AQHA Awards Top Horse Honors at NHSFR

The high school rodeo scene is packed with America’s Original Horsepower and the contestants at the 2024 National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, brought the action on their American Quarter Horses. Top high school rodeo athletes from across the nation competed at the highest level and, along with their equine athletes, earned top accolades for their hard work. This year, AQHA awarded 12 top-horse awards to 10 exceptional equine athletes.

Boys Horse of the Year and Boys Cutting

Cutting horses are a symbol of tradition, exhibiting the qualities working cowboys needed in their horses to perform everyday tasks on a working cattle ranch. Pepto Two A Tee, ridden by Gabe Glines, carries those traditional bloodlines. Pepto Two A Tee, aka “Cali,” is a 2008 mare by $6 million sire Sweet Lil Pepto and out of Billie Two A Tee by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallion Freckles Playboy. The mare also traces to key players in the performance horse industry, including $28 million sire Peptoboonsmal and American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallion Smart Little Lena. 

                                                                           Gabe Glines and  Pepto Two A Tee. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography.

Pepto Two A Tee was bred by John Harrah and is owned by Chris and Nicole Glines.

Girls Horse of the Year and Pole Bending

It is no easy feat to win first or second in all three go rounds at the National High School Finals Rodeo, but Lil Joe Whiz, ridden by Zoey Wagoner, did just that. Lil Joe Whiz, aka “Lil Joe,” is a 2008 stallion by Gee Whiz It Shines and out of Pocket Fulla Tricks by Scooters Pace. This year’s AQHA NHSFR Girl’s Horse of the Year has several standout names on his pedigree, including American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallion Top Sail Whiz and 2024 American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee Shining Spark.

                                                                             Zoey Wagoner and Lil Joe Whiz. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Lil Joe Whiz was bred by Darrel and Bridget Gustafson and is owned by Andrew and Annalisa Wagoner. 

Barrel Racing

Some horses were simply bred to run and Slingshot Lane, ridden by Morgan Beckstrom, is no exception. Slingshot Lane, aka “Slingshot,” is a 2013 mare by Top-10 leading barrel horse sire The Goodbye Lane and out of SKS Running Faucet by Diamond Faucet. Being the great-granddaughter of the all-time leading barrel horse sire Dash Ta Fame only proves further that “Slingshot” was born to be a barrel horse.

                                                                        Morgan Beckstrom and Slingshot Lane. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography.

Slingshot Lane was bred and is owned by Mark and Linda Jarvis.

Breakaway Roping

Breakaway roping is one of the fastest growing events in rodeo and CD Smokin Miss Kitty and Hadley Thompson are showing that the future is bright. CD Smokin Miss Kitty, aka “Salty,” is a 2019 mare by Tari CD Smoke and out of Krogs Panda Cat by Cant Kick This Cat. With names like $17 million sire CD Olena and all-time leading sire across all events High Brow Cat on her pedigree, “Salty” was bound to take Thompson to the pay window.

                                                                  Hadley Thompson and CD Smokin Miss Kitty. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography.

CD Smokin Miss Kitty was bred by Verla Schaer and is owned by Haiden Thompson.

Girls Cutting

Riding into a herd of cattle is the calm before the storm of keeping a steer away from the herd. At least that’s how it seems when Peaceful EZ Feelin and Makenzie Cowan ride into the pen. Peaceful EZ Feelin, aka “Lucifer,” is a 2014 mare by Lizzys Gotta Player and out of the Snorty Lena mare Snorty Girl. Lucifer is a granddaughter of American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallion Freckles Playboy, infamous for his offsprings’ performance in the cutting pen.

                                                                       Makenzie Cowan and Peaceful EZ Feelin. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Peaceful EZ Feelin was bred by Bill Masterson and is owned by the Cowan Ranch.

Goat Tying

The goat tying at the NHSFR is always fast and furious, and Gerlies Cat and Hadley Thompson held their own against the competition. Gerlies Cat, aka “Lena,” is a 2015 mare by $18 million sire WR This Cats Smart and out of Gerlies Duallin Guns by Mister Dual Pep. With a pedigree showing names such as American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallions Smart Little Lena and Peppy San Badger, “Lena” was bred to be a winner.

                                                                             Hadley Thompson and Gerlies Cat. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Gerlies Cat was bred by Dustin Ewing and is owned by Haiden Thompson.

Reined Cow Horse

Reined cow horses are known for their athleticism and cow sense and Cat Walks Into A Bar, ridden by Landri Lisac, proved that to be true during their week in Wyoming. Cat Walks Into A Bar, aka “Grasshopper,” is a 2014 gelding by $18 million and #2 leading reined cow horse sire WR This Cats Smart and out of Sue C Shiner by 2024 American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee Shining Spark. With a lineage like that, Grasshopper was born to go down the fence.

Grasshopper won the Select world championship in working cow horse at the 2018 AQHA Select World Championship Show and the AQHYA world championship in working cow horse at the 2022 AQHYA World Championship Show.

                                                                          Landri Lisac and Cat Walks Into A Bar. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Cat Walks Into A Bar was bred by Garth and Amanda Gardiner and is owned by Landri Lisac.

Steer Wrestling

Steer wrestling horses need to be one thing: fast. Onefamousfoose, who was ridden by Tad Williams, was bred to be just that. Onefamousfoose, aka “Uno,” is a 2017 gelding by $14 million sire Foose and out of Famous Dash Back by One Famous Eagle, who earned nearly $1.4 million on the track and whose progeny have earned nearly $40 million. No matter where you look on Uno’s pedigree, speed is prevalent in names such as American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallions Mr Jess Perry and Dash For Cash.

                                                                           Tad Williams and Onefamousfoose. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Onefamousfoose was bred and is owned by Tom Close.  

Tie-Down Roping

Tie-down roping is one of rodeo’s hallmark events, tracing back to the everyday tasks cowboys completed to care for their cattle. Countin On Cool, ridden by Colt Piazza, displays that tradition with ease. Countin On Cool, aka “Cinco,” is a 2016 gelding by $8.5 million sire Im Countin Checks and out of This Kats Kool by $18 million sire WR This Cats Smart.

                                                                               Colt Piazza and Countin On Cool. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Countin on Cool was bred by Donna Flanigan and is owned by Spur X Livestock.

Team Roping

A heel horse is like a football receiver – they must read the situation and react fast to be successful. Triangle Four Duke, ridden by Reese Swanson, handles that task with ease. Triangle Four Duke, aka “Pickles,” is a 2015 stallion by Dual Pep Leo and out of Little Bay Fritz by Duke Dee Fritz. On the top side, “Pickles” traces to American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame stallion Peppy San Badger.

                                                                       Reese Swanson and Triangle Four Duke. Photo credit: Jennings Rodeo Photography. 

Triangle Four Duke was bred and is owned by Mark and Tammie Swanson.