MONTANA CIRCUIT: BARRELS
BIG GOALS Knight Clinches Year-End and Average Titles in Montana Circuit By Joe Kusek O akley was not happy. The faithful companion of Abigail Knight is not accustomed to being left at home. Almost every weekend last summer, the barrel racer and her five-year old border collie/Australian mix would travel to rodeos across Montana. Knight would drive, sip her must-have coffee and talk while Oakley listened.
In mid-August, the two had a season-defining trip, covering 1,500 miles with Knight competing in four rodeos across three days. Knight earned checks in all four, returning home with more than $6,500. But Oakley didn’t make the most recent trip to the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls, Jan. 12-14, due to the fact Knight was staying in a hotel and felt Oakley would be more comfortable staying at home. “Oakley was not too happy about it. There was definitely a little resentment when I got home,” said Knight with a laugh. “We made up for it. There were a lot of snuggles and cookies. We’re OK now.” There was plenty to celebrate. Knight finished off a spectacular 2022 season, winning the first two rounds at the MPRF and placing fourth in the third to easily win the average by more than a half-second at Four Seasons Arena. She finished with a total time of 38.95 seconds. Cierra Erickson of Helena was second in 39.52. The cowgirl from Charlo swept the year-end and Finals titles to qualify for the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this July. Knight earned $9,150 and finished with $30,682 in the year-end standings, the second-most by any competitor, female or male. Brittany Sporer (formerly Barnett) was second in the year-end
standings with $17,371 to earn the other spot at the NFR Open. “I set certain goals for myself every year,” said Knight, who works in an agricultural lab studying the genetic lines of mint and potatoes. She graduated from the University of Providence in 2018 with a degree in biology. “This year, I want to finish higher up in the standings, I wanted to be in the top five. “When I was there at the top of the standings during the season, it was, OK, I want to hold this No. 1 spot.” Riding Pistol, her 10-year-old black gelding, Knight won the first round in 13.02 seconds. She followed with a 12.91 to win the second round. Ashley Day of Volborg won the third round in 12.81 seconds, the fastest of the MPRF. “Going in, I knew I had a little bit of padding,” Knight said of her $5,380 lead over Sporer. “So I did what I could do. “The first round was nerve-wracking. I was the first one out and thinking, ‘Was that a good time?’ By the second night, Pistol was dialed in.” Knight re-calibrated her goals after clinching the year-end after the second run. “We got the year-end down, let’s go win the average title,” she said. “I just had to do the same things I did the first two rounds, not safety up. “I guess I was at a loss for words after winning.” Pistol, registered as Mables Draws A Pistol, is off the family ranch. The sire is Instant Income and the dam is Tinka Rocket Command, a team roping horse owned by Knight’s father. “Pistol doesn’t make any wasted moves,” said Knight. “He’s trained off pressure cues. He lets me put him where I need to be. “I go outside and look at him standing in the pasture … what a spectacular athlete.” Abgail Knight swept the year-end and average title in the Montana Circuit to earn her ticket to the NFR Open in July. She finished with $30,682 on the year, the second most by any competitor in the circuit, female or male. Photo by Jackie Jensen
Abgail Knight won the average title in the Montana Circuit with a total time of 38.95 seconds aboard her 10-year old black gelding she calls Pistol. Photo by Jackie Jensen
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66 WOMEN’S PRO RODEO NEWS MARCH 2023
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