At just 16 years old, Macie Rae Warken bested a field of some of the top breakaway ropers in the futurity (and rodeo) industry at the 2024 ARHFA Old West Rope Horse Futurity, taking the Ladies Only 6 & Under Breakaway win aboard Gunna Mambo.
Warken—who despite her young age needs no introduction as her Coronach, Saskatchewan, family is a dominant force in the rope-horse game—and the 5-year-old mare pocketed $20,000 for the inaugural win in Wallsburg, Utah, July 25. Outside the major payday, the win is special as the ex-reiner is owned by and started in the breakaway by the Warken family.
“She’s been in our program since she was 2,” the high school senior said. “We started her on the lead steer and we just kind of worked her way up. She’s been super easy. I hope I get many more like her in my lifetime; she’s just a really nice horse and always wanting to work.”
Warken and the mare by GunnaTrashYa and out of Mambos Sparkle won the first round with a 230.83. Having some time off prior to the futurity, due to Warken competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 14-20, Gunna Mambo was feeling good.
“I’ve been up at the [NHSFR], so I haven’t really gotten to ride her,” admitted Warken, who finished sixth overall at the NHSFR. “She was a little fresh the last couple days I roped on her, but today she felt really good. She felt even better than in the practice pen. Sometimes, you’ll get on her and she’ll kind of act all fresh, and then you lope her down a little bit and she’ll kind of just mellow out. She’ll get to the spot where she’s perfect.”
Warken and Gunna Mambo came back with a 230.14 in the second round, putting them at 460.97 to enter the short round high call. Warken also came back seventh on family-owned FQH Chili Cat, a 6-year-old gelding by Secrets Smart Cat and out of HR B Acre Smoke.
“My game plan was to go in there and see flank around,” Warken explained. “Then that calf didn’t leave, so I ended up seeing him all the way out. My game plan was just like every other run: go and get my tip down, run up in the middle of them and rope them around the neck. And it worked good.”
Warken and Gunna Mambo posted their best score of the day, winning the short round with a 234.18 and clinching the overall win with a 695.15. Competing and winning against the best in the world adds to Warken’s excitement.
“It’s cool to see what I’m up against and roping against these people, and I’m just excited,” Warken said. “It’s cool. I roped against them a little bit at the Royal Crowns, like Haven (Meged), Shane (Hanchey) and Beau (Cooper) for the last couple years. They all rope so good and they train horses so good.”
2024 Old West Rope Horse Futurity 6 & Under Breakaway results
Aggregate
- Macie Rae Warken on Gunna Mambo, 695.15 on three, $20,000.
- Sarah Angelone on CR Tuff Pep, 692.93 on three, $10,650.
- Beau Peterson on Ohh Its A Boon, 691.76 on three, $8,520.
- Cheyanne McCartney on Ferrarri, 687.86 on three, $6,390.
- Beau Peterson on CR Pepto Tuff Lena, 687.71 on three, $4,260.
- Cheyanne McCartney on Time To Glo, 685.83 on three, $3,195.
- Beau Peterson on Pizzazzatively Hot, 685.41 on three, $2,485.
