NCHA Amateur Horse of the Year

BY JENNIFER HORTON

The Amateur championship at the 2020 NCHA Futurity came unexpectedly for then 16-year-old Makayla Cowan and homebred Redneck Hillbillie. That first win would launch his career and help him earn the Amateur Horse of the Year title.

“Redneck” was intended to be Michelle Cowan’s ride in the Non-Pro, but fate stepped in.

“He was supposed to be my mom’s horse, but I kept doing good on him,” said Makayla. “She showed him in the Non-Pro Futurity and didn’t advance, so I hopped on him for the Amateur and it worked.”

Sired by Light N Lena, the sorrel gelding is out of Billies Catty, by Bill and Michelle Cowan’s stallion Catty Hawk.

Billies Catty carried Bill Cowan to win the reserve Non-Pro NCHA World Series of Cutting championship in 2018. Seeing her foals have success in the arena is special to the entire Cowan family.

“No one was expecting a win,” said Makayla. “I was just happy every time I got through a run and thought this was pretty cool.”

Makayla describes Redneck as extremely cowy and very smart on a cow.

“He reads a cow faster than I can sometimes,” Makayla said. “His personality is different. I call him a huge child. He’s got such a big personality; he’s a fun Amateur horse.”

Makayla said the most fun she had showing the gelding came during the 2021 NCHA Summer Spectacular when they won the Rios of Mercedes Intermediate Amateur Derby with a 224.

“By the Derby, we just clicked. I knew him like the back of my hand. By far, that was the most fun ride I’d ever had on him. I felt like I knew him a little more during his four-year-old year and could trust him and enjoy the ride.”

That win locked in the NCHA Amy Bell Memorial Amateur Horse of the Year title for him.

“The Amateur Horse of the Year title means a lot to me, because we bred him,” said Makayla. “I never really paid attention to it until I saw our names in the standings. It didn’t change our course. We just kept going to shows, and he kept doing amazing. He earned the Amy Bell Memorial Amateur Rider of the Year for me as well, as he was the main horse I rode that year.”

At press time, Redneck Hillbillie has $90,968 in recorded lifetime earnings. Makayla plans to continue showing him through his aged event career, even as she heads to college this fall at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. ★