Allie Bulgier Clocks 20.276 to Win 19 & Under Pole Bending Semifinals at 2026 Patriot

Allie Bulgier kept her Patriot momentum rolling in Fort Worth, laying down a 20.276 aboard her longtime partner Dash 2 Cash to win the 19 & Under Pole Bending Semifinals and earn $3,300.

The Santa Fe, Texas, cowgirl added the win to an already productive week that also included topping the Open 3D pole bending jackpot. Bulgier entered the semifinals focused on keeping her week smooth and building off the confidence she gained from that early jackpot win. Her game plan was simple: stay safe, stay clean and let her veteran gelding do his job.

“I was really nervous going into this run,” Bulgier said. “He just worked for me really nicely through that first weave. I kept him over a little too long on one pole and we bobbled the middle, but he kept hustling all the way home.”

The 16-year-old gelding, whom Bulgier calls “Cash,” has been with her for four to five years and has become what she describes as her heart horse. The pair needed time to find their rhythm early on, but once they clicked, their progress came quickly.

“It took us about a year and a half before we started running low 21s,” Bulgier said. “Then everything just started coming together. We began clocking mid-20s and eventually got into the 19-second range. That’s when we knew we were really in it.”

Beyond pole bending, Bulgier balances a full rodeo schedule that includes barrels and breakaway roping, often heading to the barn as soon as her homeschool day ends. That consistency in the saddle has helped her stay competitive in deep fields like the Patriot’s 19 & Under Semifinals lineup.

With her semifinal win secured, Bulgier now shifts her focus to the finals and the lucrative bonus round. Her approach will not change. She plans to protect her horse, execute cleanly and trust the bond they have built.

“Just keeping him taken care of and getting my mind right is my priority,” Bulgier said. “I’m excited for my family to be there. Their support means everything.”