Charlo’s Knight wins state pole bending
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Charlo freshman Abby Knight is wasting no time making a name for herself in the state rodeo community. Knight won both the championship go-round and the year-end title in pole bending, and also was fourth in the all-around standings at the Montana High School Rodeo Finals in Bozeman in June. At 15-years-old, some may deem her a “rookie”, but her skill is evident as she maneuvers her horse, Lanky, through a tight set of poles at her Charlo ranch, where she practices daily. According to Knight, she has been riding consistently since she was three-years-old.
Since winning the state competition, Knight became eligible to compete in the national rodeo, July 17-23 in Gillette, Wyo.
“When it (winning state) first happened, it overwhelmed me,” Knight said. “As time has passed it’s been pretty amazing. The last time a freshman won state was awhile ago.”
According to Knight, she’s not slowing down her rigorous pace anytime soon. She admits to having several personal goals as high school competitor. Along with pole bending, Knight also competes in barrel racing, goat tying, and breakaway roping… all events she feels she can improve upon for next season.
“I’m definitely going to continue riding,” Knight said. “I want to concentrate on bettering myself at other events, since I was third in average in breakaway this year.”
Knight’s mom, Rocky, says she couldn’t be more thrilled that her children share her same passion for horse riding. Her older daughter Naomi has also brought home hardware from state rodeos in the past, winning the 2007 silver state, and the state pole bending in 2008.
“I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t ride,” Rocky said, as a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m so happy to see my girls do well, it makes me ecstatic… I’m so proud.”
According to Rocky, her daughter has been riding horses even before she was born, and even saddled up with her mother the day she was brought from the hospital at just one week old.
“I competed (in rodeos) until I was seven months pregnant,” Rocky said. “ I rode until I couldn’t fit into my saddle anymore.”
When the family arrived in Arlee, Rocky was aware of a team pinning event in town, and took Abby by to show her to a friend, eventually leading to Abby’s first ride as a child.
Along with competition in rodeos, Knight is also an avid basketball and volleyball athlete at Charlo High School.
