Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, watching John Wayne movies with his Dad fueled John’s fire to become a cowboy — a fire that would grow into a passion for understanding the horse and learning how horses think, learn and interact. This passion sent John on the search for education from the masters in the colt starting and equine psychology arena. He spent time with Martin Black and Ray Hunt learning the art of colt starting and quickly jumped on the opportunity to study at an International Horse-Man-Ship University with Pat Parelli — his current Pen Wrangler and mentor. The education Pat shared through his Horse-Man-Ship program laid a foundation for John to build his understanding of the art of colt starting. This foundation has proved a solid base to build multi-discipline horse training, creating well-rounded horses and horsemen. This program truly helped John see the world through the eye of the horse.

Through hard work and dedication, John turned this “summer school” program into a 10-year educational career, including not only horse training and development but also a deep dive into human learning and education. He taught people from all over the globe and moved into the campus faculty leader position, guiding a team of 10 instructors while monitoring the progress of 80 students on campus. During this time, John was also in charge of heading the horse expo team to present the Parelli concepts worldwide.

It was this experience that opened the door to John’s current career. He took what he learned from a decade focused on understanding horses and humans as learners, sharing the nature of the horse regardless of differences in breed, age or purpose. 

Alongside his wife, Kathy, John opened Raising The Baar Horsemanship Center in Kentucky to create an environment ideal for educating young horses and preparing them for a career in any sport, as well as offering education for students looking to grow into horsemen. John continues to be inspired by the art of colt starting, refining his skills and finessing his communication to give each horse the opportunity for a smooth transition into riding. He is always moving towards improving his efficiency and the quality of experience for the horse. Learn more at www.jkbaar.com.

“I am honored to participate as a Wild Card competitor at Road to the Horse 2024, and I’m looking forward to catching up with renowned horse professionals from all over the world. This platform is a great opportunity to balance the principles of colt starting with the timelines of the event.”

John Baar

The post John Baar – Wild Card appeared first on Road To The Horse.

Though an avid lover of all animals, horses have dominated Lindsey’s heart and soul. With over a decade riding and training for her successful business, Beyond The Bit, Lindsey has seen and done it all. Her training career began when she met her mentor and friend Brandi Lyons. Having completed both of Brandi’s intensive trainer certification programs, and subsequently working for Brandi as an assistant trainer, she has traveled across the country, engaging in horsemanship clinics, expositions and demonstrations.

Unlike many other successful trainers, Lindsey did not grow up with horses; however, her natural athleticism was a match for the challenge. Lindsey spent much of her youth winning multiple state championships in gymnastics and track and field, and twice she set the New Hampshire state record in pole vaulting. In her spare time, she worked as a stable hand in exchange for riding lessons. Her love of animals drove her to pursue a degree in Animal Science at Cornell University. At Cornell, Lindsey competed in the pole vault as a varsity track and field athlete, joined the Western Equestrian and Dairy Science Clubs, and went on to become president of Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority. Cultural curiosity led Lindsey across the pond, where she studied abroad in Italy and traveled around the globe through the University and clubs to Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland and India.

A summer spent working at Absaroka Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming, proved to be a life-changing experience for Lindsey. At that moment in time, she understood and appreciated the incredible intelligence of and connection with horses and decided to follow her passion to combine both.

Lindsey started Beyond The Bit Horse Training in Wyoming in 2015, as the terrain and culture catered to her love of the outdoors, mountains and Western lifestyle. She specializes in colt starting and problem horses but caters to all riders and disciplines. Her focus and passion are developing a solid foundation on horses. She personally enjoys a variety of riding and training disciplines, including reining, trail, endurance, tricks and liberty work.  She believes that a solid foundation on a horse is all one needs to be successful in whichever discipline a rider chooses.  

