I met Cowboy Mike’s horse Tug before I ever met him. Walking into a skijoring practice session on a horse ranch in Teton Valley, ID, as he prepared for the Grand Showdown race in Driggs, the brown thoroughbred stuck his nose out of the trailer to try to eat my hat. Mike Miller peeked out from behind the trailer and introduced himself, apologizing for his horse’s lack of manners.

Miller’s quiet, determined demeanor stands at a stark contrast to his race-day personality: a dude in a black cowboy hat and a lavish fur jacket layered over an American flag T-shirt. His stage presence commands attention on the track—when he’s in the spotlight, it’s clear he’s there to win.

Subscribe for access to this article plus the entire archive of The Ski Journal content—and receive a discount on all products.