2010 Road to the Horse - Richard Winters
Reflections
Greetings from the
open road! I pen this news letter while in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, where I’ll be presenting at their 20th
annual horse expo this weekend. This is the third leg of our
2 month horsemanship tour. Our first stop was Murfreesboro,
Tennessee, for the World Championship Road to the Horse colt
starting competition. Many of you were there for the action.
If you missed it, below is a recap of how it went down.
After winning
RTTH in 2009, I was invited back for a second time to defend
my Championship Title. Throughout the weekend, each
competitor was given an opportunity to make horsemanship
presentations to the enthusiastic crowd. It was very special
for me to have our daughter Sarah join me in a free style
reining exhibition and to have our son Joseph step into the
arena to help out in a cow working demo. Cheryl and I were
thrilled to have our children with us at RTTH and we
couldn’t be more proud of each of them!
My
fellow competitors were Craig Cameron and Ken McNabb. We
each had three hours to start our unbroken 3 year old
geldings. Then we were required to perform real work at the
walk, trot, and lope and complete a trail course with ten
obstacles. With any time remaining we could “free style” our
colts to show them off to the best of our ability.
I chose a
handsome Wood Ranch sorrel gelding, by an own son of Shining
Spark. It’s impossible to predict their specific temperament
and trainability so I just decided to pick one that I
wouldn’t mind taking home!
My colt proved
to be curious, yet very touchy. By the end of the first hour
I had him caught and was focusing on desensitizing and
getting him comfortable with my hands on him. This concluded
round one.
On the second
day we had two hours to complete our round pen work. My colt
was more willing to be caught this time and I knew it was
time to get him saddled. Saddled and moving around the pen,
my colt was doing well. With an obstacle course coming up
next, Craig, Ken, and I spent time introducing poles, tarps,
and the like to our colts.
I
normally start all of my colts with a halter and lead rope.
I kept with that same program and rode my colt the same way
I would ride at home. After mounting up and asking my colt
to move around at the walk and trot, I introduced the lariat
rope. Swinging a rope and getting him comfortable with this
tool would help prepare him for the next session.
My colt was holding together pretty well into
the last hour of round pen work. At one point while asking
him to move out he got a little bothered and thought he
should just go ahead and buck me off. Two bucking laps
around the pen had me losing my hat and a stirrup, but
somehow I managed to keep a leg on either side of him and
ride it out! Needless to say, all of the NASCAR fans loved
it!
Five
minutes later as I was reassuring my colt, in the round pen,
while reading a Western Horseman Magazine, I heard Rick Lamb
announce, “Cheryl Winters has just purchased Richard’s
little bronco and that we’d be taking him home!” (She
assures me that she had purchased the colt prior to the
bucking!)
The rail work
proved to be the most challenging for my colt. Staying on
the perimeter with all of the viewers in the stands, just a
few feet away, was hard for my colt to swallow. The trail
course went well and we navigated every obstacle. With four
minutes remaining I asked for a cow to be turned loose and
tracked the bovine around for my free style. I was proud of
my colt and thought he wrapped things up on a very positive
note.
Of
course, with this being called a Colt Starting “Contest” -
That means only one competitor can be named Champion. When
the dust was settled and the scores were tabulated, Craig
Cameron was named the 2010 Champion. He will be a great
ambassador for Road to the Horse and Cheryl and I are very
happy for Craig. I don’t believe there is a happier cowboy
in Texas right now! Congratulations Craig!!!
We want to
thank Tootie Bland and the whole RTTH team for allowing us
to be a part of this great event. We encourage each of you
to make plans now to attend in 2011.
Our colt has
gone back to the Wood Ranch, in Arkansas, while we are on
tour. We’ll pick him up in a few weeks, on our way back to
California. Stay tuned to our web site and email news
letters as we will begin chronicling this fine colts
progress as soon as we get home.
Richard Winters at Road to the Horse 2009
A few years ago an
idea was conceived to have a competition for horsemanship
clinicians that would showcase their colt starting skills.
Implementing young unbroken horses, a specified time frame,
and strict guidelines that would be administered, the
clinicians would be judged on their horse handling
techniques by a panel of distinguished judges. The biggest
and greatest of all of these events, in the entire world,
was held again this year in Franklin, Tennessee on March
14-15.
This one-of-a-kind
event, known as Road to the Horse, is the brain child of
Steve and Tootie Bland. Previous Champions of this
prestigious event are: Clinton Anderson, Stacy Westfall, and
Chris Cox. It was a privilege and honor for me to have been
invited to participate as a 2009 contestant. My fellow
competitors were “Americas Most Trusted Trainer” -- John
Lyons and past RTTH competitor and RFD-TV personality --
Tommy Garland.
