Wyoming barrel racer Karson Berger proved that faith, trust, and horsemanship go a long way when she captured the Mountain States Circuit Finals average championship in Loveland, Colorado.
Her three-run total of 47.27 secondssealed the title and earned her $6,500 for the weekend—along with a qualification to the 2026 NFR Open in Colorado Springs.
The victory was more than just a milestone buckle for Berger. Just a few months before the circuit finals, Berger made the difficult decision to sell her standout mare Gucci (Judge Junomore), the horse she had trained from a 2-year-old and campaigned successfully through the ProRodeo ranks.
“It was really hard for me to sell Gucci,” Berger said. “I’d done everything on her, and I wasn’t sure what my plan was after that. But I knew she was meant to go on and do big things.”
With Gucci sold and no seasoned rodeo horse left in her string, Berger made a few phone calls—and one of them changed everything. Margaret Jones offered the use of her buckskin mare, Smooth Money Raider (“Pancake”), a gritty and consistent campaigner that has carried several riders to success.
“I’d ridden a few horses for Margaret before, and they always just fit me,” Berger explained. “Pancake and Gucci came up at the same time, so I know her well. When (Margaret) said I could run Pancake, I was so grateful. I only made a handful of runs on her before the finals, but she’s the kind that gives you confidence right away.”
That connection showed up in the arena. The pair hit their stride early, and by the time Berger rounded her first barrel at the circuit finals, Pancake felt locked in. “From that moment, I knew we were in sync,” she said. “She just gave me everything she had.”
Berger’s calm, forward riding style paired naturally with Pancake’s rate and honesty, and their consistency through all three rounds put them at the top of the average leaderboard when the dust settled. “When I realized I had won, I couldn’t believe it,” Berger said. “My dad came and found me at the stalls to tell me, and I just started crying. It felt like I finished what I started with Gucci—even though it was a different horse.”
For Berger, the win represents more than a title. It’s proof that resilience and good people around you can change the course of a season. “I’ve never bought a finished horse,” she said. “Every horse I’ve had, I’ve had to bring along. That’s how my dad raised me. We train, we learn, we figure them out. This win just means a lot for all of us.”
Next stop: Colorado Springs, where Berger will represent the Mountain States Circuit at the 2026 NFR Open. Pancake will hopefully be on the option list, but Berger is excited for some young up-and-comers in her program and what the next chapter of her career holds.
Mountain States Circuit Finals 2025 Results
Loveland, Colo., Oct. 24-25 from ProRodeo.com
First round: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.62 seconds, $2,253; 2. (tie) Andrea Busby and Laura Lambert, 15.74, $1,408 each; 4. Mackenzie McCuistion, 15.81, $563.
Second round: 1. Loralee Ward, 15.60 seconds, $2,253; 2. (tie) Karson Berger and Shali Lord, 15.73, $1,408 each; 4. Alex Odle, 15.89, $563.
Third round: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.36 seconds, $2,253; 2. Karson Berger, 15.62, $1,690; 3. (tie) Shali Lord and Kelly Yates, 15.81, $845 each.
Average: 1. Karson Berger, 47.27 seconds on three head, $3,380; 2. Shali Lord, 47.42, $2,535; 3. Kelly Yates, 47.68, $1,690; 4. Alex Odle, 47.93, $845.