First, let me introduce myself. My name is Liz Galletta, and I’ve been a member of the Horse Illustrated team since 2024. This is my second time attending Equine Affaire and every year it seems to get better! I want to take you with as I experience the event this year. 

Our western brand, Western Life Today, is the sponsor of Cowtown in Cooper, so our booth was the highlight of the Western Life Today Alleyway. We had seven wonderful booth sponsors, including PetKORE, Stud Muffins, AnimaSol, Chewy Equine, Boomerang Rubber, Sentinel, and Parelli Natural Horsemanship.

Our booth at Equine Affaire Ohio 2026. Photo by Madison Wintrich/MW Creative & Photography

Parelli set up at one end of our booth, and we were so thrilled to have them with us this year. 2026 was the start of a new partnership with Parelli, in which Pat and his team write a training column in each Horse Illustrated issue and select Young Rider issues. Not only were the Parelli team members so amazing to hang out with, but the energy and excitement that Pat Parelli brings wherever he goes is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. He draws crowds and captivates his audience so effortlessly — it’s no wonder how he’s developed such a large fanbase. He did daily giveaways at 4 p.m. at our booth, and every single day he drew a large crowd. 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 1

Day 1 of Equine Affaire was filled with the excitement and anticipation of what was to come. We saw hundreds of people come through our booth in the Bricker Building, and we had the chance to see seminars and demos from some of our favorites, including Pat Parelli and Sam and Kellie Rettinger of Whispery Pines Percherons. I also got talked into riding a mechanical bull – check out how that went below! 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 2

Friday was the first day Cooper in Cowtown was open, so we got to watch things get western during clinics by Mike Bednarek, Zoe Woodland, and Joe Sansone. My favorite part, of course, was the adorable young cows being used in these clinics. We also got to see additional clinics in other rings by Horse Illustrated Webinar guests Dan James, Jason Irwin, and of course our friend Pat Parelli.  

Friday also brought about the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, which is the ultimate test of horsemanship and training. Riders and their horses must race through a timed obstacle course, created to test horsemanship skills and athleticism. Though, timing is not the only criteria, and points are awarded for a positive horse attitude, overall performance, and more. After a close competition, Brenda Hanson and Ace reigned victorious and took home the first-place prize. 

I also had the privilege of being able to “Drive A Draft” with Kellie Rettinger, which was an incredible experience that I am sure to never forget. Check out that experience below. 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 3

Day 3 was an incredibly busy day all around, but we made sure to watch some clinics as well as swing by some of our partner’s booths, including Equi-Analytical, KENT, Wild Animal Sanctuary, Farrier’s Magic, GG Equine, Tyler Shupe Leather, and the ASPCA Right Horse Adoption barn (spoiler alert — by Sunday evening, all but two horses had been adopted!) 

After watching more presenters (including our friends Bronwyn Irwin and Reese Koffler-Stanfield), we got to watch the hilarious Cowboy Challenge, emceed by the one and only Hayden Kristal. This on-foot challenge had competitors complete a series of farm-related tasks, including moving hay, setting up jumps, and scooping grain, to see who would be crowned the ultimate cowboy. This was insanely entertaining and, in our eyes, everyone was a winner for being brave enough to tackle those tasks in front of an audience.

Saturday was also the biggest day for Parelli’s giveaway, and we easily had over 100 people flooding our booth to get a chance to win big! 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 4

Sunday was a bittersweet ending to a wonderful weekend. My favorite part of the day was taking advantage of the sales the shopping booths were putting on – the whole Horse Illustrated crew brought home solid clothing hauls for an incredible deal.

Another touching outcome of this weekend came from Boomerang Rubber – they graciously provided the flooring for our booth (which saved our backs from hours of standing on straight concrete) and at the end of the weekend, donated the mats to two different ASPCA Right Horse partners. We could not be more thankful for Bobby and his team, and we’re glad they could make a difference in the lives of adoptable horses through their donation. 

Over the course of Equine Affaire, we got to meet thousands of amazing people, introduce dozens of new readers to Horse Illustrated, and celebrate our 50th Anniversary with readers who have been with us for years.  

If you attended Equine Affaire this year, we were so glad to get to meet you and get to know you. If you didn’t attend, I hope you consider stopping by next year so you can experience the magic of this event. 

This article about Equine Affaire Ohio 2026 is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Recap of Equine Affaire Ohio 2026 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The format of the competition is simple: the first two days, four Wild Card competitors compete for a spot in the Championship Competition. These competitors choose a colt from the Remuda provided by the Pitchfork Ranch. They are then given two days to work with their respective colts, each session awarding points based on twenty different categories, including Catching & Haltering, Overall Horsemanship – Reading of Colt, and Colt’s Demeanor at End of Session. Once a Wild Card winner is crowned, they move on to the Championship Competition to compete against the other three chosen trainers.  

The Championship Competition is set up very similarly; the scoring system is the same, but they get more time with their filly, split up into three days.   

The Wild Card Competition

This year’s Wild Card lineup featured two American trainers, Sadie Fisher and Tiffany McLaury, Canadian Jason Irwin, and Australian Rob Leach. This proved to be an extremely competitive lineup, making for an exciting beginning to Road to the Horse 2026.

Pitchfork Ranch was back again as the Official Remuda Partner and brought a stunning selection of 3-year-old geldings for the Wild Card. Sadie Fisher decided to go with Crack Eyed John, a gorgeous palomino by Metallic Masterpiece. Tiffany McLaury chose Nasty Metallic, a sorrel gelding by Nasty CD with plenty of personality. Rob Leach also jumped on the sorrel train with his pick, Nastys Bamacat by Bamacat. Finally, Jason Irwin selected the beautiful red roan Its Payday Cowboy. 

