Elizabeth Quirk becomes World Champion and Mother in the Same Year
Despite a hiatus from the pen to become a mother, Elizabeth Quirk headed to the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Finals with a $32,000 lead in the race to the Non-Pro year-end award. Riding Hott Nu Cowboy, a homegrown gelding she calls ‘Cowboy,’ Quirk scored impressive 215, 220, 221.5, and 224.5 scores in the finals to win nearly $24,000 and clinch the title of the 2024 NCHA Non-Pro World Champion.
Quirk rode six different horses to 80 shows, but was still shocked at the outcome.
“I’m really in shock that this happened,” explained Quirk. “Having had a baby this year, I never in a million years would have thought I could take that amount of time off and still be able to be a world champion.”
Quirk is no stranger to the title of world champion, having won the world in the non pro previously.
“Any time I get to show it’s such an honor and I love competing here in Fort Worth in the Watt Arena, representing the weekend cutter,” said Quirk. “The energy in this building is literally second to none, so it’s a blessing to be here.”
Elizabeth Quirk riding Hott Nu Cowboy in the NCHA Non-Pro World Finals. * Photo by Hannah Claxton
Cowboy himself, the gelding she secured the title with after scoring an impressive 224.5, is no stranger to the limelight either, having amassed over $350,000 in lifetime earnings. Cowboy is by Hottish and out of Special Nu Kitty (by High Brow Cat).
“He is truly indescribable,” said Quirk. “There are no words to envelop what he means to me and to our program, he is what dreams are made of.”
The world championship isn’t the only major achievement Quirk is headed home with. Quirk, riding Mighty KD Cat (High Brow Cat x KD Shorty x Kit Dual), rode bridleless in the Celebrity Cutting to secure the win with teammate Ian Bohen.
“I started in the youth, and here I am, and then I started in the amateur and now to compete in the non pro is just an honor,” said Quirk, full of emotion. “I have to pinch myself every single day to be like ‘I get to be a non pro’ because it just doesn’t seem fathomable, there’s still a 12-year-old little girl that’s just dreaming big dreams and wanting to show in this pen. That’s the mentality I walk into the herd with every day.”
Despite her success in the pen, Quirk remains humble, crediting her support system for her ability to win. Thanks was given to her husband, parents, kids, and in-laws, along with Kaitlin and Tiffany who keep the horses and the ranch running smoothly, but special thanks was reserved for Adan Banuelos and his team, who Quirk has trained with for many years.
“My name is going to be on the trophy tonight,” said Quirk. “But there should be at least forty other people listed.”