Born to Run: Abby Knight downs professional competition at Barrel of Gold
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Charlo cowgirl Abby Knight just keeps winning. At only 16 years old, the Charlo High School junior has already made herself known in the rodeo community. In July, Knight won both the championship go-round and the year-end title in pole bending and also fourth in the all-around standings at the Montana High School Rodeo Finals. With Knight surpassing her competition everywhere she goes, her mother Rocky decided to see how her daughter matched up with the professionals at a non-high school rodeo.
“We started running her to get exposure,” Rocky said. “And she got better and better. We thought we’d try something different and it worked out really well.”
Abby did more than “well” — she blew the professionals she competed against out of the water. During the three-day event, Abby won both rounds and the average at the Barrel of Gold Futurity Derby in Great Falls Oct 7-9.
During the first go Oct. 7, Abby took first place with a time of 17.78 and clocked a time of 15.97 during the second go on Saturday.
“I feel pretty amazing,” Abby said. “I went in pretty confident, but the big arena was intimidating. I was afraid my horse would get winded.”
Not only did her horse “Mables Little Rocket,” or as the family knows her, Katie, not get winded, the horse soared above the competition, finishing more than a second ahead of the nearest contestant in her average of 31.7 seconds.
“I had older ladies coming up to me asking how old I am,” Abby said with a smile. “I was kind of the outcast; I didn’t know anyone.”
With three years left of high school, Knight’s running out of new goals, as she exceeds expectations every time she saddles up. For now, Abby plans on taking a short break of a couple weeks before getting out and working on her horses for next season. Her family is also debating on entering Abby in a large rodeo in Washington scheduled for a few months away.
“My goal is to keep competing on (Mables Little Rocket),” Abby said. “She’s an amazing pole horse. I want to keep winning and get better in other events.”
“I’m amazed and extremely proud of her,” Rocky said.
