The competition is truly heating up for Road to the Horse 2022 as another Championship Competitor is announced. It is our honor to reveal NRHA professional trainer Matt Mills of Scottsdale, Arizona, as a Road to the Horse 2022 Championship Competitor who will compete for the World Championship of Colt Starting title on March 24-27 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Matt Mills joins fellow competitors Brandi Lyons and Cole Cameron, in a championship lineup that will include four competitors and a purse of over $100,000.
“We’re excited to welcome NRHA professional horseman Matt Mills to our Championship Competitor lineup” states Morris Equine Group President, Tina Battock. “Road to the Horse strives to bring together the industry’s most elite colt starters who are not only stand-outs in their disciplines but most importantly, shining ambassadors of the horse.”
“I am excited for this new challenge to compete at Road to the Horse 2022” Matt Mills stated. “Training and showing top reining horses from start to finish has been my focus for years. I can’t wait to start preparing for this event. I know I will be a better horseman because of it.”
Consistently ranked on the NRHA Top Twenty Professionals list, Matt has accumulated NRHA lifetime earnings of over $1,000,000.00. His accomplishments include earning the NRHA Intermediate Open Futurity Reserve Champion title; multiple National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) titles; and several large futurity and derby titles including RMRHA Summer Slide, High Roller Reining Classic, SWRHA Futurity and NRHA Cowtown Classic.
One of his most significant achievements entailed winning the 2006 USEF Open Reining Championship in Lexington, Kentucky on Easy Otie Whiz with a career-high score of 231.5. This feat earned him a spot on the U.S. Reining Team that claimed a gold medal at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.
Matt’s horsemanship journey began when he was introduced to horses at eight years of age by a pony named Dizzy while taking lessons in a small round pen at the Lakewood Equestrian Center in Long Beach, California. As a youth rider, he earned multiple championships throughout California in a variety of disciplines including Western Pleasure, Horsemanship and Trail.
Matt switched his focus to reining in 1996, establishing his own training operation in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to training and showing futurity and derby horses, he also coaches several successful non-pro and youth riders. It is no surprise, he is a highly in-demand clinician in the United States, Europe, and Mexico. His down-to-earth personality, beneficial influence and teaching style are just a few of the traits that set him apart as a positive role model for a diverse group of riders.
Road to the Horse 2022 takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park on March 24-27, 2022. Tickets are available at www.RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 800-514-3849. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook for the latest information and stayed tune to find out who will be revealed as the next Road to the Horse 2022 competitor.
About Road to the Horse
Founded in 2003, Road to the Horse strives to inspire people to reach a higher level of horsemanship and develop unity with a horse based on trust and not fear. We believe that through education and entertainment, we can change people’s ideas and create a better world for the horse. The purpose of Road to the Horse is to identify the superior colt starter who accumulates the highest score throughout the competition. Judging focuses on the competitor and the effectiveness of their horsemanship methodology to communicate, educate, and build a partnership with their colt based on trust. Fans witness the entire journey, from colt selection to the final obstacle challenge. Purchase tickets and see the event schedule at www.RoadtotheHorse.com.
About Morris Equine Group
Morris Equine Group consists of some of the industry’s most recognized brands, including Western Horseman, Quarter Horse News and Barrel Horse News. The group also includes business-to-business publication Western Lifestyle Retailer and EquiStat, a statistical service offering detailed information and earnings for the performance horse industry. Morris Equine Group is also home to the National Barrel Horse Association, the West Coast Barrel Racing Association and the World Championship of Colt Starting, Road to the Horse.
For more info contact:
Road to the Horse
tammy@roadtothehorse.com
D): 940-859-6512
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