Team Mills, led by the remarkable Matt Mills, poses for a group shot with Guns and Dynamite, celebrating their consecutive championship wins at the prestigious NRBC reining event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This thrilling competition, sanctioned by the esteemed NRHA (National Reining Horse Association), showcased their exceptional skills and dedication. The captivating photo, skillfully captured by the talented Waltenberry, immortalizes this victorious moment for Team Mills and their remarkable equine partner.
Q - Congratulations on winning back to back Championships in the NRBC $25K Open on Guns And Dynamite! How does it feel to win on the same horse two years in a row? 2022 & 2023.
A - Thank you!!! Winning the $25K Open Back-to-Back is special, especially because of the fashion in which we did it. Both years we tied the high score of the entire show including the Derby winner! Winning from draw 1 is a nail biter! There were some awesome horse and rider teams out there. I'm also proud of the fact that even after a hectic schedule of competitions we could come back and be even better than last year. A great testament to the longevity of these reining horses when cared for properly.
Q - Horses like Guns And Dynamite are hard to find - Tell us about what it is like to have a horse like "Gooder" to show in your barn?
A - I smile every single time I walk past Gooders stall! The horses is what it's always about for me, I can't thank owners, Tim and MaryBeth Ruckman enough for allowing me to basically treat him like he's mine.
Guns And Dynamite is on my Mt. Rushmore of best horses I've ever rode. He's got so much heart, he empties the tank every time he goes in to compete. Gooder has all the qualities of a great stallion and we are all very excited to stand him at stud to the public next year!!
Q - The next big event is the NRHA Derby - What are your plans for that competition?
A - The NRHA Derby is next up on our schedule and I've set some high goals for myself. I'm looking to get Gooder in the Finals and then lay down one of his signature runs. But I'm also bringing Taylor Sheridan's Stopping In Jersey who is fresh off a Top 10 placing in that tough NRBC Open Derby Finals, I feel like that horse and I have really started to gel. Rounding up my Big 3 is 4yr old Walla Be A Big Star, this will be his first time back in the pen after last years L3 Open win at the NRHA Futurity. Conditioning is my main focus going into OKC, I'm anticipating warm temps and hard runs. Competition is going to be fierce as usual but I'm excited for the challenge.
Q - What horses & clients are going?
A - Along with our fleet of Open horses, we are preparing MaryBeth Ruckman for action in the Non Pro Derby on her reliable horse, RFR Voodoos Fuego. Making the Finals at the NRBC has her eager to get back to that stage. Janice Dickson and ARC Wimpysgottagun will be in the Rookie divisions, this team has been hard to keep out of the top 3 everywhere they run.
Q - You recently went on a cattle drive at the 6666 Ranch with Taylor Sheridan - Tell us what that was like.
A - Hahaha, it was supposed to be a secret that I was out playing cowboy. Yes, I was very fortunate that my good friend Taylor Sheridan had me out to his 6666 Ranch to brand. Just one sunrise on that ranch and you know why he bought that place. Easily one of the best moments in my life on horseback. Something about gathering cattle across thousands of acres with just you and your horse that just presses the reset button. I enjoyed every minute of my time on the ranch and came away with a huge amount of respect for those cowboys and their way of life. I want to thank GM Joe Leathers for allowing me to get my feet wet with his crew. It's a well oiled machine that is fascinating to watch.
By Lane Karney, Courtesy TetonRidgePlus.com
In the classic man versus beast matchup that is bull riding, the verdict on who wins is only half human. The other half of every score hangs in the balance based on how hard the bull bucks.
The Professional Bull Riders just celebrated 30 years as the ultimate bull riding sports league. But the founding cowboy fathers recognized since before the beginning of the PBR that the best bull riders can only be showcased on the backs of the best bulls. Lightning struck for the second straight season Sunday for Cord McCoy’s #612 Ridin Solo when he was crowned the 2023 PBR World Champion Bull on top of taking 2023 PBR YETI Bull of the Finals honors.
There’s no telling how many contributions Ridin Solo’s made to Tulsa’s college fund. “If you followed along for the whole season, the bull race was definitely like bull riding—up and down,” said McCoy, who with his wife, Sara, and daughter, Tulsa, 4, makes his home on the McCoy Ranch in Lane, Oklahoma. “But one thing about it, after all those days on the road—whether it was hot or cold—Solo always gave it 110%.
“There are so many tough bulls these days. It felt like it was anybody’s game amongst those top bulls. I think Solo had to win one (Bull of the Finals) to win the other (Bull of the Year). This is amazing, and I think it’s even more special to win this award a second time.”
There were big bonuses—a $100,000 check to the owner of the PBR YETI World Champion Bull, and another $25,000 to the
PBR YETI Bull of the Finals. But this bull is priceless to the McCoy family. “Solo’s put food on the table for our family for five years now, and has opened so many doors for us,” Cord said. “When he was 2, we felt like we knew he was going to be great. We’d already started breeding to him. We now have 3-year-olds ready to hit the scene next year. We’ve had offers to buy him, but we refuse to price him for any amount. We stuck to our guns, and we’re glad we did.”
About those babies. Solo’s 7 now, and has gone global as a bucking-bull baby daddy. “I’m just Solo’s manager, but he’s the first world champion bull to go global that I know of,” Cord continued, also noting that when Ridin Solo was selected to buck at last December’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, he became McCoy’s first-ever NFR bucker. “There are calves who’ll be bucking bulls being born in Australia, Brazil and Canada now.”
Ridin Solo is a proven professional powerhouse. But on the personal side, he has a little Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde to him. “Solo didn’t show up as a pet,” Cord explained. “When he showed up here, he had a ‘rather die than lose’ attitude about him. He was all-in, and would sacrifice his body to win. We became friends and he became a pet, but being nice was not natural to him. That came from working together every day.
“Nature gave Ridin Solo killer instincts, but he also has a very special on-and-off switch. Some people underestimate how tough he is. But I don’t. My wife gave him a bath the day Solo bucked for a world title. But he knows when we put the halter on at an event that it’s game time. I don’t think he’d ever hurt anybody on purpose, but he gets fired up. Solo has become part of our family, and being his people is definitely a dream come true.”
By Lane Kareny, Courstesy: TetonRidgePlus.com
Talking with Derrick Begay and Colter Todd individually, you’d certainly draw some comparisons. You’d guess they’d be compatible, and it’s no surprise that the Arizona natives are actually best friends. While the first word that you’d probably use to describe both men would be “cowboy,” “sensible” would probably come in a close second. Their cowboy comradery extends well beyond the arena. Contrary to many team roping teams out there, their friendship isn’t a result of their partnership. It’s their deeply rooted friendship that has landed them in the arena together.
Begay—who with his wife, Justine, and daughter, Brindle Mae, 3, calls Seba Dalkai home—is a nine-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo header. Todd, who ranches around Willcox with his, wife, Carly; their 18-year-old daughter, Madilyn; and sons, Colter Lee, 14, and Traven, 13, headed at three consecutive NFRs from 2006-2008.The Todd family ranches and rodeos together, and supports each other’s dreams.
For the last few years, Begay has found a balance between life on the road and life on the ranch. Todd put down his team ropes after the 2008 NFR to raise his young, growing family and never looked back. Their perspectives and their friendship are the backbone of what has organically evolved into a successful team roping team. It wasn’t a lengthy, in-depth plan to hit the road together, but rather their relationship and God’s timing that has them riding the rodeo wave they’re on now.
“With Colter and me, none of this was really planned. It’s one of those deals where one thing led to another. I guess it starts with he’s my best friend, and our friendship is the centerpiece of all of it,” said Begay, 39. “We have the same outlook on life, and share really similar lifestyles. Luckily, I like to rope and he likes to rope, so rodeo is something we have in common. We get along good,
and like doing all the same things together.”
The truly organic part of this is that it started with Begay just reaching out to his dear friend Colter—who’s best known as a world-class header, but heeled all through high school—to fill in and heel for him at a couple Arizona rodeos after COVID hit.
“Whenever Begay asked a couple times if I’d fill in, I talked to my wife and thought it would be fun to heel behind somebody that fast. How often do you get an opportunity to heel for somebody who at least at one time was one of the fastest headers from the head loop to turning the cow,” said Todd, who’s also 39. “We entered Payson and Cave Creek (Arizona). I could’ve missed the very first one, but I caught both of them, so it became more intriguing, because I had a false wonder if I could catch more.
“I never dreamed or even thought it would be anything more than those two rodeos. I don’t know how it’s gotten to this point. I don’t even know what this point is, really. But I’m enjoying the moment. We don’t talk about rodeoing or roping or a run. When we get in the truck, we’re always talking about cattle, somebody’s ranch, this country or that country, or we might just not say anything for four hours. I bet we haven’t turned the radio on for a total of five minutes. I enjoy that time in the truck together talking about life.”
One thing led to another and again, Begay needed a fillin partner for San Angelo last year. They won it. Parlaying that success and excited encouragement from home, Begay and Todd eased around last summer and look to be gearing up for a summer run in 2023. “After we won San Angelo, I ran it (rodeoing) by my boys last summer. My wife and family were all excited about it, maybe even more so than me. He (Begay) needed a run, and I had no excuse to say no, because my family wouldn’t really give me a good one. So I was like, ‘Heck yeah,’” said Todd. “He (Begay) really started entering me from Cheyenne on. I had bought my continued on page 18
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really started entering me from Cheyenne on. I had bought my (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) card since 2008, but just to be a pickup man for my friends at Salt River Rodeo, never to compete. Even three years ago, I’d have said I’d never do it (rodeo) again. Every now and then, that thought enters my mind and I wonder if I’m going back on my word. I hate making bad decisions, but between prayer and my kids being intrigued with it, I don’t think I am.” The thing about Begay and Todd—who as of today are ranked 12th and 18th in the world on their respective sides—is that even though they’re hitting the road, their perspectives remain the same. While their desire to compete is there, and obviously their success is indicative of their talent, family is first for this team.
The 2023 Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo team roping titlists, Begay and Todd, are men of few words. But when they speak, everyone listens, and when they rope, everyone watches. The format at Guymon in the timed events is for the Top 12 in the aggregate on two head come back to the final performance on Sunday afternoon. While Begay and Todd were slated to rope Sunday, they found a trade to the first perf in the progressive round on Friday night, so they could get home. Begay was in Southern California by Sunday evening to take Brindle Mae to Disneyland. Todd spent the weekend at his boys’ Junior High State Finals Rodeo. Though Begay and Todd’s perspective allows them to find a balance of peace between being gone rodeoing and getting back home, their competitive nature is lurking around, as well.
“None of this was planned around a goal or anything like that, but guys like us love the competition so we like entering. It’s never been about the money for rodeo cowboys, so that’s not the driving force or the case, either. When you’re winning, it makes it fun. When you’re roping with someone you get along with so well, it makes it even more fun and next thing you know, you’re entering something else,” grinned Begay. “I don’t have the goal of making the NFR written on my bathroom window or anything like that, but making the NFR is a natural feeling to anyone that ropes competitively. It’s always naturally in the back of your mind, but I don’t think we have to do it to prove anything to ourselves. It’s fun.”
Todd shares those sentiments, and isn’t shying away from the idea of making the NFR a reality behind Begay. But it won’t come at the expense of life outside the arena. “It’s not like we have $60,000 won, and it’s June and making the NFR seems like a reality. But you have your moments when your mind is wandering. Especially where I’m at, your mind can wander pretty easy. If I wanted to throw up a dream, then I’d say that it’d be sweet for us to make the NFR,” Todd said.
“To put it in a nutshell, I’ve always tried to be where God has wanted me to be. From 2008 until last year, it has been in Willcox, Arizona on a ranch raising three kids, trying to be a good husband to my wife and building that relationship.”
Q - You recently were competing in Scottsdale at the Cactus Classic Reining horse show against some of the biggest names in the sport, and we’ve seen you competing many NRHA events for years. Why are you taking on that challenge?
A - Well I’ve always wanted to be a horse trainer, I never really wanted to be a clinician. I always wanted to train horses for a living. I’ve always wanted to compete and like competing, but I never got to do it for over 20 years at the level I wanted to do it because I was too busy traveling, touring and being on the road doing clinics. I couldn’t focus on the performance horses, ride 6 days a week and basically put in the effort you needed to put in. I showed when I could and was part of the industry, but now I have somewhat retired from Downunder Horsemanship. We still have the company going but I’m not actively pushing it anymore and I’m certainly not actively on the road. I am only on the road three times a year now touring so I have a lot more time on my hands. So, with that time, I want to get back to doing what I love and enjoy which is showing performance horses.
It’s been Reining in the past, but I’m pretty much getting out of the Reiners here soon and going to focus all my effort on the Cow Horses. I just found that the Cow Horse shows are a lot of fun, the people are a lot of fun, a very welcoming industry. Training a Working Cow Horse is extremely difficult because you are training three horses compared to one. It’s a very big challenge for me and I just find that it’s interesting and it’s something new. You know the Reiners I’ve been doing for over 20 years, not that I’ve perfected it by any means but it’s something I’m very familiar with where the Cow Horse is a new challenge, so it’s very interesting. Honestly the horse shows are a lot more fun. Honestly the Reiners are stuck up a little bit, the Cow Horse people are a lot more fun, they are a lot more social. They’ll welcome newbies, they welcome beginners. They don’t give a hoot if you have a million dollars in your pocket or if you are poor and show up with a single horse stock horse trailer with rust in it - they don’t care. They just welcome you. I personally enjoy the atmosphere a lot more. It’s the Cowboys against the cows, where at the Reining shows it’s a lot more of an individual sport. I just don’t find that you have the camaraderie the way that you do with the Cow Horse events. The NRCHA have a special culture and every trainer genuinely wants the next trainer beside him to do well even though they are a competitor. In the warm-up pen everybody’s wishing everyone Good Luck, they cheer for you, and it is not fake. It is not something that is just for show, they genuinely want each other to do well. It is something that I have never experienced before.
