Mowry Wins First WPRA World Championship Barrel Racing World Title Aboard Force The Goodbye

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – The entire 2024 season in the barrel racing came down to the final round at the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas, Nevada.

            Mowry finished second in the round in a time of 13.59 seconds but that finish propelled the Dublin, Texas, cowgirl to her first WPRA World Championship Barrel Racing World Title with $457,809.

“Unbelievable and emotional,” said Mowry on how it felt to be the 2024 WPRA World Champion. “It was a really tough year for me. It was tough to leave my driveway in June. I almost didn’t. It was so hard to get through and so many times I wanted to go home but so many people helped me and supported me through this. It was so worth it. I am so proud, and I know Mike (the late Michael Boone her fiancé) would be so proud.”

            Mowry and Jarvis, who was voted Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA, placed in eight out of 10 rounds placing second or better in those rounds. She also turned in the fastest time of this year’s NFR with a 13.19 in the seventh round.

            “He is just a dream horse and there is not enough words to describe him,” said Mowry. “He is just amazing.”

            Mowry also won the Ram Top Gun award, winning more money than any of the other 120 contestants competing and finished with $295,526.

            “This is all so overwhelming, and I am just beside myself,” Mowry said. “I just came in here with the goal to do the best we could and showcase this horse. I feel like he won over the hearts of everyone and that makes me feel so good.”

            Hailey Kinsel made a horse change for round 10 after DM Sissy Hayday “Sister” was not feeling her best. She jumped on JLo, which was last ridden at the NFR by Ivy Conrado Saebens. She finished with a 13.97 second run, out of the money, and was fifth in the average to finish as reserve world champion with $430,353.

Andrea Busby at her first Wrangler NFR was the only barrel racer to make 10 clean runs and in so doing set a new average record with a total time of 136.18 seconds. She brought Jets Top Gun “Benny” down the alley all 10 rounds to capture this title.

            “This is more than I ever dreamed could happen,” stated Busby after winning the average title. “What a great horse he is. He is just so honest, and I hope he loves me as much as I love him. I wanted this for him more than for myself.”

            Tiany Schuster captured her second Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award presented by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. She previously won the award in 2020. Schuster received a cash bonus of $5,000 and specially designed scarf slide handcrafted by Holly Spagnola Designs.

Average results: 1. Andrea Busby, 136.18 on 10, $86,391; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 142.73, $70,091; 3. LaTricia Duke, 143.84, $55,421; 4. Kassie Mowry, 144.12, $40,751; 5. Hailey Kinsel, 145.70, $29,340; 6. Emily Beisel, 146.65, $21,190; 7. Tiany Schuster, 146.97, $14,670; 8. Halyn Lide, 148.17, $8,150.

Rd 10 results: 1. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.51 seconds, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.59, $26,624; 3. (tie) Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.61, $17,115 each; 5. Halyn Lide, China Spring, TX, 13.66, $8,693; 6. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.78, $5,433.

Rd. 9 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48, $33,687; 2. (tie) Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK and Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.56, $23,364 each; 4. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.58, $14,127; 5. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.63, $8,693; 6. (tie) Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 2,717.

Rd 8 results: 1. (tie) Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.45 seconds, $30,155 each; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.47, $20,104; 4. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK, 13.51, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.59, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.61, $5,433.

Rd. 7 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.19 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.47, $26,624; 3. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.48, $20,104; 4. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.60, $1,127; 5. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK, 13.61, $8,693; 6. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.63, $5,433.

Rd 6 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.25, $33,687; 2. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.49, $26,624; 3. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.54, $20,104; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.72, $14,127; 5. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.73, $8,693; 6. LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX, 13.79, $5,433.

Rd 5 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 13.53, $20,104; 4. (tie) Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, and Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.57, $11,410 each; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 13.59, $5,433.

Rd 4 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.59, $26,624; 3. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.61, $20,104; 4. Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX, 13.68, $14,127; 5. Halyn Lide, China Spring, TX, 13.72, $8,693; 6. (tie) LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.75, $2,717 each.

Rd 3 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.58, $26,624; 3. (tie) Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX and Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.65 $17,115 each; 5. LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, TX, 13.67, $8,693; 6. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook OK, 13.84, $5,433.

Rd. 2 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.48 seconds, $33,687; 2. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Tiany Schuster, Krum, TX, 13.53, $20,104; 4. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.62, $14,127; 5. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, 13.65, $8,693; 6. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.66, $5,433.

Rd 1 results: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 13.38 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 13.55, $26,624; 3. Abby Phillips, Marshall, TX, 13.63, $20, 104; 4. Andrea Busby, Millsap, TX, $14,127; 5. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, TX, 13.75 $8,693; 6. (tie) Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK and Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 13.84, $2,7167 each.