Each year, a group
of three-year-old colts are selected from one of the
country’s top producing ranches. This year the Bath
Brothers Ranch from Wyoming brought a set of range raised
colts that had halters put on them for two day as weanlings
and then turned out in the wild for the next two and a half
years. We each drew numbers and then had five minutes to
choose one of the colts from the remuda. Tommy drew first
and picked the colt that I thought I wanted (thank God for
unanswered prayers!). I drew second and picked a bay gelding
who seemed to have a soft yet curious eye. John was the last
to draw and he actually picked my third choice. In
situations like this I try to make an educated guess,
however, that’s exactly what it is -- a guess!
We had an hour and
ten minutes to work with our colt on the first day with a
mandatory ten minute break. For the first twenty minutes of
the competition, I was beginning to have second thoughts
about my pick. While John was rubbing and petting his colt
and had ropes all over him, I couldn’t even touch mine.
About halfway through the first session, I made the
administrative decision to invite my colt to a “neck-tie
party” which is cowboy lingo for “I roped him!” Now,
with a connection to this colt, I could start to make some
progress. Soon the halter was on and I was rubbing him all
over. By the end of round one I had also climbed up on his
back.
At the end of day
one the crowd was leaning towards John Lyons who had his
colt desensitized very well, was following him around, and
he even had him saddled. Tommy Garland had his hands full
with a colt that made him work for every inch of progress
made. My daughter, Sarah, was my pen wrangler who helped
with equipment and kept track of time. She reassured me that
I finished my session on a pretty good note and that I was
well prepared for day two.
In round two we were
given two hours and twenty minutes to work our colt’s in
the round pen, with a twenty minute mandatory rest for the
horses. My greatest concern, stepping into the pen, was that
my colt would have to again be roped and that he would not
let me step up and halter him. I was relieved when five
minutes later he was quietly haltered and reviewing the
previous day’s lesson. My next goal was to get him
saddled. The sooner he had the saddle on his back, the more
time he would have to get acclimated to it. I wanted him
wearing that saddle before I took my first break.
The contest
culminates with rail work, an obstacle course, and a
freestyle exhibition showcasing our horse. In preparation
for the obstacle course each of us competitors added an
array of objects in our pens at the beginning of round one.I had two round poles, a tarp, a two by four wooden
bridge, and half of a hay bale. Some spectators were
concerned and wondered why I did not have more elaborate
paraphernalia compared with the other two clinicians. We
would just have to wait and see if this was a good call or
not.
I was pleased with
the way my colt moved around the pen with the saddle on. He
never did offer to buck, which is not the norm, but it
didn’t hurt me feelings. Then it was time to climb aboard.
I prepared my colt as well as I could on the ground, with
the time I was given, and it wasn’t long before he was
moving out each way at the walk and trot. The lope was
difficult for him in the round pen and I only managed a few
strides in each direction.I trusted that when I rode him outside for the rail
work and obstacle course that he would move out freer. By
the end of round two both John and Tommy were up on their
colt’s as well. Tommy felt like his horse wanted to buck
every time he asked for the lope and John was concerned (as
I was with my colt), that he didn’t have as much forward
movement at the lope as he wanted. At the end of round two
we were required to unsaddle our colt’s and put them back
in their pens to rest while the obstacle course was put in
place.
We drew for the
order of round three and I was to be last. Each clinician
would now have thirty-five minutes to bring his colt into
the arena, re-saddle, mount and dismount, pick up all four
feet, walk, trot, and lope in both directions, and back up.
We would then need to negotiate a myriad of obstacles such
as; serpentine poles, crossing a tarp, raised walk-over’s,
jumps, swing a rope over our horse’s head, drag a pole,
and a mystery obstacle which ended up being caged, live
chickens, that we were to ride up to and have our horses put
their noses on. After this was completed, whatever minutes
remained would be given to freestyle. I waited on the
side-lines observing Tommy and John work their way through a
myriad of requirements. I was impressed with how both
horsemen were able to navigate each required obstacle. It
did appear however, that neither trainer was pleased with
the lack of forward impulsion their colt’s were able to
give them and the loping became very difficult. In the
freestyle, John rode his horse up onto a bridge full of
potted plants and Tommy stood up on his colt and cracked a
whip.