Q - You built nationwide brand recognition using RFDTV as a distribution channel for your TV show, becoming one of, if not, the most recognized equestrian brands in America. Today you’re producing a podcast for your fans, how is that working out?
A - So far it is working out really well. We have only been doing it about six months now and the podcast is already in the top 1% of podcasts in the entire Country. There are over 5 million podcasts in America and to make the top one percent you’ve got to have 50,000 downloads per episode within the first 30 days of an episode’s release. We’ve done that on all but one show so far. So, to do that is especially the reason why I think that’s so significant, is that the horse industry is a very small niche industry. Compared to hunting, fishing, racing, sports. You know, horses really are very niche market, so for a horse podcast to break into the top 10% in the entire country is pretty unique. I’m not trying to brag but I kind of am a little bit. Like that stuff doesn’t happen! It’s been watched in over 105 countries all over the World and the whole purpose of it was to talk about people that started poor, started broke, started with nothing in life and through hard work, determination, business skill and sacrifice ended up being very wealthy and very successful. So, I wanted to talk about money and personal lives, and it’s called “Uncut & Real Raw” for a reason. Because we are very raw, we say what’s on our mind. The reason our podcast has been so successful is because I say the stuff that’s on most people’s mind that nobody really wants to say it. It’s been very successful, I only did it for a hobby, I never intended it to turn into basically what it’s turned into. It’s turned into something extremely popular. I just did it because I thought it would be interesting and something fun to do. I really didn’t know if would take off or not but it’s certainly has. I think the public is absolutely starving for genuine uncensored conversation. We are so sick as a culture, sick of politically correctness, cancel culture, all the bull crap politically correct horse shit that has been going on the last 20 years, I think it’s really just built to a complete peak right now where everybody’s had a gut full of it. So I think another reason why the podcast is so successful is because I don’t have a filter, I don’t want the guests to have a filter and we’re willing to talk about not just success, but people want to know our values, they want to know that you get a bloody nose from time to time. You know no matter how much money you have, whether you are poor, whether you’re rich - we all put our clothes on the same way every morning! The podcast to me has been very relatable to the audience because we’re not trying to hide anything. In fact, the uglier the story is and the uglier and more embarrassing it is the more we talk about it, and it makes everybody laugh. It’s relatable. Why do you think Rip’s character on Yellowstone is so popular?
It is not a shock that his character is so popular. He is popular because everybody feels that part of Rip inside themselves. Now everybody’s just so scared to let it show anymore. That’s why his character is so successful, because he’s real he is not counterfeit. He’s a good guy, he’s like the modern-day Zorro. He defends the little guy. You know what I mean? He’s tough, he is caring, he believes in the Code of the West, and you either like him or you don’t. And if you don’t like him, he doesn’t give a hoot either. He really does not care. He really does not lose one little bit of sleep.
Q - That is hard to learn how to handle Clinton….
A - Yes, it is Tracy. And again, me as a personality, I’m very much the same. You either love me or you hate me. I get it - there is no in-between with me. You’re either a fan of mine or you hate my guts and I’m ok either way. And even if you hate me, I still wish you the best in life. I want you to listen to somebody you enjoy, why would you listen to somebody who don’t enjoy? I realized this a long time ago. You cannot keep everybody in the world happy, not even close. In fact, the more successful you become in life the less people you do keep happy. I think the best you can really hope for is maybe 60/40. 60% of the people like you and 40% hate you guts. Because as you get more successful politically left or right or how you think, you are going to rub half of your audience the wrong way and that’s OK. And why is it OK? Because there is such a big audience in 50%, who cares about the other 50%?
I have an old saying that is, “When you sit in the middle of the fence you get splinters in your butt.” So, when you sit in the middle of the fence, and try to appease both groups of people, all you do is make everybody angry! You might as well be just who you are. Half the people will love you for it and half the people will hate ya. So, the people that love you for it, engage with them. The people that hate you, just smile and ignore them because they really shouldn’t affect your life. You certainly do not want to affect their life and I don’t want to change anybody. I have no desire to change anybody. If you want to go to church four-times a week, I don’t care, more power to you. I encourage you to do it, but in return, I politely ask you not to try to change me. I’m the way I am.
Q - On Yellowstone, John Dutton’s personal horse, in season five was one of your favorite horses… a beautiful buckskin. You could spot your brand on the horse. How did that come about?
A - That hose is by Nic It In The Bud, out of Princess And Diamonds. He is extremely well bred. Princess And Diamonds is an NRHA Hall of Fame mare. He was originally trained as a Reining horse and then over the years got passed down to a rookie Reining horse, then I sold him to a lady and then I don’t know how he eventually ended up on the TV show. I’ll be honest about that. I never asked Taylor how the horse ended up there, but he is a very pretty horse, good minded and well-trained. You can’t buy that kind of advertising. Last time I saw Taylor I shook his hand, and I said I feel like I need to write you a check, and he said, “Why?” I said, “Because putting that horse on the TV show got me a lot of free branding and advertising”, and we just both chuckled. So, you know, to be honest I don’t know how he ended up there. I’d like to tell you something fantastic story about how I planned it all, but reality is it just worked out that way.
Q -This has become a new program for you?
A - I am no longer breeding performance horses, but I am selling them now. I buy really high-end yearlings or two-year-old’s and then I sell them and keep them in training. So, when I retired, I moved from 250 acres down to basically 11 acres in northwest Arkansas and now I don’t want to do the breeding anymore I’d rather just buy. So, if you kill a cow I just want to come and buy your filet. I want to buy the best cuts of that cow from you, and
I want to leave you with the rest. When you’re breeding 20 to 30 foals a year, you know you might end up with four or five outstanding ones but now you’ve got 26 that you’ve got to find homes for, so I’d rather pay a premium and come to you as a great breeder and pick the best ones. I’ll pay a good premium for them, then I only get what I want. I enjoy that a lot more and I think it’s increased my odds of finding great horses and because I don’t have the land and all the stuff. I don’t have all the apprentices around anymore and the people to handle the breeding operation as I did it for 25 years, so it was just time for a change. I enjoyed it, I made money at it, I was good at it, but reality is I can only ride so many horses. I have a very small boutique training barn. I need to ride about 11 horses a day. I can’t do the numbers game. I can’t start 30 two year-olds to find three good ones. Doug Carpenter, my mentor that passed away from COVID. He always said, “Your better off going and buying the Stock you want rather than waiting for people to try to send it to you.” You might get 30 customers to send you 30 colts, and a lot of them might be well bred, but the reality out of 30 there might only be five that are going to stay with you. For a level 4 kind of horse as a big-time Open horse. I would rather pay a premium to you, and I’ll buy your best one and I expect you’re going to charge me accordingly, but I still feel like I am money ahead by giving you a premium for your best stock rather than me trying to do a numbers game.
Q - So, You have a New Performance Horse program that is part of your return to the show pen. Can you tell us about this?
A - I have people ask me all the time, “Can I put a horse in training with you Clinton?” And they kind of think that I am untouchable now, and the answer is no I’ll train your horse the only difference is this. I won’t accept you sending me what you want to send me but if you buy something that I already have I’ll be happy to train it for you. Because I’m not like a traditional horse trainer where you just send the horse you’ve bred, and I see if it works or not. I take all my own horses and I buy them with my own money so that means I’ve got skin in the game and if I like riding it and it’s a really good horse, I’m happy to resell it to you and you leave it with me to train. So can you get me to train a horse for you, absolutely. The difference is I will only sell your horse that I bought first and that should show some confidence that I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. I’ve got skin in the game, and I’ve already rode him for six months, so I know what I’ve got. I’m not interested in selling a horse to you if I don’t want to ride it. Because again I don’t make my money from riding horses, so I have no incentive to lie to you and tell you it’s a good horse when it’s not. Because I want to get rid of it if it’s no good, I don’t want to own it! If I already own, it and it’s a good one I’m willing to sell it to you. I have never done anything Tracy the way everybody else does it, that’s why I’m so successful and I’m not bragging but I do the opposite of what everyone does. If everybody’s walking, I start running so I have a completely different business model than everybody else.
In fact, what I do, I have such a unique business plan I actually sell the horses to my customers with a money back guarantee. That’s never been done before so let’s say you buy a two-year-old continued on page 28
for $150,000. I’ll sell it to you, and I give up until the futurity finals. On the final’s night of the Cow Horse Futurity, if you don’t want it for any reason. If it goes lame, you get a divorce, you just you woke up one night and say, “I don’t want to do it anymore”, I will give you your purchase price back. I won’t give you your training money and paid board or vet bills or any of that, but whatever your purchase price is, I actually guarantee in writing that I give that back.
Nobody in the horse industry has the guts to do that. I do! You might say, “Well why would I do that?” Several reasons. Number one, Tracy I already know what I got so when I sell you a good one, I know it’s a good one, because I’ve already been riding it. OK? Number two, let’s say I sell you a 2-year-old for $150,000 to $200,000 and I guarantee that on the night before the futurity finals of that horse’s futurity year, if you don’t want it, I write you a check back. What do I care, you have paid all of the bills for 18 months. I basically got to train my own horse for free and not pay any expensive for 18 months. So, if it’s a good horse, how willing do you think I am to buy it back off you? Really willing, aren’t I? I hope you sell that horse back to me! I know he’s ready, and now he’s worth $250,000! I sell horses with a money back guarantee! Tell me who else who has done that? Nobody!
So, I put in writing, that when you sign a contract with me, that you have up to (now you have to insure it in case it drops dead), but I put it writing that I will buy it back and for any reason too! Let’s just say it ended up being lame, or have an accident, I just buy it back! Someone might say, “Why do you but it back if it is lame?” Again, I am gonna have skin in the game. That’s mindset to keep something healthy, isn’t it? That’s my incentive to not cripple it! In the back of my mind, if I cripple the horse or something, I end up the owner again!
That’s what I do, I buy with my money. I ride him for, you know like six months, and if I don’t have a real good feeling about him, or if I don’t like them or they’re not good enough they just disappear. They go to a sale. If I like them, they stay, and then customers can buy them. I price them high enough so that if the clients never sell them back to me, great I made a profit. If they do sell them back to me, that’s OK because I basically got them trained for 18 months on their dime. Either way I win and it’s really good for the customer!
Like I got a customer now that just paid $200,000 for a 2-yearold, and his last 3-year-old that didn’t work out he had over 350,000 into it and sold it for 40,000. I said, “OK, you understand now, that if this horse doesn’t work, I’m going to give you the purchase price back?” He said, “I don’t really believe it, but I’m gonna try”, and I said, “OK!” I put it in writing, this is not a handshake deal. I have a contract written out that they get their money back. So, when word catches on that I’m doing this, how hard do you think it will be getting people to invest in my horses? I am the only one that’s got deep enough pockets. It’s not feasible for most horse trainers to go buy their own horses and guarantee their own horses back. They don’t have the money. That’s the difference with me I’m buying my own horses with my money.
I just bought four 2-year old’s and I paid almost $600,000.00 for these four horses. That is OK, I have the money to do that,
and in business that is called inventory. Once I start winning more, competing more, I think people will be lined up to keep doing business with me. Especially with this guarantee that I’m going to buy the horse’s back from them. Here is the catch. After the futurity, they have to sink or swim. They have to sell it back to me or keep it forever. They can’t hedge the bet more than the 2 years. By the futurity we know what we have, so I show it at the pre-futurity and then we will show at the big futurity in Ft. Worth. After the prefuturity, we know what is under the dress. There is no guessing anymore. We know what we got. If you like it, it’s yours. And when I say keep it, I mean, I don’t owe you any money. If you don’t like it, and you want me to buy it back, you got to let me buy it back right then and there that night! The night before the big futurity! I have the check in my pocket ready to go!
I am not actively searching to purchase 2-year old’s for Reining right now. If someone came to me and says that they really want to go do this, I am not going to say that I wouldn’t, but I’m not actively pursuing reining prospects. Right now, I am pursuing the Cow Horse prospects.
Q -You have maintained a leadership position in the horse business for decades. What has motivated your drive to work that hard over an extended period-of-time?
