Kourtney Judge has always been passionate about cow horse competition, but she never expected to walk away from a single event with more than $6,000 in winnings. By entering in multiple categories—as a breeder, owner, dam owner, and rider—she maximized her eligibility in Legendary Stakes, a unique opportunity that rewards participants across multiple roles.
"To have basically won $6,000 at a show where my actual competition payout was one of the lowest is pretty gosh darn incredible."
Judge, who lives in Lone Grove, Oklahoma, competed on her four-year-old Lonng White Line, which goes by “Sturgill.” She trained him along with Abby Mixon, balancing her time between riding at home, raising a six-year-old son, and managing a marketing and consulting business with her husband. Despite the demands of daily life, she remains deeply committed to her horses, riding at least six days a week and tailoring her training sessions to focus on herd work, reining fundamentals, and fence work.
When asked about her reaction to winning $6,257 from Legendary Stakes, Judge admitted she was shocked.
“I was floored,” she said. “To be honest, a lot of our shows don’t pay a lot. It depends on the show and the class. To have basically won $6,000 at a show where my actual competition payout was one of the lowest is pretty gosh darn incredible.”
"To have an outlet that rewards me as a breeder, as a dam owner, and as a competitor is incredibly rewarding."
Judge’s success highlights one of the key advantages of Legendary Stakes—earning potential beyond traditional prize money. Because the program recognizes participants in multiple roles, those who own, ride, and breed their horses can see returns across all divisions. For Judge, this aspect is especially exciting.
"The hours you put in as an owner and rider finally have a way to pay back."
“I enjoy breeding horses just as much as I do competing on them,” she said. “To have an outlet that rewards me as a breeder, as a dam owner, and as a competitor is incredibly rewarding. The hours you put in as an owner and rider finally have a way to pay back. It’s something a lot of people will grab onto once they understand how it works.”
As more competitors recognize the value of enrolling in Legendary Stakes, Judge hopes to see others take advantage of the opportunity. “I’ve already told my friends, ‘You’ve got to get involved.’”