Macie Graves and Hickorys Hot Native win the L2 and L3 Barrel Racing World Championships at the 2024 AQHYA World Show.
Growing up watching her dad win the esteemed Gold Globe American Quarter Horse World Championship trophies, Macie Graves knew she wanted to win one too. 2024 was her last year to qualify for the AQHYA World Show, held at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma August 2-11, 2024.
“I have always loved going to the AQHYA and AQHA World Championship Shows so I was so excited when I got to come back and compete this year,” Graves said.
From Hartshorne, Oklahoma, Graves and 2013 gelding Hickorys Hot Native (Reds Western Native x Hickory Nut Bar x Hey Daddy Oh) won the Level 2 championship with a time of 16.890 and qualified for the Level 3 finals. Graves knew “Dude” could be faster in their next run.
“In the Level 3 World Championship finals Dude really stepped up and we ran a 16.668,” Graves said. “Dropping two tenths between runs was really impressive and I was so proud of him. I was a lot more nervous for the L3 World Championship finals because I knew that it was all or nothing. I also knew that Dude was talented enough to run with the other horses there and that all I needed to do was trust him.”
The Graves ranch bought Dude about two years ago. Broke but never trained to run barrels, they didn’t know what to expect.
“When you have a horse come in that is already 9 years old and doesn’t have any experience as a barrel horse you never know what is going to happen,” Graves said. “My father, Lance Graves, began training Dude and he picked it up almost immediately. He is an extremely intelligent horse and has a huge work ethic and an even bigger heart. Within a year my father started hauling him to some local shows to get him some of the experience he was lacking.”
After being asked to exercise Dude at home, Graves eventually asked her dad if she could run him at a barrel race.
“Dude has an extremely smooth turn and is very light on his feet despite being a large horse,” Graves explained. “He is always happy to do whatever you ask of him and I’ve never been on a more honest horse. It takes a special kind of horse to accomplish what he has with his experience level. He is an absolute sweetheart, and he makes my whole world brighter. We clicked really quickly, and he is so much fun to ride.”
Now that Graves and Dude have a world championship under their belt, they are pursuing the rodeo road. Currently a freshman at Oklahoma State University majoring in Biology, Pre-Medical, Graves competes in barrel racing for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Central Plains Region as a member of the OSU rodeo team. Her goal is to go to the College National Finals and run at WPRA Prairie Circuit rodeos next summer.
“I am so thankful and so blessed to be able to ride the caliber of horse that it takes to win a world championship,” Graves said. “I would like to thank the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Youth Association and the youth director Laura Muller for all of her guidance and hard work. I would also like to thank the AQHYA World Show Committee and grounds crew for the superb ground conditions at this year’s show. Finally, I would like to extend the biggest thank you to my father and family. Without their support, love, and guidance I would not have been able to accomplish any of this.”