A -Honestly money……. That is as simple as it gets, money. I did this for the money and I’m not ashamed for doing it. A lot of people in the Western industry think it’s a taboo to say that. That you do what you do for money, but I did it for money and I’m not ashamed of it, just like everybody has a job. If you really want to be honest, with 95% of the people in the World, if you said, “Would you go to your job if it wasn’t paying you money? What would their answer be? No… And they would say, “Are you crazy? Heck no I wouldn’t go to my job if it wasn’t paying me!” Except, when you say it out loud everybody thinks you’re a piece of crap for some reason in the Western World. Everybody thinks you’re a horrible person because you say you did this for money. Very few people get lucky. When you get to make a lot of money or have a career and you genuinely loved that career, I never loved what I did, I was just good at it. I was good at it, there was money in it, I recognized there was money in it and I have a flair for business. I went with it. Now that I’m a horse trainer, I love what I’m doing now, but is there any money in it? No, No, not at all! There is no money in training horses. But I love doing it, so yeah now I’m doing something I love to do but heck it’s a good thing I made all my money and invested it, because I sure wouldn’t like to be living off the horse training money right now. You know what I mean? I did it for the money. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy some of it, some of it I did enjoy, but it was a job, and it was a business. If a guy has a multi-million-dollar concrete factory? Do you really think that guy enjoys waking up every day and making concrete? Of course, he doesn’t, but he sure likes spending that money from his concrete business on a nice house and a pool! So, you think that guy’s passionate about concrete? Course he is not. Society wants you to say, “I love what I do.” I don’t know why we have to be like that. 95% of us don’t love what we do, we do it for income. How you know that is if you’re boss says I’m not going to pay you, will you show up tomorrow? If you do, you probably love what you do! Let’s just be honest, it’s not like I’m doing something nobody else is doing, I just seem to be the only ass that says it. That is why the pod cast is so successful, because we say the things we are not supposed to say and everybody chuckles and relates to it!
Q - When you landed as a skinny kid from Australia in America and we first meet at Al Dunning’s ranch any reasonable person could recognize that you were handy with a horse, but there was no reason to think you would rise to the top. What is it about you that propelled your career?
A - What made me more successful than everybody else when I was in the clinician business is my work ethic. I wasn’t that talented with a horse and I’m still not. There are many other men and women that can train a horse much better than me. But where I beat my competition was not in talent, it was in raw determination and work ethic. So, to be perfectly honest my secret weapon in life is I just out work my competition. I couldn’t beat them on talent, I couldn’t beat them on natural ability, but I sure as shit could out work them. And that’s what I did. If they did ten tours a year, I did twenty. If they worked 12 hours a day, I worked 14. Whatever they did I did 25% more. That was my real talent. My real talent is that I had to outwork them! I’m still using that to my advantage today. There is many other men and women I’m training against right now that are better horsemen than me, so I have to work harder to try to even it up. Right now, you know in the performance horses I’m kind of getting my butt kicked a little bit, but I still keep showing up every day. Trying to get better, trying to get better, trying to get better…..Really you don’t have to be the most talented person in the horse industry, you just have to have the best work ethic and that’ll take you a long way.
Q - What horse people have had a major impact on shaping who Clinton Anderson has become?
A - In the beginning my two big mentors were Gordon McKinlay in Australia and Ian Francis’. Gordon showed me all my colt starting skills, problem solving skills, how to handle a bad horse and groundwork. Ian Francis’ showed me a lot of riding techniques. He has won the Reining Futurity five times and won the Cutting Futurity 3 times in Australia. He showed me more skills towards the show pen. Then in America I have tried to take a blend from a lot of really good people. Andrea has been a really good influence on me over the years. He has helped me. The late, great Doug Carpenter was very instrumental as a mentor, helping me with the bloodlines, breeding and conformation. You pretty much cannot name anyone in the Reining world that has not been successful that I have tried to pick up tips from here and there. I’m still doing it. Bob Avila is helping me a lot with the Cow Horses, and I still try and get help every day and learn something new.
My life would have been completely different if my job with Al Dunning had been different. Meaning this, Al was the greatest boss I ever worked for, and I’ll say that. He was the greatest and I loved working there. The reason I left, and it’s not a bad reason, it just is what it is. I was third stringer. So, Al got to pick what he wanted to show. Mike Wood was there, and Mike got what he wanted to show and there was nothing for me being third in line. And at that time, Mike had been there like four or five years at least and Al Dunning said to me, after six months. He said,” Clinton are you going to stick around?” and I said, “Honestly Al, I don’t think I will.” And he said, “How come?” And you can print all this. I said, “Al there’s nothing here for me. There’s nothing, there’s nothing for the third guy in line. I said, “You know, you get what you want, and Mike gets the leftovers. Well, there’s no leftovers from Mike and honestly, I don’t see Mike leaving here anytime soon. Al said, “Well you are correct, it’s the Code of the West. Whoever’s been here the longest gets
seniority,” and he said, “I can’t put you ahead of Mike”, and he said, “You have to wait your turn.” I said, “I respect that, I’m not mad about it or upset. I respect the law.” But I said I also want to get a chance to go show. Because remember, back in those days when you first met me Tracy, I wanted to be a horse trainer. I had no desire to be a clinician. Well, it turned out that Mike stayed on another 6 or 7 years! It was a wise decision me leaving, because Mike didn’t go anywhere for a loooong time……… you know what I mean? Now, if would have thought that Mike was going to leave in the next two or three years, I would have stayed. And I’ll tell you this much, if I would have stayed, my career would have been completely different. I would have been a show horse trainer! I would have been training Reining Horses, Cow Horses, Cutters. That’s what I would have done. But you know fate and life takes you different directions and I went a different direction.
Q - When you left Al’s, what happened that you became a clinician?
A -Well, after that I got married to an American girl. We were just young dumb kids. She was 18, I was 20. We didn’t know the difference between love and lust. So, I got married and went back to Australia for a year. I came back to America a year later and knew that if you were not working for one of these guys that had enough show horses that you could get something to pick from, you were just gonna be slave labor. So, I called up Avila, because that’s when he was really hot with Todd Bergen and John Slack and couldn’t get a job there. I called up Stone Ranch. That’s when John and Todd were working together with Brett. Couldn’t get a job there. Called all the major trainers and couldn’t get a job and eventually I got a job with Mike and Barbi Boyle in Ione, California. I enjoyed that. I got along with Mike really well, and you can print this because Barbi and I get along really well now. At the time, Barbi and I didn’t see eye to eye, and after a few months she ended up firing me. We always joke about it today, and I buy her a cocktail every time I see her, because she gave me the best firing I ever got! She fired me and it basically forced me, because I was broke, to go teach lessons. Because I had no money and I had given a lot of lessons for Mike in that local area, so I just went back to giving lessons to just try to get a little bit of money in my pocket so I could get back to training Reining horses again. The lesson business took off and got bigger and bigger and bigger and I started to make more and more money. Pretty soon I just kind of became a slave to the money. The money was so good it was hard to walk away from it. I decided ohhh, I’ll just go do this for three or four years, make some money, save it up and get back into the performance horses. After three or four years, you know I’m grossing $500,000 to $600,000 a year. That was a lot of money for a young guy, you know? So, at that point I was like well, do I want to go back and be a broke horse trainer? Where even if you are successful? There’s a lot of horse trainers that are very successful and are still broke. But just because you are successful doesn’t mean you are not broke. Just because someone is successful does not mean they have made a lot of money…..So do I stay a clinician? I chose to stay being a clinician. Now, what I didn’t realize is that I got on a hamster wheel with the clinician business that took me 25 years to get off the damn thing! However, I ended up retiring at 43. I am very proud of that; most people never get to retire at all in the horse industry. I got to do it with millions at 43, so yeah, I am continued on page 30
proud of that because it’s a real hard thing to do! You know most people can barely make a living in the horse industry, I got to retire. That’s how I got back now at 47. I’m back to training horses again.
I love Mike and Barbi to death, and we joke about it now. Barbi firing me, honestly is what made me become a clinician out of necessity because I needed money. We get along well; you can print that. I buy Barbi a cocktail every time I see her. We hug and joke about it, but really Barbi firing me was life changing. Because even though it was devastating at the time. I threw up for about four days, had no money, threw up for four more days, had no prospects, it forced me to go a different way in life. And my mother always told me, you know in life, “If one door closes, if you look for another, one will open for you.” At that age it was difficult to see the positive in such a bad situation, but it really was a major positive thing in my life. That’s why I hug Barbi every time I see her. Because if she wouldn’t have fired me, I don’t think I would have gone down the route I went……….
I never expected to hear that, it is a really interesting story. No, no. I was just good at it. I was better than the other clinicians, in the fact that I was good at teaching. That was my natural gift. It was teaching. I wasn’t naturally a good horseman or rider, but I was naturally good at the gift of gab and teaching people. I was good at it, and I made money to do it. People wanted me to teach and when you are broke, that’s what you do, whatever you can to make money. That’s what I did. You know what I mean? I really wanted to be a horse trainer you know. There was a job with Brett and John and Todd Bergen at Stone Ranch in Arizona. Andrea and I, we joke about it today. He beat me by two weeks to get that job. I called them up two weeks later and said, “I am looking for a job”, and they said “Man we just hired an Italian kid. If you would have called a few weeks earlier, you would have had the job.” Andrea’s and my career basically started at the same time. You know what I mean? Around 1997 we both got here. If I would have got that job working for them, I guarantee we wouldn’t be talking the way we are now.
Q - Most clinicians stay in their comfort zone, appealing to their base of followers and over time their game plays out and they become a has been. Few, if any, get out and compete in the real world. What is it that keeps you evolving when so many of your peers are unable to do that?
A - First of all I’m very competitive by nature. I like the thrill of The Chase of being a competitor. And two, I want to become a better horseman and the only way you become a better horseman is hanging around horseman that are better than you. When you compete against people that are kicking your ass, if you keep competing and keep learning eventually, you’ll get (hopefully) as good as them or maybe even better. I don’t know, I just like competition. I feel like competition and horse shows is a true leveling game of talent and ability. You know the problem with the clinicians is you can tell 2000 un-educated people that you are the greatest horseman in the World. They just believe you, because they’ve got nothing to compare to. I want to win the respect of my peers, the people I am competing against. If they respect me as a horseman and they respect me as a trainer and tell me I did a good job, well I have earned my peers respect and vice versa. I think the difference with me is, and you know this, only one other clinician that really does compete a lot is Richard Winters, and he mainly just does the Cow Horse, not the Reining. Richard loves to compete as well. Most of the clinicians, quite honestly, they’re not willing to humble themselves Tracy! You know it’s not easy to get your ass kicked at 47 in front of 100’s and 1,000’s of people! You
get what I’m saying? If you are NOT Uncomfortable you are NOT growing. I’m willing to get uncomfortable, because I want to get better! It’s easy to stay in your own little pond, and not only that, but I also don’t care how successful you are at any industry. You could be the best Reiner in the world, best Cow Horse, best Cutter…… If you change industries, get ready to go back and be a Rookie again! I promise you. I promise, you take the #1 Reining guy and you put him in the Cutting pen. He looks like a Rookie really quick again! It would be really easy for me to stay in my lane and not get uncomfortable. Especially at 47 years old and I’m trying to compete against young guys in their 20s, but again if you’re comfortable, you are not growing. You’re not getting better. You gotta be uncomfortable to get better. In anything in life, I don’t care what it is, but if you are not uncomfortable you are not getting better!
Q -We touched on it earlier, you’ve got a lot of guts to get out there and compete against the best riders and horses in the western performance horse world. So many of us have high anxiety when showing. How do you feel knowing everyone is watching you in the show pen?
A -I don’t really care about them watching me, per se, because again I got pretty thick skin. I have dealt with the public my whole life. So, the insults and embarrassment doesn’t really hurt me anymore. So, I’m not worried about being in front of people. Do I like losing in front of people? No! I don’t think any man or woman that likes to be successful likes getting their ass kicked. So that bothers me. But I like the fact that it bothers me, because it bothers me to get out of bed at 3 o’clock in the morning and go do my job!!! You know, it’s the embarrassment of sucking that makes you want to work a little harder! I use the negative energy of getting my ass kicked to get out of bed and try to do better. You know what I mean? I take negative energy and turn it into positive energy.
Q - What are real tips that you can offer aspiring horse trainers?
A -Number 1: Nobody ever drowned in their own sweat. People are so lazy today, so if you’re a young person boy or girl and you’re willing to work hard, two things will happen. Opportunities will come your way. People think luck is about luck. Luck is when hard work and opportunity start meeting in the middle. When opportunity and hard work meet, that is called luck……. OK, so make your own luck. Usually, you’ll find the harder you work, the more opportunities come your way. So, work really, really hard.
Number 2: Be willing to start at the bottom. I worked two years at my first job at 15 years old. He didn’t pay me a cent, I worked two years for free! He gave me food on the table, a little shitty caravan to live in and I worked for free for two years. But he was willing to teach me, and he was willing to give me an opportunity to work with horses. So today I can make millions of dollars from the information he shared with me. But if I would have been a little Punk kid at 15 and said, “You should pay me to learn how to train Horses”, he would have said, “Get lost!” So be willing to start at the bottom. If being at the bottom means you clean stalls for a year, you clean stalls every day! You show up first and you leave last. And when you show up before everybody else, including the boss, and you leave after everybody else. If you do that long enough, not a week or two now, but a year…… people will notice that. And America right now is starving for young people that have a work ethic. Because we’ve got so lazy as a culture. So, if you are willing to show your boss that you’re not lazy, opportunities will come your way! Opportunities will come into your life. And be willing to start at the bottom and prove your loyalty.
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is thrilled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the collaboration with long-standing corporate partner Markel, the official equine insurance partner of NRHA.
