Riders Place Top 10 in Sterling
The University of Wyoming Ranch Horse Team kicked off its spring season at the NJC Showcase in Sterling, Colorado. This was their first event with new head coach Katie Cooper. The competition brought together collegiate riders from across the region, giving UW an early look and start as they adjust to new leadership.
Four UW riders took part in the showcase, and three of them finished in the top 15 in several classes. These results give a good sense of the team’s current standing as they prepare for a busy spring.
“NJC was a great show to get the semester started,” head coach Katie Cooper said. “Everyone had a successful show and is eager to keep improving.”
Senior Emma McCabe, riding Play In Color, led the team with four top-15 finishes in the Novice division. She took third in Novice Reining, UW’s best result at the showcase, and also placed 10th in Novice Pleasure, 10th in Novice Trail and 15th in Novice Working Cow Horse, finishing in the top 15 in every class she entered.
Reining and cow horse usually have some of the biggest and toughest fields at college stock horse events, so McCabe’s results show she’s off to a strong start in her division. Her top-10 finishes in pleasure and trail also show she’s performing well.
McCabe has been a steady performer for the team this past fall, and her results in Sterling make her one of UW’s top riders as they move into the rest of the spring.
Sophomore Mikayla Alexander, riding Lynx Magic Freddy, earned two of UW’s best results of the weekend with second-place finishes in both NonPro Pleasure and NonPro Trail.
The NonPro division usually includes experienced riders and horses, so Alexander’s strong finishes are important as the team looks at its depth in different divisions. Her results were also UW’s best outside the Novice category.
Alexander’s consistency in both pleasure and trail provided a solid foundation for the team’s overall performance and highlighted her potential to remain a key contributor throughout the season.
Senior Erin Smith, riding Joses In Town, finished 10th in Novice Working Cow Horse, giving UW its second top-10 result in that event. Smith also placed 13th in Novice Reining, finishing in the top half of a tough class. Smith also competed in Novice Pleasure and Trail, though the placings did not fall within the top 15.
Working cow horse is one of the most challenging events at college shows, as riders must show control, timing and precision with a live cow. Smith’s top-10 finish was another strong result for UW in this technical event.
Junior Morgan Wywialowski, riding Wyo Talkin’ Bout Bruno, earned 15th in Novice Reining, marking her highest placing of the weekend. Wywialowski also competed in working cow horse, pleasure and trail, though those placings did not fall within the top 15.
The showcase served as Wyo Talkin’ Bout Bruno’s introduction to collegiate‑level stock horse competition. The reining placing provided a promising starting point as the duo continues to gain experience in larger and more competitive classes.
“Bruno had a great first show,” Morgan Wywialowski said. “I am very proud of him and excited to see where the rest of the season goes.”
The NJC Showcase marked the team’s first competition under head coach Katie Cooper, who joined the program at the start of the semester. The event offered an early opportunity to evaluate the team’s progress, identify areas for refinement and establish a competitive baseline for the months ahead.
“I could not ask for a better group of riders,” Cooper said.
With riders placing in reining, trail, pleasure and working cow horse, the team demonstrated balanced strengths across multiple disciplines. The results also showcased the program’s depth, with riders in both the Novice and NonPro divisions earning top‑tier finishes.
The showcase was a turning point for the program as it adapts to new coaching and gets ready for a busy spring. The early results point to a strong foundation for further improvement as the season progresses.
The UW Ranch Horse Team will keep training before heading to their next competition later this spring. The results from Sterling give the team a clear starting point and show both individual and team strengths.
With multiple riders earning top‑15 placings and several securing top‑10 or top‑three finishes, the team enters the remainder of the season with momentum and progress. The spring schedule will offer additional opportunities for coach Katie Cooper to continue learning about the riders and help improve their skills.
As the season continues, the NJC Showcase is an early sign of the team’s potential, shaped by new leadership, returning experience and a growing group of developing riders.