Now, it was my turn
to see what my colt and I could accomplish. I was concerned
when I first brought him back into the arena. He was now all
by himself and was really thinking about that back gate. He
had been standing out in the catch pen for over an hour,
with all the other horses, and wasn’t too sure that being
in this big scary arena, surrounded by 6,000 humans, was the
best place for him. I figured that the best thing I could do
was to get mounted and get him busy. You know what they say,
“Idle hooves are the devil’s workshop!” My earlier
hunch was correct, getting out of the round pen helped to
free up his feet and when it came time to lope left and
right, he moved out really nice and free. He handled every
obstacle well and even stepped up and kissed some chickens!
Some of the preparation I had done in the round pen, with
backing, paid big dividends. When I asked him to back up, my
horse was soft, straight, and willing. My background and
training style reflects the California Reined Cow Horse and
Vaquero traditions. I had the opportunity to highlight some
of those traditions during my demonstrations throughout the
weekend. With a few minutes left for freestyle I had an idea
that would compliment my cow horse background if I could
pull it off without getting killed! With just a few minutes
remaining I motioned to the back gate and they kicked out a
cow. I thought it would be a great thing if this colt could
step up to this cow and get curious and start tracking him
around the pen. He could not have been better! That cow came
out and ran straight towards us and I encouraged my colt
forward, the cow took off and we loped around the entire
arena tracking up to that cow. My wife says the crowd went
wild! That was it for me and I and I rode out of the pen,
waiting for the judges’ decision.
John, Tommy, and I
got back on our own personal horses and rode into the flag
filled arena to await the announcement; “And the winner of
Road to the Horse 2009 is…Richard Winters!” The
fireworks went off and the Cowgirl Chicks took off at a full
gallop and I fell in right behind them. I have been in
numerous competitions and have known the thrill of victory
and the agony of defeat but being proclaimed Champion of
Road to the Horse 2009 is a win that I’ll never forget!
The award ceremony was like Christmas in March!Receiving a check for $10,000 from Road to the Horse
producer Tootie Bland, a memorial Steven “Dookie” Bland
trophy saddle provided by Martin Saddlery featuring conchos
by Gist Silversmith, and an original painting by artist
Peter Grant entitled “On the Road” which was featured as
the cover image of the event’s souvenir program, a logo
embossed CSI saddle pad, and a beautiful Gist
Silversmith’s Masters Collection gold buckle made this win
very exciting. Fort Dodge stepped up to the plate and
sponsored a $15,000 check to the charity of the winner’s
choice. My wife, Cheryl, and I are honored to have Focus on
the Family receive this generous donation.
I believe that being
invited to participate in RTTH automatically makes you a
winner! Each competitor received a standing ovation for his
accomplishments and the crowd was very appreciative of
everyone’s efforts. I want to thank Tootie Bland and each
of the Road to the Horse volunteers for orchestrating this
one of a kind world class event. I was honored to be invited
and it was a privilege to ride with two great horsemen and
you bet I was thrilled to win! You can learn more about Road
to the Horse at www.roadtothehorse.com
Bucket,
Saddle & Britches signing
Awards
Team
Winners Group photos: Compliments
of Road to the Horse
South Dakota, where I’ll be presenting at their 20
My
fellow competitors were Craig Cameron and Ken McNabb. We
each had three hours to start our unbroken 3 year old
geldings. Then we were required to perform real work at the
walk, trot, and lope and complete a trail course with ten
obstacles. With any time remaining we could “free style” our
colts to show them off to the best of our ability.
I
normally start all of my colts with a halter and lead rope.
I kept with that same program and rode my colt the same way
I would ride at home. After mounting up and asking my colt
to move around at the walk and trot, I introduced the lariat
rope. Swinging a rope and getting him comfortable with this
tool would help prepare him for the next session.
Five
minutes later as I was reassuring my colt, in the round pen,
while reading a Western Horseman Magazine, I heard Rick Lamb
announce, “Cheryl Winters has just purchased Richard’s
little bronco and that we’d be taking him home!” (She
assures me that she had purchased the colt prior to the
bucking!)
Of
course, with this being called a Colt Starting “Contest” -
That means only one competitor can be named Champion. When
the dust was settled and the scores were tabulated, Craig
Cameron was named the 2010 Champion. He will be a great
ambassador for Road to the Horse and Cheryl and I are very
happy for Craig. I don’t believe there is a happier cowboy
in Texas right now! Congratulations Craig!!!
A few years ago an
idea was conceived to have a competition for horsemanship
clinicians that would showcase their colt starting skills.
Implementing young unbroken horses, a specified time frame,
and strict guidelines that would be administered, the
clinicians would be judged on their horse handling
techniques by a panel of distinguished judges. The biggest
and greatest of all of these events, in the entire world,
was held again this year in Franklin, Tennessee on March
14-15.