Many NRHA trainers, owners, and breeders trust Markel with their insurance needs for their horses, ranches, and businesses. Markel has attended every NRHA Derby and Futurity for the past 30 years and is a current NRHA Global Partner with the NRHA European Derby and Futurity. Markel is also a presenting sponsor of the 6666 NRHA Derby held annually at the Oklahoma Fairgrounds in June and the title sponsor of the NRHA Markel Futurity Sale. The sale is held during the NRHA Futurity in November and offers an outstanding group of two-yearold reining prospects, yearlings,
stallions, broodmares, and show horses.
“These are unprecedented times for the sport of reining,” shared NRHA Commissioner Gary Carpenter. “The growth in activity in the past several months has even the most seasoned veterans shaking their heads in awe. Amid all this excitement, let’s remember that Markel has been with NRHA as a corporate partner for three decades. That is a lifetime for a partnership. We appreciate all Markel has done for us and is doing for us.”
With over 50 years of knowledge and experience in insuring horses, farms, and horse-related businesses, Markel remains committed to the horse industry. “A corporate partnership that endures for thirty years is a testament to the strength and integrity of the NRHA and Markel,” said Frank Costantini, Senior Director of Western Disciplines at Markel. “The meteoric rise of the Reining Horse Industry worldwide has been unprecedented. At Markel, we’re extremely proud to have been a part of that growth and look forward to an ev
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is excited to host the $20,000 Invitational Freestyle Reining held at the 2023 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Sponsored by the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau, this must-see event will take place on Thursday, June 22 at 6 p.m., is free to the public, and is sure to have the whole family on the edge of their seats!
Often compared to figure skating, the performances also use choreographed music and are paired with astounding costumes, props, or often additional characters! Freestyle reining allows one to creatively use core reining maneuvers (circles, spins, stops, flying lead changes, etc.) and magnify them with music and choreography. The fan-favorite freestyle reining has been an NRHA
tradition since 1986, with the first-ever freestyle reining held at the NRHA Derby in St. Paul, MN. Veteran spectators of the event may mention it is always a surprise who may show up to compete.
The 2022 NRHA Invitational Freestyle Reining Champion, Hava Vital, blew away the competition last year with her breathtaking performance to the “Moulin Rouge” hit song “Lady Marmalade.” Coming in two points behind Hava as Reserve Champion, Abby Budd paired a bridleless routine with the song “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” Watch her performance here!
“As the horse show capital of the world, we are always excited to host reining events here in OKC,” said Zac Craig, Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau president. “We look forward to welcoming these participants and showing them all there is to do in the Modern Frontier.”
Confirmed 2023 Freestyle contestants include Karen Knight, Gabe Garrison, Ari Mischo, Brogan Hill, and Caitie Holtzman. The 2023 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel is full of other events throughout the week, including a tradeshow, Non Pro and Open Finals, and more.
Larry Mahan became a good friend when I wrote the life story tribute about his father Ray. Ray was still alive and wanted his story told his way. He had a ranch here near Laveen, that Larry had bought him. Ray invited me over to ride at his place after Larry and he had attended a party that featured Waylon Jennings performing at WestWorld in Scottsdale. Howard Keim former WestWorld managing partner(formerly known as HorseWorld), the late Scottsdale Mayor Herb Drinkwater, Tanya Tucker, Gilbert Ortega(the original one), and other notables were in attendance. I went several times to the Mahan Ranch to ride, and learned that Ray Mahan was a real horseman. At about the third trip, I realized that Ray was a huge part of why Larry became who he was and I wanted to write his story, his way…………early 1990’s.
The first time I met Larry, was when I was 7 years old and won tickets to go to the PRCA Rodeo in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit Free Press had a coloring contest and I won 2 tickets, I went with my dad. My dad would never pay for parking, and we drove his big car hauler truck to the event. We drove around the back of the Pontiac Silverdome arena and parked with the competitors. We walked by them all looking for Larry and I introduced myself. He was kinda nice, but not too much, because he had to get ready. But he did sign my autograph book and joined the ranks of Tiny Lund (NASCAR Driver), other race car drivers, the Banana Splits and Dan Haggerty(Grizzly Adams) both from television and others I had met by that age.
Years later he oddly recalled that meeting because I was a young girl with an autograph book. Usually 7 year old girls were not walking behind the chutes back then.
Back in 1988 Larry started a TV show names “Horse World” that later became “Equestrian Nation” that ran until 2009. On a side note: Rex produced the very first equestrian show on a cable station called “Rural America Network” (now call RFD TV) for the Scottsdale Arabian Show. Larry jumped in with his show shortly thereafter.
In 1994 the Scottsdale Arabian Show held a Celebrity Team Penning event in the Wendell area at WestWorld. Charles Barkley’s(Phoenix Suns)wife, Larry Mahan (whom was there filming for his TV show), and several other notables made up the 20 teams. Patrick Swayze was entered and showing his great stallion Tammen in halter and the daily and weekly news published a rumor that Princess Diana was planning on attending as well. Swayze had just launched the movie “Ghost” after his huge success with “Dirty Dancing”. Between the truth and the rumors here was literally no room to even walk around the 386 acres at the Scottsdale show grounds.
When the three-man teams were drawn for the Penning event, I was on the team with Larry and Patrick(heart attack). Patrick had to bow out on the last minute. His security team said that it was too many people in too large an area to ensure his safety. The third rider was secured 30 minutes before the event and his Arabian had never seen cattle. Larry was in the warm-up and told me the plan. It was that we would put the other guy into a holding position, I would run and cut out the cattle with our number on them, and he and I would work together and push them back and into into the pen. The other guys horse ran out the gate backwards but the ring stewards managed to get the horse back in the arena with just enough time to close the arena gate………On a side note, during this time in history, Team Penning had exploded, it was truly THE most popular horse event!
Now it is “go time” and I followed Larry’s plan. It was packed at the Wendell Arena, standing room only about 20 rows of people deep. My horse “Checkers” was really “cowy” and we got all 3 steers quickly, ran them into the pen and after all was said and done, we had the fastest time! It was one of the memories that would last forever and when you look back, Larry was a professional memory maker……Later that day, Larry commented that I took orders well and that we should ride more together more often.
Larry told me that Ray’s story was framed and hanging on his wall and he was always kind and grateful. We always were friends from then on. My sister Heather Gilbert and I went to a cow-horse/cutting clinic he did in Patagonia, AZ. I fell off, but my sister did not.....in a bareback cutting demonstration. I got a hard time about that from that day on. Larry made sure I never forgot it.
Larry was a lot of things in his life - to me he was a pioneer........ First guy to fly from rodeo to rodeo(saved time and he was less tired when he got there) and he owned/flew his own plane, he created his name into a brand that grew into something larger than life that even eclipsed his amazing Rodeo career. Larry paved the way for the future generations to prosper outside of the arena. He revolutionized the pathway to new ideas and introduced the industry to things that had never had been utilized. Like sponsorships, streamlining travel to be able to stay healthy and fit while attending more Rodeo competitions, to becoming a stand-alone brand known World Wide and so much more......
Larry was a horseman, he learned how to understand animals from a young age and it started with Ray. That was the story angle with Ray, because he taught Larry
from the beginning so many things. Like running a ranch, raising cattle, training horses and more....
“Cow sense - horse sense - non sense”, is what Ray would say……
Larry had a few more tools in his box when he became a Rodeo Champion. Of course talent, drive, incredible timing and more, but he never stopped being a horseman and he never stopped working. His name is recognized across the globe today even if it’s because you wear a “Mahan” hat.
Think about that for a minute. That is really a hard working Champion!
Thank You Larry for a lifetime of friendship and the opportunity to learn from a Legend!
Larry Mahan did a whole lot of living before heading to Heaven early this morning. His cowboy friends called him Bull, and he did a whole lot of winning in his legendary lifetime, too—both in and out of the arena. Mahan first struck gold as the 1965 world champion bull rider, and won a second gold bull riding buckle in 1967. The three-event roughstock-riding sensation won five straight world allaround titles from 1966-70, and a sixth world all-around crown in 1973. Mahan was a cowboy pilot, who flew himself and cowboy friends coast to coast—and beyond. Mahan was a businessman and an entrepreneur with a flair for fashion, with Larry Mahan Collections and popular lines of boots, hats and clothing he designed himself. Mahan was a pioneer at supplementing in-arena income with sponsorship money, long before patched-up competition shirts were the norm, like they are now.
Mahan was The Man. He owned his era, and went out of his road to answer the call of both Western and mainstream media, which helped elevate the cowboy sport to where it is today. Inducted with the inaugural Class of 1979 at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Mahan returned to center stage as the 2010 Legend of Pro Rodeo at the Hall’s Gala held each year in Vegas leading up to our cowboy sport’s Super Bowl. As a human, Mahan was generous of spirit. He always took the time to talk to me—and countless others—and never cut our time short. He opened every conversation with me by asking about my cowboyhorse-doctor dad, complimenting him as someone he always admired and respected at the other end of the arena and asking that I, “Give Dad my best.”
I have memories of Mahan from back when I was a little girl. But our professional lives passed—a lot and often—over Ty Murray. I got to witness Mahan being the first to shake Murray’s hand when Ty accomplished his lifelong dream of breaking Mahan’s record with his seventh world all-around championship in 1998. Fitting that Ty was one of the last people to spend time with Mahan these last few days, when his earthly end was very near. The trailblazer and the kid who proudly took his torch and carried it to even greater heights had two precious, priceless hours together in Mahan’s Texas home. Just the two of them. One last time. I don’t see Ty around all the time now, like I did in the day when he was busy ruling the rodeo world. Sure special and appreciated that he knew
how much it would mean to me to hear from him at the close of that final goodbye to his hero, mentor and friend. The last call like this one was the day Jim Shoulders died. Ty was the first to tell me. Mahan lived on the wild side, and was always a little bit unusual— a non-conformist in the most complimentary sense of the word. “If you think back to his era, everybody dressed alike,” Ty said. “Larry came along, and he loved to ride. But he didn’t look, act, ride, walk or talk like anybody else. He had an open mind that nobody else had. He looked at things differently. “Mahan’s love and passion for the challenge of riding bucking stock has to be the greatest factor in why he was so successful in the arena. And he was far and away the most successful outside the arena, too.”
Their bond and 40-plus-year friendship had the humblest of beginnings. Larry first laid eyes on 12-year-old Ty, and recognized a special “it” factor in the scrappy, skinny kid from Arizona. (Years later, Larry told Ty that at first sight, he saw a 12-year-old kid who rode better than he did.) Mahan told Ty’s dad, Butch Murray, to bring Ty out to see him. Butch figured Mahan was just saying that to be nice, but didn’t think he really meant it. But he did. Larry reached out to Butch again, “No, really. Bring him.”
Butch took Ty to see Larry, who put the kid on a cutting horse with his bronc saddle straight out of the blocks. A couple days later, Mahan invited Ty to spend the summer he was 13 at Larry’s ranch in Guffey, Colorado. While it’s easy for me to see Ty’s softspoken,
laid-back dad, Butch, recognize the value in such a unique opportunity, I get the giggles thinking about how his rodeo supermom, Joy, took the news that they would step away from the junior-rodeo trail for an entire season. Could her hair be redder if it caught fire from the thought of No Rodeos?? “If all a kid wanted to be was a quarterback, and Tom Brady said, ‘Why don’t you come hang out with me?’ That’s what it felt like for me at the time,” Ty remembers well. “The greatest cowboy of all time was telling me to come on. I couldn’t wait to get there.”
Interestingly, in their 40-plus years of sharing their lives, Ty says Larry never did tell him one thing about how to ride. Bull recognized that Butch had already instilled a firm foundation for his boy to build on. Instead, Larry went straight to testing Ty’s mettle, and completing his cowboy package with complementary strengths he knew would matter to his overall success. One of the earliest lessons was not to be shy, or shy away from opportunities outside the status-quo box. Early that summer, Larry had a speaking engagement at an Indian reservation, where he spoke to over 500 people, including a lot of kids who’d been in trouble. “It was the biggest crowd I’d ever seen,” recalls Ty, who was wide-eyed about it at the time. “Next thing I know, Mahan’s calling me to the podium.”
The Great American Cowboy (1973), produced and directed by Kieth Merrill, focused on the 1972 competition between Mahan and 1971 all-around champion Phil Lyne, who won the 1972 title, too. Mahan captured his sixth all-around title in 1973, breaking the record set by Jim Shoulders in 1959. The Great American Cowboy won the Academy Award for documentary in 1974.
Larry introduced 13-year-old Ty as rodeo’s next big thing—a cowboy superstar in the making—and without warning turned over the microphone and told the crowd, “You need to listen to what he has to say.” Naturally, 13-year-old Murray was mortified. But he mustered up a few words of wisdom for his young peers, and moments like that one came in handy years later. They taught him how to be at ease when he was put on the spot countless times during the glory days that were further down his road. And that was not Mahan’s first test of young Murray.
“We took Larry’s private plane to that event on the reservation,” Ty said. “I’d been on one plane in my life, and that was a commercial flight to get to his place that summer. When we got in his plane, Mahan showed me the basics around the cockpit, and gave me a two-minute crash course on how to fly an airplane. “Then he pulled out a pillow from behind his seat, fluffed it up and told me he was going to take a nap. All he said was, ‘Keep the dash level with the horizon.’ I couldn’t even see over the dash to keep it level with the horizon. “I was white-knuckling it, trying to keep us alive. About 15 minutes later, he woke up with a big yawn and took back over. I didn’t know until years later than he was just faking that nap. I was trying to keep the dash level with the horizon for all I was worth.”
