At the end of June, 16 year-old Mackenzie Preston of Kent, Washington is ready to bring a different kind of heat to Texas. Preston is headed to the AjPHA World Show in Fort Worth, Texas with two outstanding horses. Preston will be showing longtime family horse and multiple APHA World Champion, Brokers Lucky Kid in the 14-18 All-Around events. She will also show her new horse, Karl With A K in the reining events.
“My favorite thing about showing horses is getting to be with people who share a common love and interest as me,” says Mackenzie.
Showing horses has also shaped her future career aspirations. “I’ve thought about being an equine chiropractor and masseuse or being a large animal vet. I also have a goal of getting a scholarship to either TCU, Baylor, or UGA for reining and horsemanship.”
Mackenzie’s mother, Michelle, says that she is very proud of her daughter. “I love going to shows and watching her compete and develop her riding skills, seeing her work hard, visi
t with horse show friends and genuinely love the gift of horses, all while maintaining good grades. It makes for proud parents.”
The Preston family has owned and loved “Denver” for 11 years and Mackenzie has been showing since she was five. The 16 year-old Kentwood High School sophomore is following in her big sister Breann’s footsteps showing Denver in the all around events under the guidance of Larson Performance Horses. “Denver is a people pleaser,” Mackenzie told us. “He is egotistical, comical, charming, outgoing, opinionated, and you can’t help but smile every time you’re around him. He has a forever home with our family.”
Mackenzie says that her favorite class is Western Riding, which is not surprising since one of her favorite horse show memories is being AjPHA World Champions in 2013 and 2014 in the Western Riding with Denver. “I love to change leads on Denver. It is the greatest feeling in the world.” The duo also won the 13/under Trail and Western Pleasure in 2013 and were Reserve All-Around Youth 13/under in 2013 and Reserve High-Point Western Youth in 2012.
“One of my favorite memories would be when I won the 13 and Under Western Pleasure at the APHA World Show and my sister was the one to hand me my buckle and trophy and also put the neck ribbon around Denver,” Mackenzie remembers.
In December of 2014, the Preston’s purchased Karl With A K for Mackenzie to compete in the APHA and NRHA reining events. The team is under the guidance of Hutchings Performance Horses. “Karl is completely deaf. He’s tactile, easily visually stimulated, not very opinionated, easy going, likes to play in his food and is very affectionate. One of my goals with Karl this year is to qualify for the affiliate championship show in Oklahoma City. I have been showing in the reining for about two years, and my favorite part about doing reining is being able to go fast but still being in control.”
Mackenzie would like to thank her parents Mike and Michelle Preston for their continuous support, and her sister, Breann for letting her show Denver and follow in her footsteps. Preston would also like to thank her trainers, Kip Larson and Michael Davis; and Cory and Nicole Hutchings for all of their great guidance and help.
CLICK HERE to view Mackenzie’s cover on the June Issue of GoMag
CLICK HERE to view Mackenzie’s ads in the June Issue of GoMag
