Road to the Horse

Road to the Horse and Ride the Remuda Productions, Inc., are proud to announce that the 2009 event will be held March 14-15 at a new location in Franklin, Tennessee. The event, previously held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, will be held at the Williamson County Ag EXPO Park where top competitors John Lyons, Tommy Garland and newly announced competitor Richard Winters will vie to be the 2009 Road to the Horse champion.

Returning competitor Tommy Garland will compete against Road to the Horse newcomers John Lyons and Richard Winters. Although they are both newcomers to the competition, they are by no means newcomers to the worlds of horsemanship and training. Lyons, who is known as “America’s Most Trusted Horseman” is a sought after trainer and clinician and has a professional trainer certification program in Colorado. The newly announced competitor, Winters, has dedicated himself to teaching his horsemanship knowledge and experience to others for nearly three decades. All three competitors have hosted their own horsemanship television shows and there is no doubt that the 2009 event will not only be dynamic and action-packed but full of excitement and emotion.

Franklin is known as the “Hollywood of country music” and promises to be an excellent home for the competition. Williamson County Mayor, Rogers Anderson, welcomes Road to the Horse, its competitors and audience with open arms. Franklin is only ten minutes from downtown Nashville, so entertainment and activity possibilities are endless.

Making return appearances in 2009 will be the amazing Cowgirl Chicks, trick riding team out of Ft. Worth, Texas, the Extreme Mustang Makeover, and Tommy Garland with his colt Spirit from the 2008 Road to the Horse competition.

Although the competition does not start until Saturday the doors will open on Friday for the shopping extravaganza.

“We’ll be having the shopping extravaganza again this year from 3-7 pm and it will be open to the public. We’re expecting it to be bigger than ever with around 150 vendors. People will also get to meet the clinicians and get autographs and photos,” said Tootie Bailey-Bland, Ride the Remuda Productions Producer.

Tickets for the groundbreaking event, in its new location, will go on sale Monday, May 12 at 9 am CDT. Seating is based on ticket purchase and will sell fast, so please purchase tickets early to ensure your attendance for this amazing event. For more information and to purchase tickets for the 2009 Road to the Horse competition, please visit the website at www.roadtothehorse.com, or call (325)736-5000.

Spectators left Road to the Horse 2008 thinking ‘It can’t get any better than this,’ but it has! Tootie Bland and Ride the Remuda Productions, Inc., are already preparing to make 2009 unforgettable.

Bland is proud to announce that “America’s Most Trusted Horseman,” John Lyons will be competing at Road to the Horse 2009. Fans have already been asking, “Who will enter the round pens with Lyons?” So far, one other clinician has been confirmed for 2009, and he was one of this year’s fan favorites. Tommy Garland will return for a second chance at the title. This will be a show that you don’t want to miss!

“I can’t wait to come back,” said Garland. “It is fun to challenge yourself in a situation like that. It shows that you can do what you think you can do.”

Road to the Horse has become one of the largest and most sought after events in the equine industry. This event is international, drawing enthusiasts from all over the world, and almost every state is represented. This year’s challenge was neck-and-neck until the moment the winning envelope was opened, and defending champion Chris Cox was victorious. For Ken McNabb, Mike Kevil, Garland and Cox it was the closest competition to date. Garland had one of the most notable horses this year, which he bought at the end of the competition. He and Cox impressed the crowd as the first two mounted by the end of day one. McNabb and Kevil had a tough time in their round pens on the first day, but shocked the audience during their almost-perfect obstacle course rounds at the end of day two. This competition kept everyone guessing, and it came down to the wire.

“This year was great,” said Bland. “The clinicians did an excellent job, which was reflective in their results. It was by far the closest year.”

Road to the Horse continues to grow, adding new challenges for competitors and surprises for spectators. The 2009 event will be the first time a ‘true legend’ will take the floor, and you can bet the response from fans will be outstanding.

What about a third competitor? Bland plans to make this announcement by the time tickets go on sale at 9 a.m., Monday, May 12, and they can be purchased through the Road to the Horse website. Look for information on competition dates, clinicians and venue to be posted just prior to ticket sales.

For more information on Road to the Horse 2008 and 2009 updates, visit www.roadtothehorse.com, or call 325.736.5000. Road to the Horse is owned and produced by Tootie Bland/Ride the Remuda Productions.