A lot of you know Ty’s become a handy horseman over the years. He broke two of Mahan’s colts that summer at 13, and—vintage Mahan—the methods were anything but conventional. “I’d be on a colt the first time, he’d come running up horseback, rope the colt I was on, open the gate, then off we’d go into the big wide open on the ranch,” Ty remembers. “But later that summer, we rode those colts in the grand entry at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs.”
Larry introduced young Ty to a whole wide world of opportunity, inside the arena and beyond. “It was important that Mahan came into my life,” Ty said. “He talked to me about the importance of doing interviews, and said things like, ‘People can’t fathom what it’s like to ride a bull. Tell them what it looks like, feels like and smells like.’ “I made more money outside of the arena than in the arena. That was because of Larry. He’s the one who told me not to shy away from the media. He’s why I agreed to be on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
“Larry Mahan was the first rockstar of rodeo. He came along and became the first superstar of our sport who went outside of our little niche and out into the world.” Part of their bond had to be their being able to relate to each other while breathing the most rarified rodeo air there is. They competed in the same three dangerous, demanding events at the same end of the arena, and they dominated. And that came with a bull’s-eye on their backs that was relatable for them both. I’ll never forget how it used to hurt my heart when Ty got to the top, was smashing records right and left, and people would take pot shots at him. He would calmly tell me, “Toots, jealousy is a very ugly emotion.” Let me guess, he got such wisdoms from his talks and time with Mahan. Others had no way of knowing what it was like to live their lives. They say it’s lonely at the top for a reason. But they did not need approval beyond the sweat-equityearned self-satisfaction in their souls. “Mahan left a big mark on me, for sure,” Ty said. “I have a million great memories, and he and I will be forever linked.” The kid in this story is 53 now, and seeing his hero in his final hours was a reminder that, “We’re all on the same ride, and we better not be wasting any of it.”
Even in death, Larry had one last life lesson for the kid he thought of as a second son. Fate is fierce and strong, and Larry’s son, Ty Mahan, preceded him in death when he passed away at 53 three years ago. I’m told son Ty’s wife, Christina, has been a real blessing in his life since Larry’s beloved wife, JuleAnn, headed to Heaven just ahead of him. Mahan is survived by his daughters, Eliza and Lisa. Born November 21, 1943 in Salem, Oregon, Larry passed peacefully at home in Valley View, Texas, today, May 7, 2023, with his beautiful daughters by his side. He was 79. Ride high, Mahan. You earned it.
“We are thrilled to bring Billy on to take over the reins in the wake of Gary’s retirement”, said NRHA President Mark Blake. “I want to thank Jim Harlan and his team at MJM Global Search, Inc. as well as the official search committee, for all their hard work. I believe we have found the best possible individual to take over and help continue to move the association forward.”
Smith, who is stepping down as the Executive Director of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), boasts a well-rounded resume of education and decades-long industry experience, including tenured positions at the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). During his time at APHA, the world’s second-largest breed association, Smith spearheaded several key initiatives, including the creation of the award-winning CHROME publication and overseeing a successful relocation of the headquarters to the Fort Worth Stockyards.
His extensive information and technology experience proved essential in the creation of the first-ever equine show judge, exhibitor, and trainer educational platform, HorseIQ. Additionally,
under his leadership, the American Paint Horse Association Junior Paint Horse Association World Championship Show was founded as an all-scholarship youth breed equine championship, achieving $1.5 million in funding.
The Chrome Cash Incentive, a program designed to directly impact Paint horses in western performance horse events, has garnished massive appeal under Smith’s direction. It was recently expanded to include even more traditional all-around events.
“NRHA is fortunate to have attracted a leader of the caliber of Billy Smith. I have known Billy for years, and he has always been an innovator, and I know he will bring that creativity, passion, and strategic thinking to NRHA. We have so many great opportunities at hand, and he is absolutely the right person to capitalize on them. I know I am leaving NRHA in capable hands. I look forward to seeing what he does for the association and industry,” said current Commissioner Carpenter. Smith will begin work alongside Carpenter next month to ensure a smooth transition of power. “Nothing is harder than leaving an organization you love unless it’s going to an organization you know you’ll grow to love. APHA has emerged as a leader in innovation, and I hope to carry that spirit to NRHA and honor the great work launched by Gary Carpenter,” said Billy Smith.
Following discussions between American Quarter Horse Association Director of Competition Scott Neuman, National Reining Horse Association Commissioner Gary Carpenter, and NRHA Show Manager Cheryl Cody, an agreement has been reached regarding event dates. This pact will benefit the Farnam AQHA World Championship Show and the NRHA Futurity, both held at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.
The two organizations tackled a problem together and, beginning in 2023, tremendous changes will be made. The World Show will finish up with its reining world championships on Thursday, November 16, and the NRHA Futurity move-in will begin on Friday, November 17. For NRHA, enhanced growth for the massive futurity show had created scheduling difficulties, and for AQHA, increasing participation in the reining classes was a goal.
“We value our long-time relationship with NRHA, and leasing two days over to them during the Farnam AQHA World Championship Show made sense for both associations and our exhibitors,” said Karl Stressman, AQHA chief executive officer. “We are proud to support growth in the equine industry and opportunities for American Quarter Horse owners, especially, to exhibit their American Quarter Horses. In turn, we are
optimizing our own Farnam World Show schedule and are excited about the improvements we are making to our pinnacle event.” The alliance creates sponsorship support for the AQHA World Championship Show from NRHA and will enhance the added money in AQHA World Show reining classes. It is hoped that this will begin a growth in participation.
Carpenter lauded AQHA leadership for the decision. “The long line of AQHA/NRHA partnerships began with our founding. This is a continuation of that rich history, which will benefit the members of both organizations,” Carpenter said. “As we both become more creative and flexible, I see a brighter and brighter future of cooperation.”
Horses will move in for the Futurity early Sunday morning, November 19, and NRHA Futurity competition will begin on Tuesday, November 21. The two additional days that will be added to the event will give relief to a schedule that has been bursting at the seams.
“We appreciate AQHA’s willingness to work together on this, and we are very excited to offer NRHA members an improved schedule with extra days of competition,” Cody said. Further details will be forthcoming, but the new schedule is expected to have a positive impact on both events.
Q - Dani and Jeanie's Chic have been with you a short time. They had a pretty amazing month of May in competition. What is the plan for this team heading towards The Run for A Million Competition?
A - The plan is to complete at the NRHA Derby, Reining By The Bay & The Run For A Million.
Q - Dan, you recently were awarded the NRHA Non Pro Coach of the Year. After a lifetime in the sport of Reining, how does this make you feel?
A - It’s always nice to be recognized for the countless hours over the years that I’ve invested in our business & I genuinely enjoy seeing our clients reach their goals.
Q - Having a young lady like Dani to coach is exciting to see. It is the future of Reining and it looks good. What is it like to have clients with the same passion and drive that has carried you throughout your career?
A -Dedication & ambition are a must to succeed in any endeavor, & in my opinion, even more than talent. Without the desire to learn & get back at it after a setback, it’s nearly impossible to help the clients continue to make progress but Dani has proven that she is in it for the long haul.
Q - This year you qualified for The Run for A Million, as well, in the Open - What is that like?
A - Making the finals is always the goal when I show. Qualifying this year certainly was on the list of accomplishments for 2023 that I’d planned for but with so many extremely capable horses & riders competing it’s gratifying to have landed in a position heading to Vegas.
Q - Have you chosen your horse yet for TRFAM?
A - Whoz Joe Daddy “JoJo” who I qualified with is my pick to show on “Game Day”. Deb, Neal & Chandler Winard have been awesome clients for many years. Chandler showed “JoJo” in the Non Pro events in 2022 with enormous success. It takes a tremendous amount of training & a special horse that is capable of switching gears to go from Non Pro competition to the highest level of Open competition. When Chandler offered me the reins for the Qualifier, I knew I had a great shot at making the top 10. This horse has the “WOW” factor in looks & talent plus a bunch of personality. I appreciate the continued support of the Winard’s & I’m definitely looking forward to showing in Vegas!
Ever since the ASPCA Maclay Finals (Kentucky) last November, Carlee McCutcheon has felt the need to pinch herself. That was when she and her trainer Max Amaya sat down with Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward to discuss her riding a horse coming into his barn that they thought might make a good junior jumper.
McCutcheon started riding Coco Mercedes in January. They had great success first in the junior jumpers and then stepped into the U25 grand prix classes at the end of the winter season.
“We connected kind of right away; she’s exactly my ride, and to have the opportunity to learn from [someone] who I think is the best in the world is just so incredible. It’s been an amazing experience. It doesn’t feel real, and I’m just eternally grateful. I can’t say enough thank yous.”
Her “pinch me” moments continued at Devon, where she topped the junior jumper division following a win in the $25,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic. The 17-year-old from Aubrey, Texas, also
won the leading junior jumper rider award and the junior jumper style of riding award. Those two honors now join her tie for the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Championship.
“I’m at a loss of words really,” McCutcheon said. “It’s my last junior year, so I just came here trying to have fun, and it went better than I could’ve ever expected.”
While McCutcheon is no stranger to the jumper ring, she feels that the 10-year-old Westphalian (Chacco’s Son—Florentina), owned by Ward and Old Oak Farm, has made her a better rider. “She’s the most incredible partner I’ve ever had in the jumper ring,” she said. “She makes me so brave, and she’s incredibly fast, so I knew that this was a good jump-off for her and a class that I knew she could for sure win.
“I have so much faith in her; I know that I can just let her go and let her do her thing,” she added. “She’s naturally very hot and very fast.”
Q - Congratulations, Dani, on your recent AQHA Level 1 Championship! Can you tell us what it was like to compete in such a significant class and to tie for the win in such a large event, knowing that it could potentially lead you to TRFAM (The Run for A Million)?
A - At first I was nervous but so excited for the opportunity! I have been working really hard with my trainer, Dan Huss. I have wanted to qualify for TRFAM & the AQHA Youth World show since I got my horse, Jeanie’s Chic in February of 2021. I’m so happy that I am now qualified for both!
Q - During the last days of the AzQHA Pinnacle Circuit, you achieved an impressive 73-point Reining run. Can you walk us through that ride and describe the significance it holds for you, especially considering your aspirations for TRFAM?
A - One of the judges scored me with a 73! I was so happy that between the Mother’s Day Slide and the AZQHA Pinnacle Circuit my trainer really helped me understand and helped me correct anything that needed work and I was able to keep my scores pretty consistent. By the time I got to the Pinnacle I was feeling more confident and really taking in all the advice and training from Mr. Huss. He truly is a confidence builder.
Q -At the AzRHA Mother’s Day Slide, you not only had a successful showing but also qualified for TRFAM in the Rookie. How does it feel to have accomplished this and have the opportunity to compete at such a prestigious event?
A - I am just so grateful my trainer allowed me to try and qualify. All I ever wanted was the chance to see if I could do it. I couldn’t believe how well my horse & I did together. It finally felt like we were a team! It’s definitely a show I will never forget! I am so thankful to everyone who has shown and given me support in this short time that I started riding horses. It means so much to me.
Q - Your trainer, Dan Huss, was recently recognized as the NRHA Non Pro Coach of the Year. What is it like riding under his guidance, especially with TRFAM on the horizon?
A - Dan has such an awesome way of teaching. I love how serious and strict he is. He’s super nice too! I have learned so much in his program! Im grateful for all his time and all his advice he shares with me. I never thought I would get a 73 score but he made it a reality for me!
Q - How has his coaching contributed to your preparation and confidence?
A - My confidence is getting a lot better because of Mr. Huss. Following his advice and applying it to my riding has proved his teaching ability to be amazing & it shows in my scores also. I love rewatching my runs and being able to see the improvement in each and every one.
Q - Your partnership with Jeanie’s Chic is remarkable, and together you’ve achieved great success. Can you tell us more about the unique bond you share and how it will be showcased at TRFAM?
A - When my mom found Jeanie’s Chic for me I had only been riding a horse for about 9-10 months. I had never really ridden prior. Jeanie was so beautiful with her big blonde mane. I fell in love with her immediately. She was such a fancy horse! I love getting better at my riding with my mare. I feel she takes good care of me in the show pen. I love how she can perform on the upper open levels and then be just perfect for me in the youth classes. We have had some things to work on but with Mr. Huss training us it’s making me feel confident that we have a chance of doing well at TRFAM!
Q - Balancing competitive reining, and traveling between California and Arizona for training is no easy feat. As a young lady, how do you manage such a demanding schedule, and how does the support from your family play a role in pursuing your dreams, including your upcoming participation in TRFAM?
A - Between traveling back and forth from California to Arizona, training with Dan Huss as much as I can, helping run the family business, Shine Equine LLC and doing homeschool....it’s a little busy but my parents help me make it all happen. Teaching me business, a good work ethic, time management and teaching me the importance of never giving up has made it all possible. At first my mom was driving me every week Thursday to Sunday to Arizona to train for the first year and a half. But we now finally have a home in Rio Verde where I can see my horse and visit and grow up with my first baby that’s sired by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of my mare Jeanie’s Chic. I just love it out here! I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my parents and all of our friends in the industry. I value all the knowledge I have learned and obtained along the way.
