The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo is excited to continue to add to its legacy in the Salt Lake Valley by expanding events featured in conjunction with the World’s Only Gold Medal Rodeo. In 2021, the Road to the Horse Collegiate Colt Starting Competition will be added to the schedule. With an emphasis on education, Road to the Horse has inspired and fostered a strong knowledge of the fundamentals of natural horsemanship within its fan base. Since its inception in 2003, cultivating a solid foundation of natural horsemanship and strengthening equine partnerships have served as key principles of Road to the Horse, and one is hard pressed to find a more fitting classroom than the collegiate equestrian arena. Road to the Horse is honored to co-host the Collegiate Colt Starting Challenge in conjunction with the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo on July 23 and July 24 at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Center in South Jordan, Utah.
“There is no better way to create a legacy, than to invest in the future,” states Morris Equine Group President, Tina Battock. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with the Days of ’47 Rodeo to create an amazing platform to showcase the region’s top collegiate teams. We’re excited to bring Road to the Horse colt-starting action to Utah for the very first time!”
Students representing the University of Montana Western and Montana Center for Horsemanship, who are in the Bachelor of Science Natural Horsemanship Degree Program, will be Katie Ross, James Ramirez, and Jacob Christenson. Head Natural Horsemanship Instructor, Eric Hoffmann, will accompany the students to the event. The Montana Center for Horsemanship is an independent, not for profit organization in partnership with UM Western on multiple degree programs focused on natural horsemanship. The BS Degree in Natural Horsemanship is the first and only in the United States.
Three top collegiate teams will compete for $30,000 in scholarships during the Collegiate Colt Starting Challenge, which requires each team to gentle a colt and display the highest standards of horsemanship over a two-day period. Three top regional horsemanship teams will represent the University of Montana Western, Utah Valley University, and Casper Community College. The judging panel will consist of Road to the Horse celebrities including Jeff Williams, Ken McNabb, and Wade Black. The event schedule, brimming with colt starting action, includes invaluable clinics from Ken McNabb and Wade Black. “As we continue to look for events to showcase as part of our overall Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo, this event felt like a natural fit,” said Tommy Joe Lucia, General Manager of the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo. “Road to the Horse not only reminds us of the importance of horsemanship fundamentals but showcases it in a competitive environment. We are excited to bring this unique event to the great State of Utah.”
The Montana Center for Horsemanship is an international equine education center, headquartered in Dillon, Montana. Its mission is to help every horse and person make the most of their respective lives; to help individuals achieve personal and professional success in equine fields and to perpetuate the defining traditions of the American West through horsemanship.
Contact: Janet Rose, Montana Center for Horsemanship-Tel: 406.925.3270
Email: janet.rose@williamkriegelfoundation.org
Photos Available on Request