The exhilarating moment that Road to the Horse fans have eagerly anticipated is finally here: the unveiling of the next Road to the Horse 2022 championship competition. The Road to the Horse 2022 will be held March 24-27, 2022, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky where Championship competitors will compete for the $100,000 purse. Road to the Horse is renowned for its profound legacy and tradition of showcasing the most superior colt starters who exude the highest principles of horsemanship.
With this announcement of two Championship Competitors, Brandi Lyons and Matt Mills, the competition is truly heating up for Road to the Horse 2022.
Competitor Brandi Lyons:
It is only natural that Brandi Lyons, who has enriched her family’s legacy of legendary horsemanship, is selected as one of the competitors, as she continues to share the invaluable horsemanship philosophy that her father, John Lyons, who is known as “America’s Most Trusted Horse Trainer,” pioneered decades ago.
“We’re excited to welcome Brandi Lyons into the Road to the Horse competitor lineup. The Lyons family has been a trusted name in the horse industry for many years”, states Morris Equine Group President, Tina Battock. “Brandi Lyons not only represents generations of the finest horsemanship, but she embodies the strength, grit, and tenacity of the cowgirl.”
Over the past 24 years, Brandi has earned widespread admiration and respect as a trainer, teacher and clinician while demonstrating how success with horses comes naturally when you are willing to think outside of the box, work hard, be honest and have fun. The Lyons’ conditioned response training methods involve teaching others how to work with their horses using gentle training methods that earn the horse’s respect while creating a safe and willing partner.
Akin to teaching a child to read one letter at a time, Brandi teaches horses how they can move each body part in each direction at each speed, allowing for an easier transition into putting two or more body parts together and evolving into maneuvers such as spinning or flying lead changes. She emphasizes the importance of taking one’s time to ensure the horse has a solid foundation.
Through her clinics or virtual programs in the United States and Canada, Brandi works to instill confidence within riders, showing them that there are no limits to what they can achieve with their horses. Brandi and her husband, J.D., have raised five beautiful daughters, and they enjoy spending their time with their bulldogs and horses.
Competitor Matt Mills:
It is also an honor to reveal NRHA professional trainer Matt Mills of Scottsdale, Arizona as a competitor in the Road to the Horse 2022 Championship. Matt will compete for the World Championship of Colt Starting title on March 24-27, 2022 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.”
Consistently ranked on the NRHA Top Twenty Professionals list, Matt is an EquiStat Elite $1 Million Rider. 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.
“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.”
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 as 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.
Tickets to Road to the Horse 2022 are available online at www.RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 800-514-3849. Learn more about Road to the Horse at www.RoadtotheHorse.com. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook for the latest information.
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, 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.
Due to popular demand, Road to the Horse will separate the Wild Card Competition from the Championship event, bringing the Wild Card Competition to Fort Worth, Texas, in September 2022. The separation of the Wild Card competition from the Championship event will expand opportunities for up-and-coming competitors, and enable the Championship event to feature additional clinics, demonstrations, and entertainment. Six Wild Cards will be selected to compete in Texas, where the winner will receive an invitation to compete at Road to the Horse 2023.
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 Equi-Stat, 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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