After graduating from Texas Christian Univeristy in 2012 with a degree in Strategic Communications, 24-year-old Courtney Chown of Pilot Point, Texas didn’t want the friendship she had grown to cherish with classmate Kelsey Huffman to end. So the two decided to go into business together and Courtsey Promotions was created. Courtsey Promotions is a social media management company focusing on equine and western related brands.

“Kelsey and I met at TCU, while we were both on the equestrian team and it only took a couple of days and me overcoming my shyness before we became best friends,” says Chown. “We always wanted to own our own business and when we got the idea of Social Media Management we thought it was something that could really benefit the industry we love, and we ran with it.”

Courtsey Promotions offers social media marketing management for equine and western related businesses looking to grow not only their online presence, but their business as a whole. They specialize in managing social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) to build and maintain relationships, generate business and analyze results.

As the youngest daughter of Tom and Carrie Chown, Courtney has been around horses all her life. Now, under the guidance of Troy Oakley, Chown’s newest show partner is  Flashy Looking Touch, a 3-year-old gelding by A Touch Of Sudden and out of  Flashy Looking Lady.

“Troy picked him out at the Reichert Sale in 2012 for me,” Chown recalls. “He has the greatest personality, is really laid back and has taught me so much about riding and showing a young horse.”

Chown and ‘Watson’ have already amassed quite a record including a win at the 2013 Tom Powers Futurity in the Maiden 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Limited Stakes, a reserve championship at the Reichert Celebration in the 2-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure Stake and the team finished the year with a third place finish at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in the 2-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure.

But success in the show pen is nothing new to Chown.

“My biggest prize is probably when I won the Youth World in Horsemanship, but being third at the Congress in the 2-year-old is really exciting,” Chown says. “I’m hoping to be able to keep a young futurity horse each year. I always want to learn more and be better, every horse is different and it is so fun to figure out how to put all of the pieces together”

Chown believes new concepts like Show For Dough where 100 percent of the money is paid back is an outstanding idea to get more support within the industry. With show management doing a great job and making the show fun for all exhibitors. Most importantly, she thinks that we all have to be more positive about our industry and focus on the great things going on rather than the negatives.

When she’s not at a horse show or working for her business you can usually find Chown spending time with her friends and family, namely her mother, Carrie, whom she counts as her best friend.

“My parents and Troy have taught me so much in so many different ways, I am very lucky to have them in my life,” Chown explains. “Troy is more than just my horse trainer though, he is like a father to me. I am thankful my mom and I have him in our lives.”

In addition to Watson, Chown still owns and cherishes her old show gelding, Impulsability, who is now enjoying retirement in his pasture at home.