In 2020, Lindsey took Beyond The Bit to California, so she could condition and train for the Western States Trail Ride, popularly called the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile endurance ride. In addition to starting colts and training, Lindsey competed in multiple 50-mile endurance rides. In 2021 she competed in and finished the Tevis Cup on a stallion that she started, trained and conditioned.  It was both hers and the horse’s first 100-mile ride.In 2022, Lindsey moved back to her home state of New Hampshire to be closer to her family.  She rides and trains at a beautiful facility in Freedom, New Hampshire. Lindsey and Beyond The Bit continue to offer specialized training through both in-person and online lessons, training and clinics. Learn more at www.beyondthebithorsetraining.com.

“I’m incredibly excited to be a competitor at the Road to the Horse 2024 Wild Card Challenge.  I’m even more excited that my mentor and good friend Brandi Lyons is my Pen Wrangler and that we will be back in action together. I’m honored, humbled and so inspired by this opportunity to be a part of Road to the Horse!”

Lindsey Patterson

The post Lindsey Patterson – Wild Card appeared first on Road To The Horse.

From there, C.D. began taking outside horses to improve their overall responsiveness and began training rope horses for himself and others. With the purchase of Shineon Resortfigure (aka “Friend”) in partnership with his parents as a weanling, C.D. set his sights on the American Quarter Horse Association World Show. C.D. entered his first AQHA show in the tie-down roping in 2016 and has qualified multiple horses to the World Show every year since. In 2018, he and Shineon Resortfigure accomplished his goal and won their first World Championship with several following in subsequent years. C.D. now has the joy of training and showing Friend’s many offspring and is proud to see the stud’s success continue through his bloodlines. The lessons learned on Friend will influence his horsemanship for years to come.

After many years in southeastern New Mexico, C.D. married Alexa Major, and the couple moved to north Texas. While there, C.D. had the opportunity to learn from his new father-in-law, Mike Major, and entered the world of cowhorse training. Dabbling in the cowhorse arena, C.D. felt his horsemanship and his horses continue to improve. To further expand their herds, he, his wife, and his parents continued to invest in breeding elite bloodlines. In January 2021, New Mexico Junior College called and asked C.D. to return to New Mexico to lead the Equine program and teach all classes for the Associate of Applied Science degree in Equine Industry and Training. Upon accepting the position, C.D. and Alexa moved back to Lea County, New Mexico, where they now reside.

C.D.’s training philosophy includes a foundation of trust and respect with clear communication. When it comes to starting colts, he feels that the preparation and groundwork are of most importance, which can be seen in how his horses act while on foot. C.D. strives for a horse to respond to cues in a relaxed and calm manner, which he aids by utilizing a help horse in the beginning of the round pen stages.

“I’m extremely excited to be a part of the Road to the Horse 2024 Wild Card Challenge. Being able to help my father-in-law, Mike Major, as his Pen Wrangler at Road to the Horse for the last two years has been a great privilege and experience. I am looking forward to trading places with him and stepping into the round pen with a chance to win a World title. Thank you, Road to the Horse, for this exceptional invitation”

C.D. Wilcox

The post C.D. Wilcox – Wild Card appeared first on Road To The Horse.

The number one question I’ve been asked in the past couple weeks is: “What’s your plan?”

My plan is to talk to people, to learn from past participants, judges, and spectators.

My plan is to watch, or re-watch, the previous years.  Some of these videos are easy to find on Vimeo or Pluto.  Other years are harder to find and involve searching eBay and Facebook Marketplace for old DVDs.

My plan is to assemble a team that will help and support me.

On the team the Pen Wrangler is the first position that should be filled.  The Pen Wrangler is the caddy, the groom, the editor, the first mate. If I’m to be the shoe, the Pen Wrangler is the laces.

Nick, a quiet Wisconsinite with a Big Sky beard, will be my laces.  

A few years ago, when our new house was left not-quite-finished, Nick flew down to help.  He looked around, shook his head a few times and sagely announced “I’ve got some good news and some bad news.”  We ended up tearing up the flooring, then putting it back down, in parallel rows; we took the doors off their hinges and re-hung them, level; we (he) redid most of the electrical in the house, as well as much of the plumbing; we textured sprayed and painted over what had just recently been done; and we (he) added in some beautiful finishing touches like sliding barn doors to my office, and a single accent wall that he painted an aqua-blue that reminds me of where the sky meets the ocean.

