After a review during the Senior Youth finals cost 16-year-old McKenzie McBride the win, the Fort Lupton, Colorado, rider was out for redemption in the $15,000 Amateur.
“Going into the first go for the Amateur, my goal was to get the run done and get it done clean, which we managed to accomplish,” McBride said.
Her brother, Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Rider Kenny Platt, had been watching the cattle settle and picked out the three he wanted her to cut. McBride and Indian Clay (Hickorys Indian Pep x My Lady Juliette x Bet On Me 498) were 11th in the first set of the go-round, and their 219 was the highest of 65 entries.
“They were good cattle and we got our retribution after Saturday’s go,” she said. “I don’t get to show that often and really wanted to do well.”
Heading into the finals, McBride’s goal was again to cut clean. Her first cow, a black baldie, was in the back of the herd and the pair spent nearly their entire run working that one cow. With less than 40 seconds left, they cut their second cow and worked it right up to the buzzer.
“It was an adrenaline rush,” she said. “It wasn’t as clean as I would have liked, but he cut his heart out and it ended up working out for us.”
Their finals 220.5 landed a full point ahead of Reserve Champions Hailey Schafer and Smart Chula Dual (Chula Dual x Little Lena Merada x Smart Little Lena), who marked a 219 second. The win paid $3,427, and Schafer cashed in for $2,854.
McBride’s mother, Paula Platt, has owned the 9-year-old gelding for several years. This is his first show this season after an extended break. McBride described the horse as quirky and one that likes “his” people.
“He leaves it all out there, and that’s what we love about him,” she said. “I’m really thankful for Kenny and my parents. It takes a village to do this, and I’m thankful for everyone in it.”
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