Select awards at the APHA World Championship Show honor outstanding exhibitors, owners and breeders who shine in the Fort Worth spotlight, and we can’t wait to honor these special recipients this year! Read the World Show Premium Book for full details and entry information to make sure you’re in the running.
The World Show takes place June 23 – July 9 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Leading Owner Award — NEW!
Presented to the owner earning the most points from horses placing in the Top 10 in all world championship classes at the 2023 APHA World Show.
All divisions (Youth, Amateur, Open) count toward the award. Challenge, Sweepstakes, futurities, stakes and other non-world championship classes do not count toward this award. At least two of that owner’s horses must be exhibited to qualify for this award. No additional entry is required. Leading Breeder Award. Presented to the breeder earning the most points from horses placing in the Top 10 in all world championship classes at the 2023 APHA World Show.
All divisions (Youth, Amateur, Open) count toward the award. Challenge, Sweepstakes, futurities, stakes and other non-world championship classes do not count toward this award. At least three of that breeder’s horses must be exhibited to qualify for this award. No additional entry is required.
Leading Owner/Breeder/Exhibitor Award: Presented to the individual who is the owner, breeder and exhibitor of horses earning the most points in the Top 10 in all world championship classes at the 2023 APHA World Show.
All divisions (Youth, Amateur, Open) count toward the award. Challenge, Sweepstakes, futurities, stakes and other non-world championship classes do not count toward this award.
The exhibitor must be the current recorded owner and recorded breeder (or a member of their immediate family) per APHA records (see AM-020 for eligibility rules)
Ireland’s housing estates continue to ring to the sound of horses with patches of grass used for grazing and garages as stables. Horses used to be an integral part of cities across Europe until the middle of the 20th century. But in Ireland, no matter how hard the authorities have tried to dissuade residents from keeping horses, the tradition survives.
Although horses have long been associated with the travelling community, Irish people from all backgrounds have a passion for owning them. For those on lower incomes, that’s often in housing estates and even in city centres. Some horses can be bought for the price of a packet of cigarettes and although there are supposedly strict ownership rules, these are routinely flouted. The authorities are caught between trying to protect animal welfare and respecting a key part of Irish culture.
Must declare eligibility for this award by 5 p.m. on June 23, listing all horses to be included. No late entries or additional horses will be accepted.
2023 World Show All-Around Awards: Prize packages include a trophy saddle certificate for champions, along with many other prizes for champions and reserve winners—see the World Show Premium Book for details!
All-Around Open Show Horse (excludes reining, working cow horse, cutting, roping, mounted shooting, speed and ranch classes)
All-Around Open Western Performance Horse (includes reining, working cow horse, cutting, roping, mounted shooting and speed classes only). All-Around Open English Performance Horse
All-Around Open Solid Paint-Bred Show Horse (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Open Exhibitor, All-Around Amateur 19-44 (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Masters Amateur (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Amateur Solid Paint-Bred (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Novice Amateur (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count, All-Around Amateur Walk-Trot, All-Around Youth 13 & Under (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Youth 14-18 (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Youth Solid Paint-Bred (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Novice Youth (excludes ranch classes; all other classes count), All-Around Youth Walk-Trot, All-Around Open Ranch Horse (includes ranch classes only), All-Around Open Solid Paint-Bred Ranch Horse (includes ranch classes only), All-Around Amateur Ranch (includes ranch classes only), All-Around Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Ranch (includes ranch classes only), All-Around Novice Amateur Ranch (includes ranch classes only), All-Around Youth Ranch (includes ranch classes only) and All-Around Youth Solid Paint-Bred Ranch (includes ranch classes only)
The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) welcomes Kimes Ranch as the newest title sponsor of the Western Derby. In addition to being the title sponsor, Kimes Ranch will be recognized as the Official Outerwear and Cap of the NRCHA.
The Kimes Ranch
Western Derby will return to WestWorld of Scottsdale from May 31 through June 10 this year. The event will feature the limited-aged derby for 4- and 5-year-old horses who compete through the herd, rein, and cow work. Furthermore, the event will host the Holy Cow Performance Horses CD Survivor Open Bridle Spectacular with $25,000 in added money, along with a Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge qualifier.
“The Kimes Ranch partnership with NRCHA is one rooted in our love for the cow horse and the entire NRCHA community. Our brand is based firmly in the tenets of family, hard work, and integrity-values that we know run deep through the cow horse industry,” said Amanda Kimes, founder and Vice President of Kimes Ranch. “All of us at Kimes Ranch are thrilled to be part of NRCHA during such an exciting time in the Western industry. We look forward to hosting all the Kimes Ranch Western Derby competitors in our hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona, in June.”
Kimes Ranch is a family-owned Western clothing brand located in Arizona. The brand was created in 2009 with the goal of developing a brand that was true to the Western roots that were current in the fashion world. Kimes Ranch has prioritized function and fit, making their classic jean a standout necessity for all cowboys and cowgirls.
“The NRCHA is very excited about our partnership with Kimes Ranch. They have been contributors to the cow horse industry and our membership for several years and we are thrilled to welcome them as the title sponsor of the Western Derby,” NRCHA Executive Director, Emily Konkel, said. “The Kimes brand remains true to the Western roots, which are the same core values we have in the reined cow horse.”
The 2023 NCHA’s Annual Meeting will take place June 23 – 25, 2023, at South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. FORT WORTH – Join us at South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. for the 2023 NCHA Annual Convention!
New this year, registration is FREE. All NCHA members are invited and are encouraged to attend. While registration is free, we do ask that you register in advance to accommodate for name badges and meeting room size. Register now!
A room block for NCHA members is available at South Point. This includes a weekday rate of $75.00 a room and a weekend rate of $165.00 a room. Reservations can be made online at this link or over the phone at (866) 791- 7626. If you are calling to reserve, be sure to say you are with the NCHA 2023 Convention to receive the room block rates.
The 2023 NCHA Annual Convention schedule and agendas will be forthcoming.
For more information, visit nchacutting.com or email convention@ nchacutting.com with any additional questions.
–Montana Silversmiths has long been the leader in the western industry in commemorating momentous events from world championships to significant milestones, so when the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association wanted to commemorate their 75th Anniversary they turned to their longtime partner.
Only a limited quantity of 75th Anniversary pendants were made for the milestone, so get yours today complete with a silver chain by clicking on Official Store. While there be sure to check out all the other official merchandise of the WPRA.
Together they designed a LIMITED EDITION WPRA 75th pendant that is now on sale on the WPRA’s Official Store.
“We are excited to offer this limited-edition pendant to all our members and fans,” said Hannah Miller, WPRA Partnership Manager. “This was a fun piece to put together with our great partners at Montana Silversmiths to commemorate and celebrate 75 years of the oldest women’s sports organization in the world.”
Daniel “Dan” James Fowlie, 59, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away April 10, 2023. He was born in Phoenix on September 26, 1963 to Alice and John Fowlie, joining his older siblings, Mike, Patti, and Terri in the household. He graduated from Camelback High School and then continued his education at Eastern Arizona College. He met the love of his life, Annette Fowlie, joining their hands in marriage on October 21, 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona.
He was blessed to have four children, CJ, Savannah, Macie, and Sterling. His heart only grew larger when he became a proud Grandbo to Amelia, Dawson, and Stella.
He enjoyed a successful and fulfilling career in the rodeo industry.
Dan began competing before finding his passion as a Rodeo Announcer, making countless connections around the country along the way.
Dan was widely recognized as the voice of Rodeo Alaska. In addition to his rodeo career, he worked as a sales representative working in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada for nearly 35 years. During that time, he was recognized numerous times and awarded salesman of the year, including bringing in $1 million in sales in one year.
He was a member of PRCA, CCPRA, and GCPRA. He lived a life full of laughs and was truly happy when surrounded by family, working on his hot rods, and time at the rodeo.
Born in Arizona, Dan Fowlie knew he had an immediate love for rodeo when his mother took him to the 1968 Phoenix Jaycee’s Rodeo. It wasn’t until his college years he got the opportunity to compete in rodeo as an Eastern Arizona College rodeo contestant while studying Ag Marketing. He competed and won money in 4 out of 6 of rodeo’s toughest events. Dan has been hugely attracted to the grandeur of rodeo. Like the small child he was when he saw his first
rodeo, the sport of rodeo makes him feel young at heart.
Dan began announcing at rodeo’s to subsidize his fees as a contestant. Although he competed in the team roping at an amateur level. An injury in the steer wrestling in 1998 allowed him to refocus his rodeo efforts and channel his talent to the announcer stand. Although the demands of rodeo kept Dan on the road a lot. He really enjoyed the time he got to spend in the West Valley of Phoenix raising a family with his wife of 33 years, Annette, who also enjoyed the sport of rodeo and still competes in barrel racing today. They had four wonderful children all of whom compete and have won several saddles, buckles and various awards for their efforts. When not rodeoing, he took the whole family to help in raising horned corriente cattle for use in the rodeo industry.
Having originally honed his skills at places like Estrella Park, Mr. Lucky’s in Phoenix, and having worked all levels of rodeo.
Dan Fowlie was recognized and permitted to work with rodeo’s elite, as one of less than 150 announcers nationwide with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association, aka PRCA. He was selected to work some of the biggest venues in Pro Rodeo having been chosen three times to call the action at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Benny Binion Bucking Horse and Bull Sale in Las Vegas. Dan annually worked great PRCA rodeos like RAM Turquoise Circuit Finals in Las Cruces NM, Rodeo de Santa Fe, NM, Buckeye Helzapoppin PRCA Rodeo, Cave Creeks Wayne Wilson PRCA Rodeo, Safford PRCA rodeo, Queen Creek Roots and Boots, Steamboat Springs, CO along with stops at Anchorage Alaska for Rodeo Alaska, Amador County Fair, Plymouth CA, Sonoita AZ & Gilbert Days as well as over 1000 performances in his 25+ years behind the mike.
But amongst his favorite events were the venues he had been selected to work in Buckeye. Dan Fowlie said “You bet this is the biggest and the best, it’s my hometown rodeo”. I live in
the west valley of Phoenix, a mecca of rodeo action. Snowbird rodeo contestants from all over the world are envious that I live in Arizona in the winter. “Heck ya, I love being in the west valley in the winter months I enjoy roping and all things cowboy. Buckeye and the surrounding areas have great rodeos, roping, & cowboy events all winter long.”
The sport of rodeo continued to keep Dan young. He believed being involved in rodeo had provided him the opportunity to do what he loved. He shared “It’s the people that make a difference - and rodeo has the best.”
He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Annette; his children CJ (Hillary), Savannah, Macie, and Sterling; grandchildren, Amelia, Dawson, and Stella; siblings, Terri (Dan) Becktold, and Patti (Rick) Dye; nieces and nephews, JJ, Ashley, Ben, Kim, Amy, Jenna, and John; sister-in-laws, Beverly and Tina; and mother-in-law, Nancy. He also leaves to cherish his memory his chosen brother, Frank, the rest of his extended family and untold numbers of friends and colleagues over his 59 years of life.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greerwilsonchapel.com for the Fowlie family.
DAN
Howard Burkons – like a friend when Dan welcomed me into his Announcer’s Booth at this year’s Scottsdale Rodeo. Thanks to my boyhood pal, Dave Alford, (who runs the Scottsdale Rodeo), I was blessed to spend an unforgettable Saturday night witnessing Dan’s humor, wit and wisdom firsthand. My time with Dan was exceptionally valuable as I was just finishing writing the pilot episode of the series, “Rodeo,” a joyful, country-music, singing/dancing horse opera I created with singer-songwriter, David Serby; and my seat beside Dan’s was priceless. I was so excited to call David and share the insights Dan shared with me!
David and I both knew that Dan had to be part of our show, and hoped to work with him. When Dan suddenly passed away in April, we knew we needed to launch a fundraising effort to help his family, who have given us permission to release a song – Rougher Stock – in his honor. David, who wrote Rougher Stock, has pledged all of its proceeds to the Fowlie’s. We choose this song as it “voices” all the events in a Rodeo, tipping a hat to the “story” Dan told so well to his legions of fans. Below are links to the platforms where you can hear, see, and hopefully share Rougher Stock with your friends. Thank you, Howard and David
Song websites:
https://davidserby.hearnow.com/rougher-stock-rodeosoundtrack
YouTube
https://youtu.be/ZG6H-Vm7jCw
https://www.instagram.com/rodeothemusical/
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@rodeothemusical
FOWLIE was a man who made strangers, friends. I know this because of how he treated me –
Proper cellular hydration is extremely important for heavy exertion, endurance, or heat stress conditions when loss of water is rapidly occurring. Horses, compared to most domesticated species of animals are able to much more effectively employ sweating mechanisms as means to thermoregulate their body temperature. However, because of this heightened sweating ability, the need to provide sustained hydration should be of paramount importance. Hydration and hydration status are dependent upon water transport. The movement of water into the mammalian body occurs primarily in the small intestine.
Within the small intestine is a series of what academia refers to as pumps that facilitate nutrient exchange. These pumps actively search for sodium to transport into the body. Chemically, because of ionic charge, water and sodium have an affinity for one another, water will follow sodium as it is absorbed through the small intestine. In addition to sodium pumps, in the small intestine are also specific glucose transporters. By supplementing glucose at same time as sodium, nutrient transport and absorption is enhanced. Rehydration is more readily accomplished.
