NFR NEWS

Mowry Jockey’s Two Horses to Two Round Wins at 2025 NFR Searching For Second World Title

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Reigning World Champion Kassie Mowry made her second victory lap during the 2025 edition of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge inside the Thomas and Mack during the sixth round on Tuesday night.

Mowry of Dublin, Texas, won opening night aboard her horse CP He Will Be Epic but took the sixth-round victory aboard a borrowed horse Heavens Got Credit “Cornbread” owned by Mindy Holloway. Due to the EHV-1 outbreak there were lots of questions swirling around what Mowry would have to ride when she arrived in Las Vegas and while she doesn’t have her star-studded horse Jarvis in Las Vegas, she appears as competitive as ever.

“That is so cool” said Mowry about winning two rounds on two different horses. “I knew I was going to have to come in here and grow as a jockey. That is not normally what I have to do as I usually come in here on things I have trained. This is really good for me, and I am happy on how I rode this horse.”

She jumped on Cornbread for the first time in competition during the fifth round of the NFR stopping the clock in 13.77 seconds, but the second run was much faster stopping the clock in 13.42 seconds to tie the fastest time recorded thus far at the 2025 NFR.

“I had a big plan until I went in the alleyway,” recalled Mowry, who continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the world with $316,352. “He took off sooner than I had hoped. It threw me forward and I got my belt buckle over the saddle horn. I was basically at his mercy for half the run which might have been the best thing to ever happen. He is really honest, he knows his job, and I need to ride him a lot more conservative than what I did yesterday. So, it made me sit there as I had no choice. I was literally hooked to my saddle.”

Mowry rode her big grey Will for the first four rounds but she is one that always puts her horse’s needs and desires first.

“I only brought two horses, and I knew Will was not going to be able to go the whole 10 rounds as he wasn’t as prepared as I like coming into this,” stated Mowry. “I could tell the last run I made on him he was tired. He was tired that day and yesterday but today he had a little more spark in his eye, so I do think he is coming around. However, I would like to stay on Cornbread a little while and get my timing with him if I can. I felt like tonight was a true indication of what he is capable of.”

She moved back into the lead in the average with a six-run time of 82.11 seconds. Katelyn Scott went back to second with an 82.32. Scott’s sister-in-law Halyn Lide, who is also having to jump ride horses similar to Mowry, finished in the reserve hole the last two nights. Lide of China Springs, Texas has found a fit with Smooth As Rico Suave “Pancakes” owned by Kappie Bryant. Tonight, they stopped the clock in a time of 13.47 seconds.

All the top 15 are not only competing for cash in the arena but a chance to be named the 2025 Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award winner presented by The Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Julie Plourde, who got the call a week before the NFR when No. 8 barrel racer Anita Ellis had to turn out due to a horse accident, came to Las Vegas with an impressive wardrobe, The French-Canadian has brought the color night in and night out. Fans can vote nightly for the best dressed at www.wpra.com. The winner will be announced prior to the start of the 10th round. The winner is determined by a combination of fan and committee votes.

Seventh round action gets underway, Wednesday, December 10 at 5:45 p.m. PT LIVE on the Cowboy Channel.

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Rd 6 results: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 13.42 seconds, $36,668; 2. Halyn Lide, China Spring, Texas, 13.47, $28,980; 3. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, Redcrest, Calif., 13.49, $21,882; 4. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 13.52, $15,377; 5. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.53, $9,463; 6. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 13.62, $5,914

Average leaders: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 82.11 seconds on six runs; 2. Katelyn Scott, Odessa, Texas, 82.32; 3. Julie Plourde, Krum, Texas, 83.98; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 84.15; 5. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 86.99; 6. Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, Texas, 87.12; 7. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 87.54; 8. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 87.61

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