story by Lily Weinacht
Junior Girl World Goat Tying Champion
Carter Howell of Huntley, Montana, finished her fourth season in the NLBRA as the 2018 Junior Girl World Goat Tying Champion. It’s the 13-year-old’s second world title with the association—she won the Little Wrangler flag racing in 2015—while she also made it back to the short go in trail course, and ribbon roping with Luke Mavity. “I felt really good because we’d just come back from Junior High Nationals and went straight to Oklahoma, so I was ready,” says Carter, who finished 12th in the nation in goat tying at the NJHFR. She was the only girl from Montana to advance to the short go, and was the MJHRA rookie of the year and state champion in goat tying. “My second run (at the NLBFR) was my best, and I kept and open mind and stayed positive. I found out I’d won when they posted the results, because my mom, who was trying to calculate my results at home, thought I got second, so I was surprised.”
All of Carter’s family is involved in rodeo, from her dad, Robert Howell, who rode bulls in the PRCA, to her 10-year-old brother, Chase, who also competes in the NLBRA. Carter and Chase’s mom, Jami Howell, makes sure they have everything they need on the road, and helps run the Big Sky Little Britches rodeos with Robert, the president of the franchise. “We put on about 14–16 rodeos,” says Carter. “I’m usually rodeoing, but if I’m free, I help move flags, or help in the office and put up results. Little Britches has always been so fun. I like the opportunity of trail and all the different athletes you get to compete with.”
Along with goat tying, which Carter loves for the focus and hard work it requires, trail course is another favorite. “You have to have a special bond with your horse and know that you can trust them, and know that they can do all the obstacles.” She qualified for the 2018 NLBFR in all of the junior girls events, and also competed in the 2017 Junior NFR in barrel racing. “Striving to be the best you can be (drives me), and it’s always fun when all your hard work pays off. All my family is always so encouraging. And my friends have always been there for me and backed me up—most of my friends rodeo also.”
The Howell family hauls four horses to Little Britches rodeos, three of which Carter and Chase share. “Last year my goat horse was Fancy, and this year it’s Sugar. She’s 9, and we’re just getting her going which is always fun and exciting. My rope horse is Donkey, and he’s always so laid back. My trail horse is Tilly. She’s older and it’s hard to retire her because she’s so consistent and I love her to death.” Fancy helped Carter win both her NLBRA world titles, and Chase, who rides Fancy in flag racing, finished sixth in the 2018 Little Wrangler world standings.
If she’s not on horseback, Carter can be found at Huntley Project School. A seventh-grader, she enjoys math and Algebra, along with running cross country and track. She also loves to spend time with her family, and attends several rodeo clinics a year. “We’re always traveling. We visit and have good conversations about goals and motivation, and we play road games and listen to music. My goal is being the best I can be, to keep an open mind, and definitely making it back to the short go again for Little Britches.”
