McKenzie Mullins is poised to become the youngest person ever inducted into the National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame. As of August 18,  15-year-old McKenzie was just $39 short of the prerequisite $150,000 in weekend show Non-Pro earnings that will qualify her for the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame. Jodie Boone, who became a Non-Pro Hall of Fame member when she was 18, currently holds the record as the youngest inductee.

McKenzie, a home-schooled student from Gordon, Texas, and stepdaughter of trainer Robert Rust, began her rise in the non-pro ranks when she became Reserve Non-Pro World Champion in 2003. That was the same year that she rode 2002 Open Reserve World Champion Rosies Lena (who earned his title under Robert Rust) to win the third round in the NCHA Open World Finals.

This summer, McKenzie has ventured into limited age event competition for the first time. Riding Belles N Bullets at Fort Worth, in July, she placed seventh in the NCHA Summer Spectacular Non-Pro Classic Challenge and tied for eighth in the Limited Non-Pro Classic Challenge, earning $21,635 in five days.

“I love it so far,” said McKenzie of limited age event competition. “It’s a little different because there’s a lot more money put up and I put in a lot more money, so there’s more pressure. But I just try to relax and do my best.”

Here’s a radio story by Bob Edwards about McKenzie from 2003 when she competed in the NCHA Open World Finals.