That is to say Nick is humble and kind, a jack of all trades, and a virtuoso of most.  I’ll be relying on Nick to learn the rules and the score cards better than me, to know the layout of the arena, and how long the mandatory rest breaks are.  He will help me make a list of what obstacles to bring, and he will pass the obstacles into me on the day.  Lastly, I’ll be looking for him to find that delicate balance between being supportive and honest if I ever get scared, sidetracked, or cocky.

Sinead, my wife, will be there. I can’t begin to describe in this post what she brings to the table.  Juliette, a former working student, a dressage rider, a horse behaviorist, will round out the team.  Juliette is thoughtful and organized, and I’m sure you will hear more about her.  

Then there are a few people that have some special skills that I want to learn.  For that I’ll be looking to Jake Biernbaum, my neighbor in Citra, Fl., Australian Dan James, Kathy Baar, of Kentucky, and a few others. 

(I just took my first roping lesson from Jake last week.  It went about as well as one might expect. But there are few horsemen as skilled and confident as Jake and I’ll be in good hands.)

From everybody I’ve already spoken with so far, the best way I can sum up their advice so far is this:

Don’t go to win.  Win that horse’s confidence.  Don’t be in a hurry.

As far as not going to win, that’s a tricky one.  The trick, as in a lot of horse training and sports, is to look to win in the planning stages, but not in the execution.  To never let your horse feel that expectation, to them you are completely in the moment, not thinking ahead, not going faster than they are ready for.    

One past competitor told me, and I’m paraphrasing: “I didn’t learn the rules or change any of what I do.  I just went in and did my thing.”   Geez, I said in my head, you’re insane.

I want to know the rules.  I want to know them inside and out.  I want to know what the arena is going to feel like, how much time I have, how it will feel, how many judges there are going to be, how they are going to score, what the obstacles are going to be, what the mandatory work will be.  I want to know as much as possible.  And instead of being constricted by that I feel like it will give me the freedom to not worry about it.  The better I know it the less I will have to think about it, and I can just do my thing.

If I sign up for this, I am accepting their parameters.  So, I might as well know ‘em.

Like any horse class, just because we accept the rules, doesn’t mean we have to push the horse to win.  In any Young Horse class, in any discipline, we can choose to back off to protect the horse’s well-being.

J.R. Robles in particular, one competitor from last year that won our hearts, should be an inspiration to every competitor.  He was in first place going into the final day.  His horse started to show he was at his limit, and J.R. stopped.  

J.R. looked up.

“You know what?” He told the crowd, halfway through the final obstacle course.  “I’m probably going to do something that has never been done in the history of this.  But this horse, mentally he can’t take it anymore.  And I’m not going to push him through the rest of the obstacles.”

J.R. looked down at his horse.  “I’m sorry,” he said.  But the horse sure didn’t need an apology.  Neither did the crowd.  They were on their feet.  They were clapping.  I was there!  I was clapping!  We were honoring a decision that took courage and humility.

Then J.R. lowered his head, he brought his hand to cover his face, and he started to cry.

The crowd was still on its feet.  I was too of course.  My Dad was next to me, he was wiping his eyes.  I just kept clapping.

The judges each came up to J.R. and stood in line to shake his hand.

As for Mike? The winner in 2023.  I think it is best to describe Mike with a knowing gleam in the eye and awed understatement: “That man can ride.”

Am I trying to be J.R.?  Am I trying to be Mike?

No.  I’m going to be prepared.  To be myself.  To be present.  I’m going to share with you how it goes.  As for the horse, I love what Dr. Janet Jones said to my wife the other day on the Podcast, In Stride, and I’m here paraphrasing again: “We are there to be the guides, the mentors, the leaders, for these horses as they walk in a new land.”

If I didn’t speak the language, had no understanding of the culture, was lost, what kind of guide would I want?

