Last year Patty Pollard Ralls rocked the arena at the Art Of The Cowgirl's, World's Greatest Horseman when she ran away with it all on a precious stud named "Solano Cat" (High Brow Cat x Smartest Solano). This year, she will step back into the arena with a different stride and a new perspective.

After taking a five-year break from showing horses, Patty decided to break out for the first time last year at Art of the Cowgirl. "My friends Rhonda and Morgan Holmes encouraged me to get back into the show pen and come have fun with them in Queen Creek AZ," says Ralls.

Just three years earlier she was in a bad horse accident. "I was bucked off a barrel horse and had a compound fracture in my elbow and tore my right shoulder up terribly," she recalls. After that incident, Patty didn't feel like herself. She lacked self-confidence getting back in the show pen. "Casually, I talked to my husband about wanting to enter. He threw out the name Solano Cat, whom he trained, who is 16 years old and was standing in our barn."

She got the go-ahead from Shannon Reid to show Solano Cat, and her dream came to life. "My experience at the 2021 Art of the Cowgirl will always be the one that stacks on top as my most memorable moments in the show pen," she says.

Patty Ralls showing "Jill’s A Little Sioux" at the Eastern Derby. Photo by Colie Lowndes.

This year Patty will be entering up on "Jill’s A Little Sioux" which is a palomino mare who Ron Ralls also trained, owned by Richie Bell. She showed the little mare for the first time in the open two rein. "I had never gone down the fence on her before this moment and she sparked something inside of me to get her prepared for the 2022 Art of the Cowgirl, as Solano Cat will be 17yrs old," Ralls says. "My game plan has been to get Susie as solid as I can in each event."

With this event being a four event which consists of cutting, reining, fence work, and steer stoping, Ralls says, "I practice one or two events a day so I don’t over do it for her and I as a team."

Photo by Nicole Poyo.

Patty grew up in this lifestyle. "My parents dedicated our upbringing and childhood to riding lessons and showing horses," recalls Ralls. Hard work is a major key to big success, and Patty says she got her drive and determination from a young age growing up in the horse industry. "[Horses] taught us girls to have responsibilities at a very young age."

Photo by Nicole Poyo.

"I’d love to thank the following sponsors of mine for always believing in me. JW Brooks Hat Co. for my beautiful pink hat that will forever be my signature, Shefit sports bras, Deuces Wild, HayChix, Lucky Chuck, Branding Iron Boutique, Honey Suckle Rose Boutique, Jeff Smith Saddles and XX Equine."