PREMIER - August 2025 by PremierSires

LANA MARKWAY Good Miss Breeze

Forward Motion: Lana Markway and Good Miss Breeze Take Aim at NSBA World and Congress

For Missouri competitor Lana Markway, the best horses often arrive when you least expect them. That was certainly the case earlier this year at The Premier, when she first laid eyes on a striking young mare showing in Junior Western Pleasure—Good Miss Breeze, also known as “Montana.”

“I wasn’t even looking for another horse,” Markway recalls. “I had two horses with me already. But when I saw her go, I thought to myself, ‘I think that’s my horse.’”

At the time, it was little more than a passing thought. But something about the mare stuck with her. “After I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about her,” she says. “By that next Saturday, I was back at Jamie Hartman’s barn riding her— and I bought her that day.”

That kind of gut decision isn’t unusual for Markway, who’s spent her life working with horses, following her instincts, and building partnerships the old-fashioned way—from the ground up.

Now, just a few months into their partnership, Good Miss Breeze is already turning heads—and picking up wins. With top placings at The Premier, Back to Berrien, and the Corporate Challenge, the pair is now setting their sights on the 2025 NSBA World Show and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.

And while Markway hadn’t originally planned on attending either show, the mare’s natural ability and presence have changed everything.

“She’s just so forward, so fluid—it’s really refreshing,” Markway says. “Western pleasure wasn’t even on my radar. I’ve always done the all-around, but she moves in a way that’s just special. It made me see the class differently.”

Good Miss Breeze is in training with Jamie Hartman and Mark Katafiasz. Markway shares that, “Jamie Hartman had

the Good Miss Sonny mare that she’s out of, and Mark Katafiasz rode Cool Breeze, so he had the connection to her sire.”

A Lifelong Passion

Of course, that level of appreciation comes from decades of experience. Markway’s passion for horses runs deep—so deep that she was showing in lead line by the time she was just a year old.

Born into a family with strong ties to the industry, she got her start in the paint horse world, quickly establishing herself as a standout youth exhibitor. She won her first buckle in showmanship in 1997 and, the following year, was crowned World Champion at the APHYA World Show in the 13 & Under division.

“Showmanship was always my favorite,” she says. “I was just a little kid out there running my heart out.”

Throughout the early 2000s, Markway accumulated multiple World and Reserve World titles, including Reserve World Champion honors in Showmanship in both 2003 and 2006 with her longtime partner Zipmund Freud. Later, in 2017, she claimed Reserve World Champion in Equitation with R Kid Rock.

She credits her early success to a combination of strong horses, supportive family, and a relentless work ethic. “My mom went with me every weekend. We just made it work,” she says. “It wasn’t always easy, but we picked the right horses and the right shows.”

DIY to the Core

That hands-on mentality has never left her. As an adult amateur, Markway still hauls her own horses, does most of the work herself, and maintains a string of homebred or self-started horses.

ZIPMUND FREUD

R KID ROCK

CR LOVE LIKE CRAZY

“I’ve been buying horses, making them myself, and then selling them for years,” she explains. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed. You learn so much when you do it all yourself.”

In 2018, Lana’s DIY approach paid off in a big way—she earned the No. 1 APHA Amateur title and was named Reserve World Champion in Amateur Showmanship with her mare CR Love Like Crazy, a horse she purchased as an unshown three-year-old and developed into a winner.

“She was the kind of mare that makes you fall in love with doing the work yourself,” Lana says. “She had so much heart and try.”

Breeding the Next Generation

Now, that same heart is at the center of Markway’s newest venture: a breeding program built around the kind of mares she loves to ride.

“I never thought I’d be into breeding,” she admits. “But after years of being on the road, having a project at home became more appealing. I had this mare I really loved— Only En La Moonlite—and I thought, ‘Why not start with her?’”

With one embryo already implanted and four more frozen through ICSI, Markway is laying the groundwork for a future rooted in strong, versatile bloodlines. She’s also brought home two Makin Me Willy Wild weanlings—one bred herself—and owns a standout yearling named Get Your Wild On (“Odie”) that she describes as the best young showmanship horse she’s ever started.

“She’s really something,” Lana says. “She acts like she’s been to a million shows already. She wants to please. That’s what I look for in a horse.” With multiple young horses in the pipeline, Markway has started to fine-tune her focus.

“Right now, I have too many horses,” she laughs, “But that’s part of the process. I believe the right situation always comes along for every horse. My goal is to keep a few in training, show what I can, and build a program with strong mares at the foundation.”

Horses, Work, and Life

Balancing a string of show horses and a growing breeding program is impressive on its own—but Markway does it all while holding down a demanding full-time job as Emergency Room Enhancement Supervisor for Missouri’s Western Region.

Her role includes managing a 12-person team and helping implement statewide strategies to reduce ER overuse and connect individuals to long-term support services. It’s meaningful, intense work—but her passion for horses keeps her grounded.

“Horses are my escape,” she says. “They’re how I recharge and find peace after a long week.”

Thanks to remote work flexibility, Markway has even been able to join her horses at shows and work from her car between rides. “I can drive to Jamie and Mark’s place in under two hours, work remotely, and be there for the horses. It’s hectic, but it works.”

And while she’s always been fiercely independent, Markway is quick to credit her husband for his support—especially as the horses start bringing home checks.

“Montana won over $6,000 at Back to Berrien,” she says with a smile. “My husband finally said, ‘Okay, I guess horses really do win money!’ He’s very competitive, so he loves seeing us do well.”

A Horse to Believe In

As for Montana, she’s everything Markway didn’t know she was looking for: talented, willing, eye-catching, and sweet.

The plan is to show her at NSBA World and Congress this fall, and then possibly bring her home for the winter to begin showmanship training—paving the way for a future in the all-around.

“She’s already so good at what she does,” Markway says. “I just want to keep her that way, and then slowly add things like western riding, horsemanship, and showmanship over time. She’s got the kind of talent you can build on.”

More than just a show horse, Montana represents a new chapter for Markway— one defined by intentional choices, deep partnerships, and a commitment to keeping the industry moving in the right direction.

“I want people to understand what they should be looking for in these horses,” she says. “There’s a stigma around certain classes, but if we focus on quality movement, forward motion, and good horsemanship, we can shift that. I’m excited to be part of that shift.”

With a strong eye, a deep work ethic, and a sense of purpose rooted in decades of experience, Lana Markway is proving that doing it all—and doing it well—is not only possible, but powerful. And with Good Miss Breeze leading the way, the future looks just as promising as the partnership that brought them together.

Article Written by: Elizabeth Arnold