This one-of-a-kind
event, known as Road to the Horse, is the brain child of
Steve and Tootie Bland. Previous Champions of this
prestigious event are: Clinton Anderson, Stacy Westfall, and
Chris Cox. It was a privilege and honor for me to have been
invited to participate as a 2009 contestant. My fellow
competitors were “Americas Most Trusted Trainer” -- John
Lyons and past RTTH competitor and RFD-TV personality --
Tommy Garland.
Each year, a group
of three-year-old colts are selected from one of the
country’s top producing ranches. This year the Bath
Brothers Ranch from Wyoming brought a set of range raised
colts that had halters put on them for two day as weanlings
and then turned out in the wild for the next two and a half
years. We each drew numbers and then had five minutes to
choose one of the colts from the remuda. Tommy drew first
and picked the colt that I thought I wanted (thank God for
unanswered prayers!). I drew second and picked a bay gelding
who seemed to have a soft yet curious eye. John was the last
to draw and he actually picked my third choice. In
situations like this I try to make an educated guess,
however, that’s exactly what it is -- a guess!
We had an hour and
ten minutes to work with our colt on the first day with a
mandatory ten minute break. For the first twenty minutes of
the competition, I was beginning to have second thoughts
about my pick. While John was rubbing and petting his colt
and had ropes all over him, I couldn’t even touch mine.
About halfway through the first session, I made the
administrative decision to invite my colt to a “neck-tie
party” which is cowboy lingo for “I roped him!” Now,
with a connection to this colt, I could start to make some
progress. Soon the halter was on and I was rubbing him all
over. By the end of round one I had also climbed up on his
back.
At the end of day
one the crowd was leaning towards John Lyons who had his
colt desensitized very well, was following him around, and
he even had him saddled. Tommy Garland had his hands full
with a colt that made him work for every inch of progress
made. My daughter, Sarah, was my pen wrangler who helped
with equipment and kept track of time. She reassured me that
I finished my session on a pretty good note and that I was
well prepared for day two.
The contest
culminates with rail work, an obstacle course, and a
freestyle exhibition showcasing our horse. In preparation
for the obstacle course each of us competitors added an
array of objects in our pens at the beginning of round one.
I was pleased with
the way my colt moved around the pen with the saddle on. He
never did offer to buck, which is not the norm, but it
didn’t hurt me feelings. Then it was time to climb aboard.
I prepared my colt as well as I could on the ground, with
the time I was given, and it wasn’t long before he was
moving out each way at the walk and trot. The lope was
difficult for him in the round pen and I only managed a few
strides in each direction.
We drew for the
order of round three and I was to be last. Each clinician
would now have thirty-five minutes to bring his colt into
the arena, re-saddle, mount and dismount, pick up all four
feet, walk, trot, and lope in both directions, and back up.
We would then need to negotiate a myriad of obstacles such
as; serpentine poles, crossing a tarp, raised walk-over’s,
jumps, swing a rope over our horse’s head, drag a pole,
and a mystery obstacle which ended up being caged, live
chickens, that we were to ride up to and have our horses put
their noses on. After this was completed, whatever minutes
remained would be given to freestyle. I waited on the
side-lines observing Tommy and John work their way through a
myriad of requirements. I was impressed with how both
horsemen were able to navigate each required obstacle. It
did appear however, that neither trainer was pleased with
the lack of forward impulsion their colt’s were able to
give them and the loping became very difficult. In the
freestyle, John rode his horse up onto a bridge full of
potted plants and Tommy stood up on his colt and cracked a
whip.
John, Tommy, and I
got back on our own personal horses and rode into the flag
filled arena to await the announcement; “And the winner of
Road to the Horse 2009 is…Richard Winters!” The
fireworks went off and the Cowgirl Chicks took off at a full
gallop and I fell in right behind them. I have been in
numerous competitions and have known the thrill of victory
and the agony of defeat but being proclaimed Champion of
Road to the Horse 2009 is a win that I’ll never forget! 
The award ceremony was like Christmas in March!
I believe that being
invited to participate in RTTH automatically makes you a
winner! Each competitor received a standing ovation for his
accomplishments and the crowd was very appreciative of
everyone’s efforts. I want to thank Tootie Bland and each
of the Road to the Horse volunteers for orchestrating this
one of a kind world class event. I was honored to be invited
and it was a privilege to ride with two great horsemen and
you bet I was thrilled to win! You can learn more about Road
to the Horse at 
