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Makenzie Mayes launched herself to the top of the Resistol Rookie standings with a win in Nashville and momentum that’s impossible to ignore.
Mayes and her grey mare Rousey turned heads at the inaugural Music City Rodeo in Bridgestone Arena, earning $8,016 for the win and adding $4,263 from three other rodeos to bring her recent run to $12,279. That push moved her total 2025 earnings to $31,974.82, overtaking Emma Kate Parr in the Resistol Rookie Standings, who sits at $22,613.37.
“It was such a neat experience,” Mayes said of Nashville. “Getting to take your horses down Broadway was crazy! The crowd was so loud I couldn’t even hear my time, so I had no clue I had done as good as I did!”
The rookie from Scroggins, Texas, is now more than $9,000 ahead in the standings, with her summer run just getting started.
Mayes’ mare Rousey continues to shine in tight setups like Nashville, where the coliseum-style pen played to her strengths.
“She is very ‘in and out’ of her barrels,” Mayes said. “She stepped off the first a little bit but didn’t slow her feet down getting to the second. Her second and third were so fast we didn’t lose much time. She’s so quick and gritty and truly loves her job.”
That speed and efficiency paid off again and again—Mayes also picked up checks at Fort Smith, AR ($2,008), Durant, OK ($1,331) and Mt. Pleasant, TX ($611), plus a small but meaningful eighth-place finish in Crossett, AR ($313).
For Mayes, this year is about learning, growing and taking her team down the road farther than ever before.
“My plan is to just see how my horses handle everything, what pens they like or don’t like,” Mayes said. “Nashville was 8 hours and that was far for us, so going north this summer will be interesting.”
Her main goal? Stay in the top 30 and win Resistol Rookie of the Year—a target that’s getting clearer with every paycheck.
Mayes waited until 2025 to buy her card, seasoning her younger horses before stepping into the deep waters of ProRodeo.
“I filled my permit on my older horse Margaret, but we were already planning to retire her because we wanted babies out of her,” Mayes said. “All I had were young horses, so I just waited until I got them going.”
That patience is paying off in spades.
Mayes keeps it simple when it comes to Rousey’s gear. She runs her in a short shank chain port Petska to help her stay upright in the turns.
“She kind of wants to get flat, so that bit helps pick her shoulders up and bend her ribs a little more,” Mayes said. “She’s picky with bits and if she doesn’t like one she’ll let you know.”
Alongside Rousey, Mayes is taking a second mount, a little grey mare named Kita Rita, to round out her team for the summer rodeo road.
Even with the rookie lead in hand, Mayes is keeping her focus on the next run.
“It feels great, but I try not to think about that too much,” Mayes said. “No matter where I am in the standings, I still have to be the best jockey I can be for my horses every trip.”
With Rousey and Kita Rita in her trailer and the summer run ahead, Mayes is just getting started.
The post Makenzie Mayes Jumps to Resistol Rookie Lead with Nashville Win appeared first on BarrelRacing.com.
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Mayes and her grey mare Rousey turned heads at the inaugural Music City Rodeo in Bridgestone Arena, earning $8,016 for the win and adding $4,263 from three other rodeos to bring her recent run to $12,279. That push moved her total 2025 earnings to $31,974.82, overtaking Emma Kate Parr in the Resistol Rookie Standings, who sits at $22,613.37.
“It was such a neat experience,” Mayes said of Nashville. “Getting to take your horses down Broadway was crazy! The crowd was so loud I couldn’t even hear my time, so I had no clue I had done as good as I did!”
The rookie from Scroggins, Texas, is now more than $9,000 ahead in the standings, with her summer run just getting started.
The Rousey Rundown
Mayes’ mare Rousey continues to shine in tight setups like Nashville, where the coliseum-style pen played to her strengths.
“She is very ‘in and out’ of her barrels,” Mayes said. “She stepped off the first a little bit but didn’t slow her feet down getting to the second. Her second and third were so fast we didn’t lose much time. She’s so quick and gritty and truly loves her job.”
That speed and efficiency paid off again and again—Mayes also picked up checks at Fort Smith, AR ($2,008), Durant, OK ($1,331) and Mt. Pleasant, TX ($611), plus a small but meaningful eighth-place finish in Crossett, AR ($313).
Season Strategy
For Mayes, this year is about learning, growing and taking her team down the road farther than ever before.
“My plan is to just see how my horses handle everything, what pens they like or don’t like,” Mayes said. “Nashville was 8 hours and that was far for us, so going north this summer will be interesting.”
Her main goal? Stay in the top 30 and win Resistol Rookie of the Year—a target that’s getting clearer with every paycheck.
Mayes waited until 2025 to buy her card, seasoning her younger horses before stepping into the deep waters of ProRodeo.
“I filled my permit on my older horse Margaret, but we were already planning to retire her because we wanted babies out of her,” Mayes said. “All I had were young horses, so I just waited until I got them going.”
That patience is paying off in spades.
Mayes keeps it simple when it comes to Rousey’s gear. She runs her in a short shank chain port Petska to help her stay upright in the turns.
“She kind of wants to get flat, so that bit helps pick her shoulders up and bend her ribs a little more,” Mayes said. “She’s picky with bits and if she doesn’t like one she’ll let you know.”
Alongside Rousey, Mayes is taking a second mount, a little grey mare named Kita Rita, to round out her team for the summer rodeo road.
Rookie Lead, Locked and Loaded
Even with the rookie lead in hand, Mayes is keeping her focus on the next run.
“It feels great, but I try not to think about that too much,” Mayes said. “No matter where I am in the standings, I still have to be the best jockey I can be for my horses every trip.”
With Rousey and Kita Rita in her trailer and the summer run ahead, Mayes is just getting started.
The post Makenzie Mayes Jumps to Resistol Rookie Lead with Nashville Win appeared first on BarrelRacing.com.
Continue reading...