Road to the Horse world champion crowned

One of the most exciting equine competitions of the year, Road to the Horse (RTTH), took place on March 27-30 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., crowning the defending champion Tik Maynard of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as the 2025 World Champion of Colt Starting.

Buster McLaury of Paducah, Texas claimed the Wild Card Champion title and earned his place to compete as a champion competitor.

RTTH strives to recognize the most skilled colt starter who demonstrates exceptional ability throughout the competition, judged on criteria prioritizing the effectiveness of each competitor’s horsemanship methods in fostering communication, education and a trusting partnership with their colt.  

This event provides an opportunity for contestants to showcase their techniques and build meaningful relationships with their horses.

Since 2003, RTTH has prided itself on bringing the best American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) horses to the World Championship of Colt Starting, where trainers are invited to choose a colt from a remuda of untouched three-year-old Quarter Horses.

This year, the world championship remuda is from the infamous Pitchfork Ranch Land and Cattle Company located in central West Texas, featuring a lineup of the ranch’s best AQHA horses whose pedigrees include industry greats such as Marsala Red, CD Olena, Playgun and Highbrow Cat.

During the competition, contestants select their colts and have specific time allotments to catch, halter, saddle and ride the horse through obstacles and groundwork.

Trainers utilizing personal techniques are judged on their overall horsemanship skill, as well as their ability to read the colt and build confidence with it, adjusting to its needs and establishing a solid foundation.

Wild card competition

To kick off RTTH, four talented colt starters from around the world competed for the wild card challenge championship title and their chance to compete as a championship competitor.

In the selection process, Joseph Bentz of Juntura, Ore. selected Playgirl N CD, the half-sister to Shiney Rockin CD.

McLaury selected Playful Tea Pot, a Sorrel filly with a star-studded pedigree, sired by the $4 million Plain Stylish, the maternal grandsire of Natural Stylish.

Dustin Sippola of Cardston, Alberta, Canada selected the competition’s only red roan filly, Shesa Blu Boon Cat.

Next, Cristobal Scarpati of San Luis, Argentina selected Metallic Too Suen, another phenomenally-bred filly with a multi-million-dollar pedigree.

In round one of the wildcard competition, Sippola scored 256.5 points, and McLaury landed in second place with 253 points. 

Bentz secured third place with 246.5 points, and Scarpati secured fourth place with 159.5 points.

McLaury passed up the competition in round two with 276 points, earning him the lead.

Following McLaury was Bentz with 256 points, and trailing him by one point was Sippola with 255 points, while Scarpati fell behind the pack, finishing with 174 points.

In the third and final round, Sippola took the lead with 382 points, as Bentz pushed hard, scoring 379.5 points.

McLaury followed closely with 368 points, leaving Sippola in last place with 70 points.

However, after all three rounds, McLaury earned the top spot with a combined total of 897 points, nudging out Sippola who earned a total of 893.5 points.

Bentz ended the competition with 882 points, while Scarpati finished in fourth place with 403.5 points.

World champion competition

Over the three days of competition, three champion competitors and one wildcard competitor vied for the title of world champion, where they trained unhandled colts in front of an enthusiastic crowd. 

To begin the competition, competitors had 60 seconds to review the championship remuda.

Each competitor had to select their colt for training out of a pen of 10 horses, and first up was Vicki Wilson of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand who selected Lil Smart Cattack, a red roan gelding sired by the 2016 RTTH World Champion Seven Attraction. 

Next up was McLaury, who selected Sugar Cattack, a chromed-out red roan gelding, the grandson of the great Metallic Cat and out of Sparks Desire, who is out of Desire Some Shine.

Picking third was Phil Haugen of Weatherford, Okla., who selected Starrin Miss Bamacat, a sorrel gelding with a proven pedigree over the years at the RTTH.

Maynard was the last to choose his horse, and he selected Goodluck Suncat, a buckskin gelding with a rich pedigree in ranching heritage.

McLaury won round one of the championship competition, scoring 262.5 points, and following closely was Maynard with 258.5 points.

With 265 points, to secure third place was Wilson, and Haugen landed in fourth place with 191 points.

During round two, Maynard surged forward, scoring 275 points, as McLaury stayed close behind with 260 points.

Haugen and Wilson battled for third and fourth place, but Haugen took third by a mere 6.5-point lead.

In the last round, competitors were scored on saddle pen work, railwork and obstacles to earn an overall score.

Maynard earned a total of 538.5 points, securing first place, followed by Wilson in second place with 507.5 points.

McLaury scored 487.5 points securing third, while Haugen finished in fourth with 484.5 points.

At the end of all three rounds, Maynard was crowned champion with a total of 1,072 points, and McLaury was close behind with 1,010 points.

The battle for third continued, but Wilson secured it with a combined score of 973, and Haugen rounded out the group in fourth place with 882 points.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.