McKenzie Merrill of Dallas, Texas has been involved with horses ever since she was born. Her parents, Frank and Robin Merrill, are considered the closest to royalty as any family involved in the industry. Her father, Frank, is a recent past president of The American Quarter Horse Association, and she grew up showing on the AQHA, NRHA, and NCHA show circuits.
“I grew up on a ranch and I can almost say that I learned how to ride before I learned how to walk,” Merrill tells GoHorseShow. “My family has always been heavily involved in the horse business so it was easy to fall in love with horses. Growing up, there was no where I’d rather be than on the back of a horse.”
A native of Purcell, Oklahoma, some of her first horse trainers were Brian and Alice Holmes, Scott McCutcheon, and Dell Bell. Now, she trains with Matt Miller in the cutting and Todd Crawford in the cowhorse. Her younger sister, Megan who also showed on the AQHA circuit while growing up, is married to cutting trainer Matt Miller and has a young daughter, Emery Kai that is a little over a year-old. There is no doubt that McKenzie loves being an aunt!
“I had no idea how much joy my niece would bring to my life. I’m so close with my sister as well as my brother, so when I go out to Megan and Matt’s ranch, we all have a ball together,” Merrill explains. “My brother, Tyler, works for my brother-in-law and his wife, Katy, is an aspiring country singer, and they both live on the ranch as well. My niece, Emery, has added so much fun to this family it’s unexplainable. I love that little girl and look forward to being a part of all her upcoming milestones.”
As far as on the show circuit, Merrill is still constantly seen in the winner’s circle. Just a few days ago, Merrill and her horse, Ill Be Skeets (Tweeter), was the 2011 Non Pro Hackamore Champion at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. While Merrill enjoyed showing her horse, she plans to sell him in the Snaffle Bit Futurity Performance Sale in order to buy another Snaffle Bit Futurity prospect for 2012. Two years ago, the duo also won the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Non Pro Championship and Non Pro Reserve Championship in Reno, Nevada. According to Merrill, the five year-old cow horse has NRCHA lifetime earnings exceeding $50,000. (Photo © Primo)
“Well it was a special win because it was my last ride with him since he is in the sale on Saturday at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. My win was bittersweet,” McKenzie says. “I could not have asked for a better run down the fence. I still can’t believe everything fell into place like that. Tweeter and I just get along so well and have always made a good team and Todd Crawford has helped so much with my success with him. He is truly a wonderful coach and mentor. I love the whole Crawford team, they are like family.”
Merrill won her first AQHYA World Championship in 1990 in the cutting on Royal Santana, and her second in 1995 in the cutting on Anna Paulena and that same year was Reserve World Champion in the Reining on Seven S Catalpa. McKenzie said her favorite memories are her youth days showing at the AQHYA Youth World and Congress.
“I have made some of my best friendships in the horse industry,” McKenzie says when talking about showing when she was a youth. “Also, the joy of competition, the traveling, and the common love for the horse is something I really enjoy about showing horses.” (Photo © Don Trout)
Merrill goes on to say, “I continue to show at the AQHA World Show and some of the big circuits. I definitely want to be more involved like I have been in the past. I love and believe in the association. I have made so many life friends in this association, I don’t think I could ever not be involved in some way.”
A few fun facts about McKenzie’s family is that her mother’s father (her grandfather) is Doc Severinsen, the famous musician from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. McKenzie adds, “I wish I had some of his musical talent. I’m afraid I just have an insane love for music.”
Not to be outdone, Merrill’s great grandmother, Dorothy Gerber, started Gerber Baby Foods. She was Frank’s grandmother, and no, her dad is not the Gerber baby! It appears to be some rumor that has been passed along at the horse shows throughout the years.
“They had a contest–years and years ago when they first started and a lady sent in a pencil sketch of an infant and she won,” McKenzie clarifies. “My parents still have the original. It’s a torn piece of paper with a rough sketch of the Gerber baby.”
Besides her horse activities, Merrill also models as well as owns and runs her own an airbrush tanning business in Dallas. McKenzie has modeled on and off since high school. Merrill lived in Los Angeles for three years to model and give the acting a try, but she missed being able to show, so, she moved to Dallas and continues to model for Wrangler and also for events around Dallas.
“I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and have always known that I would be in business for myself which gives me the freedom to sneak away for my horse shows and my love for travel,” McKenzie says. “Owning an airbrush tanning business has been a lot of fun. I’m lucky to have wonderful clients and I work with a great salon in Dallas with fantastic people. Most of which are my best friends. One day I would really like to expand and have a couple air brush tanning boutiques.”
As far as marriage and a family, McKenzie says that she would love to settle down at some point in her life when she meets the right person, but she says, she’s “picky” and hasn’t found “the one” yet. We wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.
