Great Falls a second home for barrel racer Abby Knight, who’s chasing Montana title at Big Sky
When Abby Knight graduated from the University of Providence with a degree in biology, she figured it that would be her last time in Great Falls.
Knight was wrong.
“Seems like I am there every weekend,” said the Charlo barrel racer with a good laugh.
Knight finds herself in the Electric City for a variety of reasons … fuel, food and rodeos.
In January at the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls, Knight placed in all three rounds and second in the average.
She returned Thursday for the Big Sky Pro Rodeo at the Montana Expo Grandstands, chasing the year-end title for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit.
“I would like to win the circuit and qualify for the NFR Open,” Knight said.
The NFR Open, held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has replaced the National Circuit Finals Rodeo. The inaugural NFR Open was held this July. The year-end and Finals circuit champions qualify.
The Big Sky Pro Rodeo continues through Saturday.
Knight will be accompanied by her dog Oakley, a border collie/Aussie mix.
“Oakley loves road trips,” she said of her travel companion. “Because she knows all the people will play ball with her.”
Knight won $1,543 at Helena, Libby and Lewistown last weekend to take over the MPRC standings lead.
“I think you can describe it as ups and downs,” she said of her 2022 season. “I won Big Fork and had a good Fourth of July. It’s the little things that take you out of the money, you miss out with one little bobble.”
Knight earned almost a third of her money with the win at Big Fork. She also placed second at Roundup and earned a nice check at Livingston against a world-class field.
Knight plans to ride her primary horse Pistol, a nine-year-old black gelding. It is the first horse she has raised and trained herself.
Last year, Kruse rode Pistol at the Calgary Stampede and finished third. “His performance at Calgary gave me the confidence as a trainer,” said Knight.
“He just came on so solid. He matured enough that no matter where he was, he was going to win.”
Knight tied for 12th last year at the Big Sky Pro Rodeo.
Knight also travels with Cash, a nine-year-old back horse and half-sibling to Pistol. Cash made her debut at the rain-soaked arenas in Roundup and Drummond.
“I’ve also had her since she was born and raised on the ranch,” Knight said. “It depends on the grounds who I run. Most horses don’t like water to splash up on their stomachs.
‘The big thing with splash is she lets me drive and pick the speeds. Pistol only knows one speed.”
Knight is also running Katie, her 17-year-old horse she used in high school and college. Katie is also a half-sibling to Pistol.
“It’s a whole family affair,” said Knight. “Katie told me she wanted to run again. With the amount of runs this summer, I know what each horse likes and I know where each horse will work well. This year, I am focusing on being smart how I rodeo.”
When not barrel racing, Knight is putting her degree from Providence to good use. She works in an agricultural lab in Ronan, studying the genetic lines of mint and potatoes. The mint is used for Wrigley chewing gum.
“It’s really interesting,” Knight said of sitting at a microscope, wearing a sterile hood. “I’ve always been a science nerd and fascinated with horse stuff.”
She works primarily between September through May at the lab.
“It’s a rodeo person’s dream job,” said Knight.
Which gives her plenty of time to balance her MPRC and Northern Women’s Rodeo Association schedule. Last October, Knight won all three rounds and the average at the NWRA Finals in Kalispell to win her first year-end championship.
And with rodeos dominating her schedule, other important things get pushed to the wayside.
“It’s busy,” she said of her calendar. “I was trying to schedule a dentist appointment. I told them make it Mondays, maybe Tuesdays. October is the closest they could do. And my mom works in that office, she couldn’t help me get in earlier.”
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Great Falls a second home for barrel racer Abby Knight
