#DoItForFameMan: Abby Phillips' Rise to No. 1 After Tragedy

Every horse person can say that they have had one particular horse that changed their lives, and most people refer to these horses as their "heart horse." In January 2015, Crown Ta Fame, also known as Fame, was called into his role as that once-in-a-lifetime horse for professional barrel racer Abby Phillips.

Horses were viewed as an escape for the Phillips family when they had been going through a difficult time. So, after some life-changing moments, the family decided that a horse was exactly what they needed. Little did they know, Fame was everything they needed and more. 

In the beginning, Phillips felt pressured to do the talented horse justice. Her father reminded her, "If he is going to be a 3D horse for the rest of his life, who cares? He is your horse, and that is all that matters." After that, everything fell into place.

Through jackpots and college rodeos, Phillips always knew that she had something special. However, her success at the College National Finals Rodeo in 2017 pushed her to rodeo professionally. 

Fame's lifetime earnings exceeded the $150k mark, but Phillips credited him for his accomplishments outside of the arena. 

Fame had a bond with the entire Phillips family and was noted for his ability to touch anyone he met. The opportunities and relationships Phillips credited the big-bay horse with paved the way for her career as a professional barrel racer. 

On July 8, 2023, Phillips suddenly and tragically lost her beloved Fame. This left her on the road with only her young, unseasoned mare, VF Expensive Taste, also known as Andi. No one blamed her for wanting to head home, but her parents had other plans in mind. 

After some convincing, Phillips agreed to give Andi a shot at the rodeos for the upcoming two weeks. She was unsure how the mare would handle the tough conditions, but during that time, "Andi" won her first pro rodeo check at the Ute Stampede in Nephi, Utah, and ran her fastest time on a standard pattern thus far. 

Phillips started using the hashtag "#DoItForFameMan" and now dedicates every run she makes to her beloved horse. Despite the tragedy she endured, she pulled off a storybook ending to the season with a young mare who stepped up to the plate in a huge way. 

Phillips and Andi placed at almost every circuit rodeo they entered and capped the year off with the Wilderness Circuit Finals Average title. Additionally, they captured the reserve championship at the WPRA Finals in Waco, Texas. 

Their efforts punched their ticket to rodeos such as Houston and San Antonio and catapulted Phillips to No. 1 in the world standings. However, there was one rodeo that Phillips feared she might miss out on — the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

Miraculously, Fame was able to pull off one more win at Gladewater (Texas) Round-Up and qualified her through their efforts at one of the last rodeos they placed at before his death. Phillips says that this last favor from Fame was exactly the sign that she needed to know that everything was starting to work out in her favor.