The 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship is scheduled to take place in Monpazier, France, on September 7, 2024. This Selection Memo is provided to assist athletes with their competition planning and is subject to change due to the final approval of the full Selection Procedures by the USEF Board of Directors or USEF Executive Committee. The Selection Memo can be found here.
If you have any questions or feedback on the selection process prior to the approval of the full Selection Procedures, please contact Steven Morrissey, Managing Director of Sport Logistics & Non-Olympic Disciplines.
Excess sodium provided without glucose will increase the osmotic pressure within the gastrointestinal tract. As the osmotic gradient is increased within the intestine it will create a reserve osmosis effect in which free water is actually drawn into the lumen, or the fluid within the intestine. This sodium excess results dehydration and can be one of the reasons for clinical presentation of diarrhea and associated symptoms. Excess sodium and the reverse osmosis in the intestinal tract is also the reason humans cannot drink salt water from the ocean. Animals supplemented with high levels of sodium may not appear to sweat as readily, may have less stool formation, and may drink more water the body is attempting to restore electrolyte balance. Be cautious about association of stool looseness presentation with improved hydration attributes, can also be early signs of sodium toxicity. Optimal hydration requires a balanced nutrient profile with sodium, potassium, chloride, and energy. This allows for engagement of multiple nutrient pumps within the small intestine. All those pumps working in unison optimize the transport of water. Protecting cellular integrity and fluid balance is how BlueLite takes hydration to the next level, because once the nutrients are absorbed into the body they need to enter cells. Making sure those cells have the ability to retain their fluid balance is a key to optimal hydration, this is where osmolytes such as betaine in the proprietary formulation of BlueLite works to address the hydration needs of the animal at a deeper level.
PARI Respiratory Equipment, Inc, manufacturer of medical devices and pharmaceuticals in the respiratory and inhalation industry, has acquired the Irish company Nortev, which manufactures and sells the equine nebulizer Flexineb, a device for respiratory therapy in horses by nebulizing medication or saline. Nortev also provides nebulization devices for companion animals.
Founded in 2008 in Galway, Ireland, Nortev distributes its products to over 30 countries in Europe, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.1 Its portfolio of customers features renowned veterinary clinics, horse studs, horse trainers, along with professional and leisure riders.
"Our goal is to establish PARI's more than 100 years of experience in inhalation therapy in the field of animal inhalation. With Nortev we have found a company that, like us at PARI, develops and sells innovative inhalation devices with the highest quality standards,” expressed Arne W. Dirks, PARI CEO, in a company release.1 “Together, we can develop new inhalation therapies that benefit horses and small animals with respiratory diseases – and thus also their owners."
Nortev will continue to be led by the 2 founders Gavan O'Sullivan and Declan Moran as an independent company. "I look forward to further developing our Flexineb equine nebulizer under the PARI umbrella," added Nortev CEO and managing director Gavan O'Sullivan, in the release. "There will be no changes for our Flexineb customers as a result of the acquisition. With PARI's support, we will enhance our core vision of continuous improvement and innovation in animal respiratory healthcare."
The Morris Animal Foundation is now accepting proposals for research focused on equid health topics. Proposals should advance the health and overall welfare of domesticated horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.
Four grant types will be funded as part of this Request for Proposals: Established Investigator—awards that provide funding for research by individuals and teams with a previous record of research and publication. Pilot Study—grants that support innovative ideas to accelerate discovery and advance Morris Animal Foundation’s mission. First Award—grants that assist new faculty in establishing a successful research program. Fellowship Training—funds to assist new investigators in launching a successful research career by providing salary support in a quality mentoring environment.
Applications are reviewed and rated based on impact and scientific rigor by the Foundation’s scientific advisory boards, which are made up of topic experts in the veterinary community, and proposals are due by Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
WASHINGON, D.C. — The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet June 28-30, 2023, at the Whitney Peak Hotel located at 255 N Virginia Street, Reno, NV. The public is invited to attend in-person or view the entire Advisory Board meeting virtually via live stream at BLM.gov/live. Also, the BLM will host an educational field tour for the Board which is open to the public on June 27 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm PT.
The public will have an opportunity to make a verbal statement to the Advisory Board in person and virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, June 28, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. PT; on Thursday, June 29, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PT; and on Friday, June 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PT. To accommodate all individuals interested in providing comments, in-person and virtual commenters must register with the BLM at least three days in advance of the meeting.
The public may also submit written comments to the Advisory Board in addition to, or in lieu of, providing verbal comment. Written comments should be submitted to the Advisory Board at whbadvisoryboard@blm.gov. Comments emailed three days prior to the meeting will be provided to the Advisory Board for consideration during the meeting.
The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board is comprised of nine individuals representing a diverse range of stakeholders and interests. The Board provides advice and recommendations to the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service as the agencies work to carry out their responsibilities under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
The Hackamore Classic is designed to showcase the traditional cow horse evolution. The event provides hackamore horses, which are 4- and 5-year-olds, the opportunity to compete in the three-event derby which includes the herd/rein/cow work.
In addition to the Hackamore Classic, this event will also host the third and final qualifier for The Run For A Million, the inaugural 4-event World’s Greatest Non Pro, along with a full slate of horse show classes.
In 2023, we are excited to welcome two of our great partners to sponsor this year’s Hackamore Classic; MARS Equestrian™ and Oswood Stallion Station. With their generous contributions to this year’s event we are excited to have $198,250 in added money.
The NetJets U.S. Jumping Team finished their week in California on top of the podium, taking a wellearned victory on the Oaks International Grand Prix Field in front of a packed house at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.
The team is now one step closer to their collective goal of qualification for the 2023 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona this September. The team completed the tworound competition on a total of 12 faults ahead of Ireland, who finished on 17, and Mexico, rounding out the top three on a team total of 33.
“At the end of the year last year, we said that we’re going to have to come out firing. Qualifying for the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona had to be a major priority because it’s one of the two ways left to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We took our ‘A’ team at the beginning of the year and split it in half and sent the first half to Mexico and that was a really tough win because the home team was really strong and took us to a jump-off and Laura won it for us,” explained Ridland.
“Coming here, with the other half of the ‘A’ team, basically all four riders that were on our silver-medal team in Tokyo were represented on either of these two teams. That was our plan and sometimes plans work and sometimes they don’t, but this time for us it did.”
AQHA is the world's largest equine breed organization with more than 6 million registered horses. The Association provides programs and events that allow members of all ages and equinerelated interests to enjoy the American Quarter Horse. To learn more about AQHA or become a member, visit www.aqha.com.
In a move to make equestrian knowledge more accessible, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has unveiled AQHLearn.com, an innovative online platform designed to provide youth, aged 8 to 18, with an opportunity to explore their passion for horses from the comfort of their own homes, regardless of their geographical location.
AQHLearn.com has undergone a makeover, sporting a fresh look and offering an array of diverse courses. This comprehensive online library caters to the interests of young equestrians, equipping them with a wealth of resources to expand their understanding of horses through interactive learning experiences.
The website covers a wide range of horse-related topics, encompassing various facets such as equine health, historical insights, and foundational knowledge. With a commitment to continually enhancing the learning experience, AQHLearn will regularly introduce new courses to keep learners engaged and informed.
One of the distinguishing features of AQHLearn is its flexible learning structure, accommodating students at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. This inclusive approach ensures that learners of all ages can maximize their knowledge acquisition through the platform. Whether individuals are looking to acquire fresh information or revisit previously acquired skills, AQHLearn provides them with the means to do so. At the end of
each section, users can test their understanding by taking quizzes, which, upon successful completion, reward them with course completion certificates.
As an exciting member benefit, AQHLearn is available free of charge to all AQHA or AQHYA members. Existing members can dive into the vast world of equestrian education by visiting www.aqhlearn.com and accessing the platform's rich resources.
For those who are not yet members, joining or renewing an AQHA or AQHYA membership is a gateway to AQHLearn's wealth of knowledge. By visiting www.aqha.com/membership-form, individuals can take advantage of a limited-time offer: a 12-month AQHYA membership can be purchased or renewed for only $19 using the code AQHLEARN (normally priced at $25). This special promotion allows individuals to tap into the remarkable benefits of AQHA membership while embarking on an educational journey through AQHLearn.
AQHLearn opens the doors to an exciting realm of equestrian education, empowering young enthusiasts to expand their knowledge, refine their skills, and foster a deeper connection with horses. With this pioneering online platform, the AQHA is revolutionizing equestrian education, transcending geographical boundaries, and bringing the love of horses to young enthusiasts worldwide.
“I cannot describe the
appreciation I have for what my friend and mentor Billy Smith has done for this organization and what he has taught me over the last 10 years. The confidence the Board of Directors has placed in me to oversee this transition and guide the future of APHA is extremely meaningful. I look forward to working with APHA’s incredibly talented staff, who will continue driving this organization in a direction of growth in a rapidly changing market.”
David joined the APHA team in 2012 as director of judges; later, he became APHA senior director of judges, shows & education. In those roles, David has been instrumental in the development of showing- and judge-education resources, including APHA’s interactive learning platform HorseIQ. In addition to expanding APHA educational opportunities in the U.S. and abroad, David’s expertise has yielded partnerships with other equine organizations in efforts to modernize and streamline their own judging standards and create stakeholder resources through APHA’s HorseIQ platform.
Previously, David was a professional horse trainer and judge; he also served as past president of the National Snaffle Bit Association. A graduate of Oklahoma State University, David lives in Elmore City, Oklahoma, with his wife, Julie, and children Gage, Lane and McKenna.
US Equestrian invites competition managers to add Western Equitation Medal and Ranch classes to their prize lists for 2023. These Western classes are rapidly growing in popularity, and because both the Western Equitation Medal and the Ranch divisions are open to all breeds, they provide an opportunity to reach a wider pool of exhibitors for your show.
The Western Equitation Medal includes divisions for junior and amateur adult riders. The class is judged 50% on rail work at the walk, jog, and lope and 50% on a pattern. No qualifications are required for exhibitors to enter these
classes. US Equestrian will send a medal for each class hosted, and eligible riders can
org to add it to your existing license ($100 change fee). Add the junior and adult medal classes to your prize list. If your prize list has already been submitted, email prizelists@ usef.org at least five (5) days before the start of the show to add the classes.
The Ranch division is a popular and growing division across numerous breeds, and it is a new US Equestrian division for 2023. Ranch classes include:
How to Host:
Sign in to your Competition Dashboard at competitions. usef.org. Select the Western (Open) box under “divisions and ratings” when renewing a license, or email dates@usef. org to add it to your existing license ($100 change fee). Add the desired Ranch classes to your prize list. If your prize list has already been submitted, email prizelists@usef.org at least five (5) days before the start of the show to add the classes.
earn points toward USEF Horse of the Year awards.
Sign in to your Competition Dashboard at competitions. usef.org. Select the Western (Open) box under “divisions and ratings” when renewing a license, or email dates@usef.
Ranch Horse Riding
Ranch Horse Cow Work
Ranch Horse Rail Pleasure
Ranch Horse Trail
Ranch Reining
Ranch Working Cow
Ranch Cutting
Ranch Versatility
Ranch Conformation
Consider adding other Western classes, including Working Cow Horse, Trail, Western Pleasure, and Western Riding.
Learn more about Ranch classes and other Western offerings in the Western chapter of the US Equestrian Rulebook.
Uggerhalne, Denmark – It was an all-around fantastic day for the U.S. Jumping Team at FEI Jumping Nations Cup Uggerhalne CSIO3*. The team of Alise Oken, Jacob Pope, Nikko Ritter, and Alessandra Volpi displayed excellent riding under pressure to win the Nations Cup. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski guided the team, with Pope, Ritter, and Volpi making their senior team debut, to the top result. In addition to the impressive team finish, Pope and Ritter had double-clear rounds in their first Nations Cup appearances.
“I’m really proud of all of them,” said Kursinski. “I had Alise Oken on a three-star team
years ago, but she is really the only one who has ever jumped a real Nations Cup. For the other three to really rise to the occasion, be professional, and stay focused to jump clear rounds is very, very exciting. And the other teams were great. There were 11 teams we had to jump against. The Netherlands was strong, and
Sweden had several Olympians on their team. There are really some top riders and great horses here. It was a fabulous win for everybody.”
Despite the U.S. Jumping Team being a group of relative newcomers to Nations Cup competition, a supportive atmosphere helped everyone succeed.
“We have a great team with Erin Keating and Dr. Christiana Ober. I think the whole team is extremely cohesive—the grooms, the riders, just all of that,” said Kursinski. “It’s a great feeling, and, of course, then I think everybody performs better when they experience that. It is an outstanding team—the whole team.”
“With the federation sending the three-star teams, they are really getting this experience, so they can, hopefully, be on more senior teams in the near future,” said Kursinski. “I think several of them have desires to be on championship teams, so this is always a steppingstone for them. I think this group really has big futures ahead of them.”
