You might know Josey Murphy from the breakaway roping headlines, where the Louisiana cowgirl has built her career, but now she’s seated No 1 in the Southeastern Circuit on the barrel racing side.

But this winter, Murphy has been winning in ProRodeo barrel racing aboard TechnicolourMagic “Mikey,” a palomino gelding trained by her late mother, Julie Murphy.

In just two months and change, Murphy earned more than $13,000 in the Southeastern Circuit with Mikey, including a win in Jackson, Mississippi, and checks in West Monroe and Lafayette, Louisiana, and Homestead, Florida. The large, palomino gelding is by Technicolours and out of Magic Kelly by Second Down Kelly.

Murphy grew up in a program built around training barrel horses. Her mother, Julie, made a living developing colts and hauling them across the country, often taking loads of young horses from Louisiana to Montana while balancing client horses and competition.

“She loved it,” Murphy said. “She would take eight colts anywhere by herself, saddle them, unsaddle them, feed them. She lived for that.” 

Julie trained Mikey for owners Jim Blaine and Beth and Jade Kenney and believed in the gelding early.

“She always said if he could ever get his act together, he’d probably be the best one,” Murphy said. 

Mikey helped Julie fulfill a long awaited rodeo goal in 2025, qualifying for the Southeastern Circuit Finals, where she was poised to compete alongside Josey in the breakaway, and Josey’s older brother, NFR tie-down roper Macon Murphy in his event. But that wasn’t what played out. In early November, just weeks before the SECF, Murphy was competing at the WPRA Finals in Waco when her father called.

Read: Macon Murphy Sweeps Southeastern Circuit Titles, on CalfRoping.com

“I asked him how my mom’s doctor’s appointment went, and he said, ‘Her cancer’s back,’” Murphy said. 

From that day to Nov. 29, when Julie Murphy passed away, was 22 days.

“There was no time to process anything,” Murphy said. 

Josey took over riding Mikey following her mother’s passing, with the support of the Kenneys, who gave her the option to keep him in the barn.

“They told me if I wanted to run him I could,” Murphy said. “If I didn’t, they were going to sell him. I didn’t want to do that, so I figured I’d just start circuit rodeoing and see where it went.” 

The transition came with a learning curve.

Murphy had only run the gelding a handful of times prior to this winter and is still learning how to keep him working through a pattern.

“We’re still figuring each other out,” she said. “He’s just different. He’s really watchy, he’s got a big personality, and if you don’t keep him freed up, he’ll want to get tight on you.” 

That adjustment has included changes in approach and equipment, with Murphy riding him more forward than her mother had.

“I told my mom before, I said, ‘You’ve got to get after him a little bit when he tries to cheat you,’” Murphy said. “That’s the only way he’s going to learn. So I’ve just tried to keep him moving forward and not let him get snug.” 

When it comes together, the ability shows up quickly.

“He’s huge. His stride is probably double most horses’ strides,” Murphy said. “And he can turn like a small horse. He’s just really fast.” 

Josey’s background in the barrel pen has made the transition more natural than it may appear from the outside.

“Barrels was my thing first before roping when I was really young,” she said. “I just never had anything that was ready to go compete on because my mom always had young ones.” 

At the same time, the program her mother built is still operating. Not only was Murphy a winning barrel racer herself, she’s trained top ProRodeo and horses in barrel racing at all levels, including Dusky Lynn Hall’s JH Firewater Honor.

Murphy continues to ride and rope while helping keep JM Performance Horses moving forward alongside Sylvia Vidrine, who worked under Julie prior to her passing and now rides the majority of the client horses.

“My dad didn’t want her to leave,” Murphy said. “He wanted her to keep training, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re keeping JM Performance Horses alive and running.” 

Vidrine handles the day-to-day riding of the colts, while Murphy balances competing and contributing when she is home.

“She’s young, but she’s hungry and she’s smart,” Murphy said. “She’s going to be one you’re writing articles about in a couple years.” 

Murphy’s schedule still includes roping, but her focus with Mikey has required a more measured approach.

“I’m not going to be that person that runs them over and over and still expects them to win for me,” she said. “I want him to feel good.” 

The results have come quickly, but Murphy has resisted placing expectations on what comes next.

“I can’t tell you exactly how it’s going to go down,” she said. “It’s so early. I just want to keep it where it’s fun and not put pressure on it.” 

Still, the connection between horse and rider carries something beyond results.

“That horse reminds me of her all the time,” Murphy said. “He’s funny, quirky, and just has a big personality. That was her.” 

And for Murphy, that is enough to keep going.

Josey Murphy Archives from our friends at The Breakaway Roping Journal

• Josey Murphy Wins Salinas, Continues Long Score Mojo
• Youngsters Prevail at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

2026 WPRA ProRodeo Southeastern Circuit Standings

Updated March 24, 2026