Call her a dreamer, but for the last decade Road to the Horse Owner/Producer Tootie Bland has working to bring about two completely different worlds together. From the outside their differences are diverse, yet one thing remains true, whether you’re starting a quarter horse for the reining futurity, or a warmblood for the jumping pen, starting a young horse is all about creating a solid and trusting foundation. It’s not about being English or Western, it’s about starting a young horse with love and kindness. It’s about setting each horse up for success, regardless of their projected path. In a long enduring search, Bland’s ‘never give up or give in’ attitude landed her a rock star, an international showjumper, clinician, TV celebrity, author, cowgirl and New Zealand native by the name of Ms. Vicki Wilson.
“It took a little longer and was a bit tougher than planned but the dream of English joins Western on one common ground, in one arena for the betterment of all horses is finally here” states Road to the Horse Owner/Producer Tootie Bland. “Dynamite 
In the greatest gathering of crème de la crème of cowgirls to ever share the dirt at Road to the Horse, we welcome not only our very first New Zealand competitor but our first English equestrian, who will gather her jodhpurs and helmet, and embark on an international trek to Lexington, KY, to chase a World Championship of Colt Starting title. Vicki Wilson will join fellow competitors Kate Neubert, Sarah Winters Dawson and Rachelle Valentine in the race for the 2017 World Championship of Colt Starting.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to be invited to compete at Road to the Horse in 2017! It’s such a unique and prestigious event, I’m humbled to be involved” states New Zealand native Vicki Wilson. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to share my methods of starting horses under saddle, on the other side of the world!”
Vicki Wilson has always had a passion for riding and started her career in an unorthodox fashion at 3 years old, riding and training the family sheep. A few decades on, Vicki is one of New Zealand’s most successful and well-respected show jump riders, being known for her competitive edge and her ability to produce happy horses. She has won countless classes at the highest levels, right through to World Cup, and has consistently been in the winner’s circle since she won her first national title in 2004. At Horse of the Year, Vicki has won the Lowry Medallion five times and the Nationwide Cup nine times – more than any other rider in history. She has represented New Zealand in the winning Trans-Tasman Young Rider team three times and has ridden under the New Zealand flag in Europe, with many wins and placings.
Well regarded for her versatility, Vicki has won many national titles across the Show Jumping, Show Hunter and Showing disciplines, while creating a name for herself in the Southern Hemisphere through bareback and bridle-less demonstrations and jumping displays. Vicki amazed crowds in 2011 jumping a 6ft puissance wall bareback, in 2012 she jumped a car and in 2013 another horse.
Outside of the competition arena, Vicki is one of the country’s top horse trainers. Her specialties lie with fixing problem horses, the domestication of wild horses and colt starting, having started hundreds of horses over the last twenty years. She has a strong philosophy based on producing happy horses who love their work, and takes a holistic approach to horse welfare. Over the years, she has developed a reputation for successfully rehabilitating sore and difficult horses, having learnt that horses generally only show negative behavior as a reaction to pain or fear, and aims to foster confidence; working to find solutions rather than punishing symptoms.
Since 2012, alongside her sisters Kelly and Amanda, Vicki has become widely known for her work with wild horses, having tamed and advocated for the plight of New Zealand’s wild Kaimanawas, the American Mustangs and more recently the legendary Australian Brumbies. The Wilson Sisters made their reality television debut with their top-rated series Keeping up with the Kaimanawas, which has been followed by two documentaries and four best-selling books sharing their experiences working with horses around the globe. Learn more about Vicki Wilson at www.WilsonSisters.nz.
Road to the Horse 2017 tickets on sale now….
Sarah Winters Dawson, Kate Neubert and Rachelle Valentine have been announced as competitors at Road to the Horse 2017. Road to the Horse 2017 will return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, on March 23-26, 2017. Road to the Horse 2017 tickets are available online at www.RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 877-772-5425. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook for the latest information