Wildfire Protec LLC provides essential wildfire mitigation services through a comprehensive approach, expertise, specialized equipment, prompt emergency response, risk mitigation, property protection, safety, community collaboration, and environmental stewardship. They address challenges like increasing wildfire activity, limited budgets, concurrent fire events, seasonal demand, resource competition, and human limitations. Their private wildfire protection offers value through enhanced preparedness, mitigation services, customized firefighting resources, specialized wildland firetrucks, timely emergency response, wildfire suppression, peace of mind, insurance eligibility, cost-effectiveness, and personal safety. Their use of flameretardant liquid and gels, like PhosChek, is a smart approach for protecting residential properties from wildfire risks.
There are several reasons why there has not always been adequate personnel and equipment to fight wildfires effectively creating the need for Wildfire Protec LLC services:
1) Increasing Wildfire Activity
2) Limited Budgets
3) Concurrent Fire Events
4) Seasonal Demand
5) Competition for Resources
6) Human Limitations
Addressing these challenges Wildfire Protec LLC executes a comprehensive private wildfire fighting force approach that involves proper funding for wildfire fighting personal, management, strategic resource allocation, and proactive measures to mitigate the risk of wildfires. Wildfire Protec LLC continually evaluates and adapts firefighting strategies to ensure the most effective use of available resources in combating wildfire threats for their customers.
Wildfire Protec LLC’s private wildfire protection service offers significant value to customers in wildfire-prone states like Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. Here are some reasons why their services are valuable:
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2) Mitigation Services: Wildfire Protec offers wildfire mitigation services, which involve implementing proactive measures to reduce the risk of fire damage. This can include creating defensible space around properties by removing flammable vegetation, implementing fire-resistant landscaping, and recommending structural modifications. By investing in mitigation, customers can enhance the fire resilience of their properties and minimize potential losses.
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5) Timely Emergency Response: Wildfires can spread rapidly, and having a private wildfire protection service like Wildfire Protec allows customers to access emergency services promptly. With their dedicated team and fleet of wildland firetrucks, they can respond quickly to requests for wildfire mitigation or suppression.
6) Wildfire Suppression: In the event of a wildfire, Wildfire Protec is equipped to provide suppression services. Their trained personnel and specialized firefighting equipment can be deployed to contain and suppress fires, protecting residential properties and ranches from the immediate threat. This service can be crucial in areas where public firefighting resources may be stretched thin during large-scale wildfires.
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8) Cost-Effective Solution: The annual fee charged by Wildfire Protec provides customers access to ongoing protection and mitigation services, for additional fees, which can be cost-effective in the long run. In the event of a wildfire, the potential costs associated with fire damage, including property loss, evacuation expenses, and potential insurance premium hikes, can far outweigh the service fees. By investing in private wildfire protection, customers have a proactive measure in place to mitigate the risk and minimize potential losses.
Providing Firewise evaluations of ranch and residential property is important because it helps property owners mitigate the risk of wildfires and protect their properties from potential devastation. Wildfires can spread rapidly and cause significant damage, endangering lives and destroying homes and natural resources. By conducting Firewise evaluations, Wildfire Protec aims to assess the vulnerabilities of a property to wildfire and provide recommendations for creating defensible space.
Learn more at www.wildfireprotec.com or call 602-883-2900
At the Western Derby, increased added money await the 4- and 5-yearold horse and rider pairs, many of which competed at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® when the horses were 3 years old. Horses may be shown in either a snaffle bit or a hackamore in the Western Derby. They are judged in three challenging events: herd work, rein work and fence (cow) work,
with a preliminary round of competition to determine who will return for the clean-slate finals. The Western Derby features nine divisions to suit all levels, from million-dollar riders in the Open, entrylevel competitors in the Non Pro Limited and Boxing, and every level of competitor in between.
A Western Derby highlight is the Holy Cow Performance Horses CD Survivor Open Bridle Spectacular. The event features many of the industry’s seasoned and successful older horses that are in the bridle vying for $25,000 in added money through herd, rein and cow works. The Intermediate Open Bridle Spectacular has $2,500 added.
In addition to the limited age event and the Spectaculars, a full slate of horse show classes feature added money that totals $52,750. This includes the Open and Non Pro Two Rein Spectaculars, Non Pro Bridle Spectacular, Non Pro Limited Spectacular and two Youth Spectaculars.
The curtains have closed on the highly anticipated 2023 Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships, leaving a trail of awe-inspiring moments in its wake. Exhibitors representing 22 states and two Canadian provinces gathered at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona, from May 16 to 21 for this prestigious event, held in conjunction with the
Arizona Quarter Horse Association Pinnacle Circuit.
The championship drew in a staggering 370 exhibitors and over 400 magnificent horses, culminating in a remarkable display of talent and dedication across western, English, and hal-
ter classes. A grand total of 2,222 entries added to the excitement and spectacle.
The event not only showcased seasoned competitors but also welcomed 173 firsttime Level 1 Championships exhibitors, amplifying the sense of anticipation and enthusiasm in the air. The quest for glory unfolded through an extensive program of Level 1, Rookie,
and walk-trot classes, featuring more than $150,000 in purses and prizes. AQHA proudly recognized the outstanding achievements of these skilled equestrians by presenting allaround and high-point awards at the conclusion of the show.
For those eager to delve deeper into the results, the official results and score sheets are available for viewing at www.aqha.com/level-1-westresults. This comprehensive resource allows enthusiasts to relive the exhilaration and delve into the intricate details of each exhilarating performance.
Adding to the enriching experience of the championships, AQHA Professional Horsemen generously volunteered their time to conduct five Ride the Pattern clinics, presented by Nutrena. These invaluable clinics offered exhibitors and spectators a unique opportunity to learn firsthand how AQHA Professional Horsemen approach specific classes or patterns in Level 1, Rookie, and Walk/Trot competitions. Notably, the attendees’ overwhelming support and generosity contributed to the success of the Professional Horsemen Endowment Fund, raising nearly $3,000 in donations.
The 2023 Nutrena West AQHA Level 1 Championships will forever be etched in the memories of participants and spectators alike, as a testament to the passion, skill, and unity of the AQHA community. This extraordinary event encapsulated the very essence of equestrian excellence, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of all who attended.
Attention all aspiring reining enthusiasts! If you've ever dreamed of participating in The Run For A Million reining spectacular, now is your chance to take the first step towards turning that dream into a reality. Mark your calendars for the 2023 Cowtown Reining Classic, as it presents The Run For A Million Rookie & Non-Pro Championship Qualifier, proudly sponsored by Tenda Horse Products and FarmPaint.com.
Set to take place on June 28 at the esteemed Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, this qualifier event promises an exhilarating experience for participants.
The qualifying classes will be conducted alongside the NRHA Rookie Level 2 and NRHA Ancillary NonPro divisions, creating an atmosphere of intense competition and camaraderie. To be eligible for The Run For A Million Qualifier, exhibitors must enter the corresponding NRHA event divisions.
Securing a top-five placing or tying in each slate will grant participants the coveted qualification to compete at The Run For A Million, scheduled for August 16–19, 2023, in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is important to note that qualification is based on the rider, not the horse, and a one-time qualification suffices. Entries with zero or no scores do not meet the qualification criteria.
Exhibitors must pay a separate entry fee for each qualifying division within a slate, with a fee of $200 for the Rookie division and an additional $200 for the Non-Pro division. While these qualifiers do not offer prize money and are not NRHA-approved, they operate under the same rules and regulations, ensuring a fair and competitive playing field.
By Jessica Hein
Longtime APHA corporate sponsor Markel Insurance renewed its commitment with the American Paint Horse Association through December 2025. The leading insurance company also expanded its allegiance by signing on as a sponsor for the International Ranch Horse Association, which is owned in part by APHA.
Markel is the official equine insurance provider of APHA. They will also headline as the presenting sponsor of the IRHA World Finals classes at the 2023 APHA/IRHA World Championship Show, taking place June 23-July 9 in Fort Worth, Texas, and at the IRHA Ranch Horse Futurity, taking place August 25-September 3 at the 100X Tulsa Reining Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Learn more about the International Ranch Horse Association at apha.com/ news/apha-daniel-patton-partner-to-expand-all-breed-ranch-horseopportunities.
Markel is one of APHA’s longest-standing corporate partners, and the association appreciates the organization’s commitment to the equine community. “The American Paint Horse Association and Markel have enjoyed a partnership that has been ongoing for over 25 years. In my mind, this speaks to the character and integrity of both organizations,” Markel’s Frank Costantini said. “The International Ranch Horse Association is an idea we are pleased to help promote. The working ranch horse is the backbone of the Western performance industry, and we at Markel are happy to do all that we can to support this new and exciting organization.”
The Ride... It is streaming now on Prime Video. This is great content for western sports focused on some of the teams and riders of the PBR Teams League.
The American Quarter Horse Association’s premiere show, the Farnam AQHA World Championship Show, is the most prestigious event in the equine industry. In an effort to improve the show, which also includes the Adequan® Select World Championship Show and encourages growth focusing on AQHA members,
the Association is implementing changes to the 2023 show.
After discussions between AQHA and National Reining Horse Association leadership, an agreement was reached regarding modifying the dates of the Farnam AQHA World and NRHA Futurity, which follows the World Show, for 2023. This benefits both associations and
their membership as both are held back to back at the OKC Fairgrounds. The Farnam AQHA World will now conclude on Thursday, November 16, and NRHA will begin its movein to the facility on Friday, November 17.
“We value our long-time relationship with NRHA and leasing two days over to them
during the Farnam AQHA World Championship Show made sense for both associations and our exhibitors,” said Karl Stressman, AQHA chief executive officer.
“We are proud to support growth in the equine industry and opportunities for American Quarter Horse owners, especially, to exhibit their American Quarter Horses. In turn, we are optimizing our own Farnam World Show schedule and are excited about the improvements we are making to our pinnacle event.”
NRHA supports the Farnam AQHA World as a sponsor by enhancing added money to reining classes and AQHA is assisting in the tremendous growth seen in the sport of reining through added days to NRHA’s show. The ultimate goal is to promote growth and participation in equine sports and shows.
Rio Verde Foothills, May 25, 2023 – In a significant step toward improving community safety, the Rural Metro Fire Department has entered into an agreement with Dynamite Water LLC to ensure a reliable water supply to support fire
suppression efforts in the Rio Verde Foothills area. This agreement comes at a critical time when the community is grappling with a water crisis, with limited resources posing a major concern for the dedicated firefighters tasked with protecting the region.
Expressing their enthusiasm for this agreement, Rural Metro Public Information Office Shawn Gilleland stated, “We welcome Dynamite Water’s commitment to aiding in the critical water resources needed to support Rural Metro and our teams of firefighters.” The agreement was officially announced during a recent wildfire awareness event and pancake breakfast, organized by the Rio Verde Horsemen’s Association on May 13, at the firehouse on Rio Verde Drive. Rural Metro Chief Tim Soule, accompanied by new recruits, took the opportunity to serve breakfast to area residents while highlighting the importance of community preparedness.
Recognizing the pressing need for an adequate water supply, in close proximity, to the fire station for emergency services, Dynamite Water LLC has applied for a Special Use Permit for a 2.5-acre site located on the southeast corner of 172nd Street and Rio Verde Drive. This site will serve as a dedicated storage facility for water trucks, ensuring they are filled and readily available for emergency response services in support of Rural Metro.
Through this agreement with Rural Metro Fire Department, Dynamite Water LLC aims to enhance the safety and protection of the Rio Verde Foothills community.
5.65 ACRES - 3,835 sqft Main Home
1,500 sqft Art Studio/Casita
Huge RV Garage
Breathtaking estate in Goldfield Ranch
(just east of Fountain Hills) Situated on 5.65 acres, with horse privileges & NO HOA, is looking for a new owner! 3bdrm + Office (or 4 bedrooms) 3 1/2 baths & 3835 SF. Other features include upgraded cabinetry & doors, SS appliances, granite counters & lrg w/I pantry. Ensuite bdrm(s), Master bath offers sep tub/shower, dual sink vanities & oversized W/I closet. Outside offers separate RV garage big enough for class A motorhome, sep 1500sf workshop (could be converted to a guest house) covered patio w/built-in barbecue, 4 car garage spaces total & breathtaking views of 4 peaks, surrounding mountain ranges & the city lights of Fountain Hills...
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Recent studies conducted by the Institute of Heart-Math provide a clue to explain the two-way ′′healing′′ that occurs when we're close to horses. According to researchers, the heart
has an electromagnetic field larger than the brain: a magnetometer can measure the energy field of the heart that radiates from 2.4 meters to 3 meters around the human body.
While this is certainly significant, perhaps more impressive than the
electromagnetic field projected by the heart of a horse is five times larger than that of a human being (imagine an electromagnetic sphere around the horse) and it can influence straight into our own heart rate.
Horses are also likely to have what science has identified as a "coherent′′ heart rate (heart rate pattern) that
explains why we can feel better when we're close to them. Studies have found a coherent heart pattern or HRV to be a solid measure of well-being and consistent with emotional states of calm and joy-that is, we exhibit such patterns when we feel positive emotions.
A coherent heart pattern is indicative of a system that can recover and adapt to stressful situations very efficiently. Many times, we just need to be in the presence of horses to feel a sense of well-being and peace.
In fact, research shows that people experience many physiological benefits by interacting with horses, including lower blood pressure and heart rate, higher betaendorphins (neurotransmitters acting as pain suppressors), decreased stress levels, decreased feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, better social working; and greater feelings of empowerment, confidence, patience and self-efficacy.
