Written by Elizabeth Arnold
This story originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of Premier.
Some horses capture attention instantly. Others—like Good Miss Breeze—rise steadily, reveling their brilliance one stride at a time. For Missouri-based amateur Lana Markway, the 2026 season is shaping up to be her most exciting yet. Paired with the sorrel mare known affectionately as Montana, Lana isn’t just chasing year-end titles and headline wins. She’s building something deeper: a partnership rooted in patience, thoughtful development, and a genuine appreciation for a true all-around horse.
Building Toward the Future
“Last year was really about learning each other,” Lana says, reflecting on her first full season with Montana after purchasing the mare. “She was used to Jamie [trainer Jamie Hartman], and I had to learn her style—and she had to learn mine.”
Even during that adjustment period, the now five-year-old mare delivered a standout season in the western pleasure pen. Highlights included a Reserve Championship in the BCF 4–6 Year Old Open at the NSBA World Championship Show, along with bronze placings in the $25,000 Limited Horse, Amateur, and BCF 4–6 Year Old Limited Non-Pro, and a third-place finish at Congress in the Limited Non-Pro Maturity. Despite a relatively small number of appearances, Montana closed out 2025 as both the AQHA and NSBA High Point Junior Western Pleasure Horse.
“She’s matured so much over the last year,” Lana says. “We sent her to the breeding barn and gave her some time off. When she came back, she felt like a completely different horse—fresh, strong, and ready.”
As the pair prepare for 2026, Lana is savoring Montana’s final year of junior competition while beginning to look ahead.
“She’s always had all-around potential,” Lana explains. “She’s got a big stride, a beautiful trot, and such a sweet personality. She just needed time.”
Though Montana has excelled in the western pleasure arena, Lana envisions a future that extends well beyond it. “I think she’ll become a fantastic amateur all-around horse—horsemanship, western riding, maybe even showmanship down the road. She’s that versatile.”
Rooted in Legacy
Montana’s significance reaches beyond the show pen. She is out of the late Good Miss Sunny, a respected broodmare whose influence left a lasting mark on the industry. After Good Miss Sunny’s passing, Montana took on added importance—not only as a show horse, but as a future producer.
“I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t have a baby from her,” Lana says. “I want to preserve this line, not just for me, but for the movement and quality it represents. Pedigrees are getting tighter across the industry, and keeping these bloodlines alive matters.”
Over the winter, Montana was bred to a carefully selected group of stallions, including Makin Me Willy Wild, Right Onn, and Gun Smokke. The resulting embryos were frozen with hopes of continuing both Montana’s legacy and that of her dam.
“Makin Me Willy Wild has been incredibly consistent for me,” Lana says. “The ones I have at home are smart, pretty, and easy to train. Right Onn is in Jamie’s barn now. I fell in love with him at Congress. He has the height and strength I want for an all-around horse. And Gun Smokke was Jamie’s suggestion. I trust her completely, and I think he’s an exciting cross for Montana.”
Sustained by Purpose
For Lana, success isn’t measured solely by ribbons—though she has plenty to her credit. The 2018 APHA Number One Amateur, she has earned multiple World and Reserve World titles, including APHA Reserve World Championships in Showmanship (2003, 2006) and Equitation (2017). Yet accolades tell only part of the story. Intentional at every step, Lana remains deeply involved in the process, from daily care to thoughtful breeding decisions.
“I love all of it,” she says. “The work, the long drives, the planning. It’s not just a hobby—it’s my passion and something I’m fully vested in.”
That passion comes through most clearly in the way Lana talks about her horses—especially the younger ones coming up. Get Your Wild On, a promising three-year-old, is preparing for her debut in the green non-pro classes later this spring. “She’s learning her lead changes and is starting horsemanship and equitation,” Lana says. “She was the first horse I ever showed in the longe line, and she truly enjoys being in show pen.”
There’s also Eleven Elevenn, a striking yearling who Lana bred and raised—and briefly offered for sale before realizing she wasn’t going anywhere. “She ended up being double-registered, and she’s just too special to let go. I’m excited to start her next year.”
Horses have been—and if you ask Lana, always will be—a constant, anchoring her priorities and shaping the rhythm of her life both in and beyond the arena. Just as she has with Montana, she shares a special relationship with each of her horses, built over time through care, patience, and a deep respect for who they are as individuals.
Enjoying the Ride
More than anything, the 2026 season represents a shift in perspective.
“I’ve learned that going slow works,” Lana says. “When you rush a horse, it shows. Montana is proof that patience pays off.”
That change in mindset extends beyond the show pen. For most of her career, Lana has ridden and hauled her own horses, handling nearly every aspect of their development herself. Since purchasing Montana last spring, the mare has been in full-time training with Jamie—a notable adjustment for Lana. Rather than doing everything herself, she’s embraced the value of collaboration, trusting the process and the program while staying deeply involved in Montana’s progress.
“I’ve always been very hands-on,” Lana says. “So having a horse in full training was a bit of a shift for me. But we’ve had a lot of fun, and it’s allowed me to attend some shows I wouldn’t have been able to on my own because of work and other commitments. I’m also looking forward to bringing Montana home eventually so we can start working on the horsemanship together.”
As the season takes shape, Lana remains focused on what comes next. After missing the AQHA World Championship Show last year while Jamie was judging, she’s hopeful for the opportunity to compete there this fall. “I have never shown at the AQHA World Show, and it would mean a lot to show there,” she says. “Montana feels ready—confident, seasoned, and strong.”
Lana doesn’t shy away from her ultimate goal. “I want her to be a World Champion. That’s what we’re building toward.”
