Coleman Proctor has a new addition to his horse herd in his trailer heading into the summer, and it’s a little different from what most people are used to seeing him ride.
A mare.
“I’ve never hauled a mare,” said nine-time NFR qualifier Proctor. “I just had never found one. I mean, none of them that I ever bought or had were mares. Not for any reason; I know a lot of people have ridden some great mares. I’d ride (Dustin) Bird’s great mare (Dolly), but I’ve never had one.”
JM Miss Kitty, a 2016 black mare, is owned by Brody and Jennifer Hinton out of Waxahachie, Texas, and she’s quickly worked her way into Proctor’s program. Originally bought for their son, Zander, Proctor was given the opportunity to ride her this summer after Zander shifted to the heel side.
“I’d met Brody over the years at the Clay Logan and stuff, both friends with Shane Boston—the head man there at Southern Ranches,” Proctor explained. “I visited with him at the BFI, and I was talking about how I’ve been trying a lot of horses and had a couple deals fall through on ones that were for sale. Basically, I was looking, and I think at the time, Brody was riding her and he was like, ‘I got this black mare, you got to try her.’ So, after the dust settled from the BFI and stuff, I finally was able to get with him and try her.”
Proctor knew almost immediately he liked the mare, thanks to the foundation 2020 PRCA World Champ Colby Lovell put on her while training her.
“That’s the thing like, Lovell, he always has them and they’re so broke,” Proctor said. “That’s kind of what I fell in love with about her off the bat was like man, she was broke.”
On top of her foundation are some old-school cool bloodlines, too. By Gilligans Black Tux out of Dry Chex Lena by Lenas Sonny Boy, JM Miss Kitty carries some of the most respected cutting horse bloodlines in Quarter Horse history. The mare is loaded with Doc Bar influence on both sides of her pedigree and also carries strong Poco Lena bloodlines.
But her papers aren’t what sold Proctor, considering he hasn’t even really looked at them.
“Don’t get me wrong: I love [papers],” Proctor said. “I keep up with what horses are doing good and this and that, but at the end of the day, for what we’re after and looking for, breeding can be important, but I think it’s more nurture versus nature sometimes.”
Proctor and JM Miss Kitty are still getting acquainted, but they’ve kicked off their partnership with a bang. Proctor rode the mare to the Guymon Pioneer Days win May 3, 2026, roping three steers in 21.1 for a total $5,731, as well as the all-around title. He also cracked her out at Rodeo Corpus Christi the following week. In their short time together, her athleticism and desire to be on your team have stood out to Proctor tremendously.
“She’s on your team 100%,” Proctor said. “She really tries hard every time. I rode her at Corpus Christi the other day and didn’t do a very good job on her; I just haven’t gotten enough experience on her in the normal and fast setups. That’s kind of what got me the other night was I was expecting her to be a little deader off the reins like she has been at the house, and she fired a lot more off of them than I was anticipating. She’s silly athletic, she can really face and she’s great with the horn. That’s why I rode her at Guymon. I’ve always rode Heisman because he’s easy to control the steer on, but she really wants to score good and did a great job for me there.”
After a slower winter, Proctor is entering the summer run 38th in the 2026 PRCA world standings with $18,029.42. As for where JM Miss Kitty fits long-term, Proctor is still figuring it out. While he still expects to ride Heisman at major events like The American and the NFR, he knows she’s an option. But the summer’s fast setups are where he knows she’ll excel.
“I think places like we go all summer, especially over the Fourth of July and a lot of one-headers, she’s so snappy with the horn and the way that she brings them back and gets them opened up and ready, but yet completely under control, that’s a huge advantage for me,” Proctor said. “I’m always looking for anything that makes me not have to throw as fast as Dustin (Egusquiza). So, I’m more about being efficient. That’s kind of always been the strength of my game, being efficient with the cows and opening them up so they’re ready to heel as fast as I can. And I think she really fits that mold.”
However, she checks most boxes for Proctor, regardless of the start.
“I feel like I will be able to ride her anywhere on any setup,” Proctor said. “Those one-headers all summer, I’ll probably definitely be on her when we’re talking about going to Nampa. It’s early in the year, but she checks a lot of the boxes of the stuff you want. Especially at the one-headers, getting the horn so fast. Just keeping it together and getting good communication with her scoring and being able to us get in timing together. I’m very blessed to have her. She’s really an exceptional horse.”