Our team is as excited about the preparation for this as much as for the competition itself.  We are an inexperienced team in some ways.  But we are not the underdogs.  What we lack in the experience of having started hundreds or thousands of quarter horses, we make up for in other ways.   (Is it possible that some cowboys have started tens of thousands?)

There is one skill set in particular that I think has stood out in every winner.

It is the trait that good horsemen and horsewomen have in any equestrian discipline.  It is the ability to read a horse as smoothly and with as much interest as I read Warwick Schiller’s new book last month.  (Great book, put it on your list!)  Reading a horse tells us a lot.  For example, it tells us when they are curious and when they are confident, when they are scared or anxious, and in terms of a competition like this, it tells us one major thing:  When we can push, and when we need to back off.

Here’s to learning when to push and when to back off.

See you in March at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Tik Maynard

Road to the Horse 2024 Championship Competitor

Photo Credit: Lisa Madren

The post Tik Maynard: The Road to Road to the Horse 2024 appeared first on Road To The Horse.

Major earned his second-consecutive World Championship of Colt Starting title and banked a win in the final round of competition with the help of his pen wrangler C.D. Wilcox. 

“It’s amazing, especially back-to-back wins,” stated Bowie, Texas, horseman Mike Major. “I just appreciate C.D. and everything he’s helped me with on this journey we’ve been on. It’s a lot of fun and very special to me.” 

The wild cards also showed up in a big way with the 2021 Wild Card Challenge Champion Cole Cameron securing the reserve world championship title after placing second behind Major in the final round of competition. 

“It was an absolute dogfight to the very end,” said Cameron. “My colt did a great job. He showed up and showed out. He gave me all he had. My hat’s off to Mike Major and all the competitors.” 

2022 Wild Card Challenge Champion J.R. Robles had a tremendous start to the competition securing wins in the first two rounds receiving a $5,000 bonus and a bottle of Pendleton Whisky for each round. Placing his colt’s needs above the competition, Robles didn’t complete the obstacle course on his colt NATURAL TURN (#5, Natural Bottom X Playin Stylish, by Your Turn To Play). This selfless display of horsemanship earned him a standing ovation from the audience and a hat tip from every Road to the Horse judge. This act also earned him the coveted Jack Brainard Horsemanship Award presented by Dr. Nathan Canaday of the 6666 Ranch. 

In total, Mike Major finished the event with $80,000 in earnings. Cameron finished in second place for $20,000. J.R. Robles was awarded a total of $20,000, $10,000 for his third-place finish and $10,000 in combined earnings for his round wins. Guy McLean, $5,000 for his fourth-place finish.

“Road to the Horse 2023 was an emotional journey from start to finish,” stated Morris Equine Group President Tina Battock. “Unscripted moments and amazing displays of horsemanship, character, and overwhelming support from the audience, led to another magical year of Road to the Horse.”

Complete Road to the Horse 2023 scores are available at www.RoadtotheHorse.com. Road to the Horse 2024 takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park on March 22-24. Tickets are available at www.RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 800-514-3849. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook for the latest information.

MIKE MAJOR

Colt: #3 Talkin Cows (Natural Bottom x My Sweet Talkin Baby)

RTTH 2023 Earnings:

• Round 3 Winner: $5,000
• Overall World Champion: $75,000

COLE CAMERON

Colt: #4 King County Pick (Sixes Pick x Pink Wrapper)

RTTH 2023 Earnings:

• Overall: Reserve World Champion $20,000

J.R. ROBLES

Colt: #5 Natural Turn (Natural Bottom x Playin Stylish)

RTTH 2023 Earnings:

• Round 1 Winner: $5,000
• Round 2 Winner: $5,000
• Overall: 3^rd Place – $10,000

GUY McLEAN

Colt: #11 Jesses Kingdom (Jesses Topaz x Famous Lucille)

RTTH 2023 Earnings:

• Overall: 4^th Place – $5,000

The post Major Wins Back to Back World Titles appeared first on Road To The Horse.