Rosa remains a key partner in Lisa Lockhart’s record breaking career as the four million dollar cowgirl chases her 20th straight NFR qualification in 2026.
There are very few athletes in professional rodeo have built a career quite like Lisa Lockhart. Her longevity and ability to adapt and evolve with the sport puts her in rare company.
For nearly two decades, the South Dakota cowgirl has become one of the most consistent and dominate athletes in the sport, qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo year after year while building one of the most respected résumés in barrel racing.
Now in 2026, Lockhart is chasing another milestone, what would be her 20th consecutive NFR qualification. She has been in the top 15 of the world every single year since 2007. As always, great horses are helping lead the way.
Just this year, Lisa also officially became the first competitor in the history of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association to surpass $4 million in career earnings.
Rosa Still Delivering
One of the favorite's under Lisa is Rosas Cantina CC, the 16 year old mare known as Rosa. This duo has become one of the most recognizable in barrel racing.
Most recently, Lockhart and Rosa advanced out of Super Series 1 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, finishing second in earnings with $4,000 to move on to the semifinals.
"That was fun. Thank you Rosa," Lisa shared on social media following her three runs at RODEOHOUSTON. Lisa and Rosa will be back during the semi finals on March 17th with hopes to advance to the finals, and a chance at that $65,000 bonus.
A New Chapter for Rosa
Rosa’s story has also taken a new turn this year. She turned 16, and is at the top of her game still. Lisa's outstanding care for her horses is what allows them to have long and prosperous careers.
The mare was sold to Tyson and Del Bieleny of Mill Iron Livestock earlier this year. Despite the change in ownership, the agreement ensured that Rosa would remain under Lockhart’s care and continue competing with her for the remainder of the mare’s competitive career.
When the time comes for Rosa to retire, it was said that she will transition to the Bielenys’ ranch in Alberta. For now, however, the partnership remains exactly where fans have come to expect it, in the arena and the winning circle.
Following a Legendary Line
Longtime rodeo fans remember another famous horse that helped define Lockhart’s career, An Oakie With Cash, known to many as Louie.
Louie became a fan favorite during his years carrying Lockhart through some of the sport’s biggest arenas, including championship runs at major rodeos like Cheyenne Frontier Days. Then Rosa came along, and continued in the same way.
When Rosa first stepped into the spotlight, many fans immediately noticed the similarities. They looked a lot alike, and had the ability to handle the biggest stages in the sport. Rosa went to the left barrel first however, their biggest difference to the fans eye. Their consistent and smooth styles looked similar, much of that to credit Ms Lisa's horsemanship of course.
Over time, Rosa proved she wasn’t just the next horse in line, or a backup. She too became another cornerstone in Lockhart’s remarkable career. She would go on to be the next big thing in Lisas trailer.
Although Louie and Rosa are two of the most recognized horses that has carried Lisa to such accomplishments, there have been lots of them that have gotten her to this point. That is part of why Lockharts longevity is so impressive. The barrel race obviously relies heavily on horsepower, and Lisa has been able to jockey lots of them at the highest levels for two decades now.
Chisum accomplished a lot. Louie and Rosa became the fan favorites. Since then there was Levee, and Cutter, Sasha, and Copper have stepped up to the plate as well, among others too. Though these are all incredible equine athletes, the constant in the winning is the talented lady on their back.
The Road to NFR No. 20
At 19 consecutive appearances in Las Vegas already, Lockhart is tied with the greatest names in barrel racing for one of the longest qualification streaks the sport has ever seen. Now she is chasing number 20 and a record in that.
Early in the 2026 season, Lockhart sits inside the Top 25 in the world standings with plenty of rodeos still ahead.
Rosa will continue on Lisa's trailer as one of her main mounts, especially at those big arenas such as Houston, or Cheyenne. Rosa seems to thrive on the biggest and best stages.
If Lockhart reaches that milestone, it will add yet another chapter to one of the most consistent careers professional rodeo has ever seen. In all 19 years of the finals, Lisa has not yet captured a World Championship. She has been close several years, but the gold buckle has not gone home to South Dakota with Lockhart yet. How sweet would it be to win that title at her 20th NFR while breaking nearly every other record before her. No one is more deserving and capable.
Lisa's focus remains the same as it has been for nearly two decades. She is an upstanding, kind, humble, and talented lady keeping her eyes on one run on a time. She puts her family, her faith, and her horses first, and the outcome of that perspective for decades is the legacy that has been built.