Sisters Cinch Ranch Riding in Both Divisions at 2026 AQHYA World

August 8, 2026 | Filed under: Around The Ring Galleries,Featured,Show Results & Gallery | Posted by: Delores Kuhlwein     

Our original story had started out as the following, right after the L3 Youth 14-18 Ranch Riding finals:

Gunnin For The Gold has become an appropriate name for Kyrah Bowker’s Ranch Youth Horse, a 2014 palomino gelding by Pale Face Dunnit and out of Gorgeous Like A Star (by Smart Like Juice)and bred by Greg Hill of Huron, Ohio.

Friday, August 7th at the 2026 AQHYA World Championship Show, Kyrah and “Klyde” topped a L3 Youth 14-18 Ranch Riding finals class of 20 teams with a score of 245.5. Earlier in the week, the duo made it back to the finals from a daunting prelims with 84 teams.

We talked to Kyrah after her winning ride!  Check out our Q & A with her below, and keep scrolling for video of her winning pattern, complete results, and score sheets.

Q. What did it mean to you to win Ranch Riding, L3 14-18, which started out with 84 teams?

A. So so so much. Lots of happy tears! After winning it in 2023 it has been one little thing after another keeping us from the title again. “Klyde” was so willing over the winter as I made a lot of training changes trying to help us communicate better. Obviously they paid off! Im so grateful for all the people that I’ve watched and my family that’s always helping me think of things differently and teaching us how to better.

Q. Who is your support system you want to thank?

A. My team and Klydes team. Andrew Galloway and CRS horseshoes that keep him so strong and sound! Thanks to Justin Weeler that reset my slider 2 hours before we went in! Thank you to my mom that has to balance a trainer and a mom. It’s not easy but we always work it out! My Dad thats always so invested in my success. To Klairah that has taught me so much (yall better watch out). And to ever good horseman that I have the opportunity to see and learn from. It’s amazing how much knowledge and support is in this industry when youre looking for it!

Q.  What has been your funniest or most bizarre World Show or major show experience?

A. 2019- two shows in a row, one of them being the Youth World. My girth came undone in my reining class! Same girth, back to back shows! Had to pull up in the middle of my circles cause I was going up my horses neck. We went back to the stalls and promptly bucked the girth in the trash and never looked back! I haven’t had the issue since but every time I tighten my saddle before a big run (like today) I make certain everything is good and proper!

Q. What did we miss that you’d like to include?