“It was really fun, because I had an opportunity to beat myself. One is an older horse. The first horse I rode is 22, and the second horse is 11 years old.”

Rhett was bred by Susan Clune, who was Mackenzie’s former trainer and who passed away a few years ago. Several of Susan’s fellow trainers in the arena thought they could feel her presence as her former student and homebred horse won their first World title as a team.

“She’s so talented and pretty to watch. I just have to sit there and put her in the right spots. She floats over the poles and is super smooth. She’s such a good loper and I think that really helps.”

“I never thought this moment was going to happen,” she says. “I’ve been watching people win World Championships every year I come here and… for me, it was almost like a wish. It happened. Oh my goodness. I can’t believe it happened.”