April 09 midwest horse digest Page 19
Richard Winters Captures Road to the Horse Title/
Fort Dodge Charity Challenge
Richard Winters of Ojai, California Warvell. Dr. Jim Heird from Colorado State able to successfully navigate the obstacle
was crowned Road to the Horse Champion in University and Marian Buehler of Dallas, Texas course which was constructed with poles,
Franklin, TN March 15, 2009. Winters, John joined the judging ranks for the first time at this jumps, bags of shavings from Guardian
Lyons and Tommy Garland competed for the year’s event. Bedding and sacks of Nutrena SafeChoice™
coveted title in front of a sold-out crowd of Shelley Mix announced the winner feed. The obstacle course required everything
6,000 spectators including guests from as far on behalf of Horse & Rider Magazine, the offi- from rail work to dragging a log to a mystery
away as Finland, France and Paraguay. The cial publication of Road to the Horse. Fort obstacle which entailed the clinicians getting
one-of-a-kind event, which matches three top Dodge Animal Health, a world-wide leader in their colts as close as possible to a cage which
clinicians with three unbroken colts, gives equine health solutions, had Director of Equine held two live chickens. In addition, Garland
each competitor three hours over two days to Sales Laura Primm on hand in the winner’s cir- showcased the confidence he had built in his
start their colt using their own unique natural cle to present a check for $15,000 to Winter's colt by standing on his horse’s back while
horsemanship training techniques. charity of choice – Focus on the Family. The swinging a rope, crawling underneath his colt
Winter's explained to the organization is dedicated to serving and
.......continued on page 21
live crowd at the event that his training strengthening family bonds worldwide. Winters
approach was to train his chosen 2006 AQHA says that he chose the charity due to the
bay colt, Plenty Brown Hancock, just like he immense help that they have provided his own
would in any other setting on any other day. family and families across the world.
For Winters this included riding his colt in the “Focus on the Family has helped
obstacle course and freestyle performance in me in raising my own children and strengthen-
a halter rather than a bridle and bit, making ing my own marriage. When families are
him the first champion to ride his colt to victory strong and healthy, opportunities are more
bitless. available for young people to participate in
“I start all my colts in just a halter horse shows and junior rodeos and be
and not a snaffle. I decided right away to ride involved in great organizations such as 4-H
him in a halter during the obstacle course and FFA. When families suffer, the result is
because you don't need to be pulling on their often horses being sold, cutting back on
mouth at this stage,” says Winters. equine activities and moving away from a rural
In another Road to the Horse first, Winters lifestyle,” he said in explaining why he chose
asked for a calf to be let into the arena during the charity.
his freestyle. He explained it is important to Winters also received a check for
him to cultivate curiosity and confidence in his $10,000 from Road to the Horse producer
young horses by introducing them to new Tootie Bland, a memorial Steven “Dookie”
experiences such as tracking cattle. Bland trophy saddle provided by Martin
“When they kicked that calf out into Saddlery featuring conchos by Gist
the arena for the freestyle it worked out really Silversmiths, and an original painting by artist
slick. My colt saw the calf and he really freed Peter Grant entitled “On the Road” which was
up and started tracking it. Hat's off to the Bath featured as the cover image of the event’s sou-
Brothers for raising really great cow horses,” venir program.
he says. As Road to the Horse host Rick
Randy and Laurie Dunn, owners of Lamb said Saturday evening at the event,
Bath Brothers Ranch in Laramie, Wyoming “Day two can change everything”, and this
said they were proud to show off their horses' year's Road to the Horse was no exception.
natural ability by providing the 10 colt remuda After a challenging first day of competition, all
for the event. “I think Richard really sold the three trainers and their colts stepped into the
crowd with the tracking of the calf and show- round pens and onto the obstacle course on
cased the horses and their capacity and keen- Sunday with new attitudes and a renewed
ness of mind and ability to adapt to situations. sense of purpose.
I'm really glad that I was able to bring my hors- Garland's colt (a grullo named Blue
es into this venue and with this high caliber of Leo Bonnet), though it did not want to move
trainers,” said Randy Dunn in an interview out in the round pen and offered to buck, was
after the event.
Winters who is the horsemanship
instructor in residence at the Thacher School
in California is also a champion reined
cowhorse competitor and an “A” rated NRCHA
judge. He was accompanied at the event by
his wife Cheryl, daughter Sarah, and son
Joseph. Winters chose his daughter, a cham-
pion reined cowhorse trainer in her own right,
as his Road to the Horse pen wrangler.
Road to the Horse not only featured
high caliber horses and trainers, but the crème
de la crème of the equine industry who were
chosen to judge the event and lend their supe-
rior expertise in determining the 2009 Road to
the Horse champion. Senior judge Bob
Moorhouse was joined by returning judges
Jack Brainard, Dr. Robert Miller and Toni
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60