kept chasing that dream with grit and grace I can barely put into words.
And then there’s Poncho. Sweet, soulful Poncho. He wasn’t born to be a barrel horse—he was trained for the rough-and-tumble life of ranch work: roping, cows, the real grit of the range. When McKenzie first laid eyes on him, he was a homely, beaten-down mess—physically worn and mentally fragile. But she saw something in him no one else did. She fell in love, and that love changed everything.
With the guidance of her amazing trainer, they’ve rebuilt him step by careful step. His stride is finding rhythm, his confidence is slowly blooming, and though it’s still a work in progress, the progress is real and beautiful to witness.
Watching the two of them together—my determined girl and her unlikely partner—fills me with a pride so deep it aches. They’ve both come so far, through pain, setbacks, and quiet victories no trophy could ever measure.
We are beyond proud.
Here’s to McKenzie and Poncho—proof that love, hard work, and a stubborn refusal to quit can turn even the roughest starts into something extraordinary. ❤️
This is just the beginning!
