Working Cow Horse

Mackenzie Grimshaw saves the best for last.

by Larri Jo Starkey
The American Quarter Horse Journal

After 14 runs, it was finally Mackenzie Grimshaw’s turn.

Mackenzie drew up last August 11 in working cow horse at the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

She didn’t have an aggressive strategy.

“I just wanted to go out and have a nice easy run,” she said. “Whenever I make it to the finals, all the pressure’s off. If I mess up, I’m top 15. I just wanted a nice clean run. My rein work was really smooth, and I was just hoping I got a good cow, and I did.”

She got a great cow, and she worked it hard, with some assistance from the enthusiastic crowd of working cow horse parents and trainers.

“When I made that first turn (on the fence), I heard everybody scream and tell me what to do,” she said with a grin. “I was so excited. Loved it.”

Mackenzie left the arena with that same big grin on her face and a shrug at her dad, trainer Jason Grimshaw, in the stands.

His last advice to Mackenzie before she entered the Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City was to have fun.

“He said, ‘Go in there, show your horse and just have fun,’ ” Mackenzie told the Journal of her first world championship. “It’s unreal. I just don’t even know how to explain it. It’s amazing. I love it. I had so much fun.”

Mackenzie’s run scored her a 434, a half-point ahead of reserve world champion Morgan Holmes on Dunbuds Comet.

Mackenzie was on a relatively new horse, Smart Bayou Chic.

“He’s really nice,” Mackenzie said. “I love him. I’ve only been showing him for almost a year now, and this is my first time going down the fence with him at the (Ford Youth) World.”

Smart Bayou Chic is a 2002 gelding by Smart Chic Olena- Docs Missy Command by Fritz Command. He was bred by Double D Ranch of Cut Off, Louisiana. He has points in heading, heeling and reining, in addition to his cow horse points, and he sired 10 foals prior to his gelding.

“He’s really easy (to ride),” Mackenzie said. “He does everything you ask him to. He’s fun to ride and doesn’t want to do anything bad.”

After celebrating the win, Mackenzie will return to Louisiana for a rest before gearing up for the National Reined Cow Horse Association Celebration of Champions in February 2013. She’ll be taking a world champion horse with her.