After two rounds of competition on Day 1, Fisher had a score of 376.0, Irwin had a score of 494.0, Leach had a score of 506.0, and McLaury had a narrow lead with a score of 508.5. 

Friday morning brought the Wild Card Finale, where competitors were given 20 minutes in the round pen and 15 minutes on the rail to show off their training. There was also a bonus obstacle, a bridge that had themed décor around it. 

Every single rider had a lovely ride in the finale, but there was one who shone above them all. Maintaining a lead with a score of 912, and the only rider to get their horse over the bridge, was Tiffany McLaury. She earned herself a spot in the Championship, following in her father Buster’s footsteps from last year’s competition. 

Leach finished with 863, Irwin finished with 846, and Fisher ended with a 707.5. 

The Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies at Road to the Horse are nothing short of spectacular – and this year did not disappoint. Boasting performances from The Wranglers Drill Team, Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship, Whispery Pines Percherons, Fleur de Lis Vaulters, Jake Durancik, E Imaginations, and Elliot Holtzman of Versatile Horsemanship, each day was an impressive display of horsemanship and showmanship. From liberty routines, to jousting, to full harness teams, Road to the Horse allowed a wide display of different disciplines to come together in celebration horses. 

The Championship Competitors

With the addition of Tiffany McLaury to the lineup, this year’s championship consisted entirely of American trainers. Elisa Wallace, Nick Dowers, and Ryan Rose were three horsemen chosen ahead of the event.

Elisa Wallace is a five-star eventer who is known for her work with Mustangs and off-the-track Thoroughbreds, with wins at both the Extreme Mustang Makeover and Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover. Operating in Reddick, Fla., Wallace blends technical excellence with thoughtful communication, and enjoys sharing her training journey through online platforms. 

Nick Dowers is a two-time Road to the Horse Champion based in Nevada. In 2013, Dowers won the National Reined Cow Horse Association Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Championship aboard Time for the Diamond, his family’s stallion. He believes strongly in developing horses capable of excelling on the ranch and in the arena. Dowers is also a Jack Brainard Horsemanship Award recipient. 

Ryan Rose is a familiar face for our Horse Illustrated crowd, as we were honored to feature him in our September 2025 Webinar. With more than 20 years of experience, and thousands of horses trained, Rose is a respected horsemanship specialist, trainer, and clinician known for his connection-focused approach. With his wife, Dr. Emily Rose, he founded the Rose Horsemanship Center in Wisconsin and Florida. His strong online presence allows him to educate riders worldwide. 

Finally, but certainly not least, is our Wild Card Champion, Tiffany McLaury. Tiffany is a lifelong equestrian from Paducah, Texas who inherited her love of horses from her parents, Buster and Sheryl McLaury. McLaury is very active in the show ring with her horses Wicked and Calf Rope, showing in the ARHA, PRCHA, AWHA, NRCHA, and RHAA, earning multiple world titles. She maintains devotion to the horse in every aspect of her life and training, grounding herself in tradition, respect, and continual improvement. 

The Remuda

Pitchfork Ranch brought 11 stunning fillies for the Championship Remuda. These incredible American Quarter Horses come from royal bloodlines that include Metallic Masterpiece, Nasty CD, and Bet Hesa Cat, tracing back to legendary sires such as Doc Bar, Freckles Playboy, High Brow Cat, and Peppy San Badger. 

Elisa Wallace ended up choosing #10, Tuff Twister, a lovely sorrel by Brother Tuff Wood out of the Bet Hesa Cat mare, Bet Shesa Twister. With a big blaze and friendly eyes, she was definitely a standout. Nick Dowers went with #2, Nasty Tea Pot, another gorgeous sorrel, by Nasty CD out of Shiney Tea Pot Doc. Nasty Tea Pot’s dam produced two Road to the Horse Wild Card Champions, C.D. Wilcox’s 2024 mount Tightfittinblujeans and Buster McLaury’s 2025 mount Playful Tea Pot. 

Tiffany McLaury also joined the sorrel club by choosing #8, Sunny Lucky Cat, by Goodluck Catt out of Ms Becaco Sunny CD. This is another familiar family to the Road to the Horse, as Sunny Lucky Cat’s full sibling, Goodluck Suncat, won last year’s Championship with Tik Maynard. Ryan Rose decided to go against the grain and choose a gray filly, #7 Desire Some Cash. This gorgeous girl is by Cat and Cash out of the Sixes Pick mare, Sixes Desire. 

Now that each competitor had their horse, it was time for the Championship to begin. 

The Championship Competition

Round 1 was filled with the trainers and horses getting to know each other. Tiffany McLaury led this round with a score of 267.5, with Ryan Rose close behind with a 259. Nick Dowers pulled a 250 and Elisa Wallace followed behind with a 231. 

Round 2 shook the scores up, with Dowers pulling ahead with a monster score of 283.5. Rose held steady in second with a 247, followed by McLaury with a 243.5 and Wallace with a 239. 

Round 3, the finale, was where each horse and trainer got put to the test. They got to start in the round pen, but then had to move to rail work and finish with the obstacles. The obstacles were daunting – a medieval-themed course complete with a castle, dragons, and a moat filled with alligators – and would be a challenge to even the most broke horses. 

Elisa Wallace started us off, and though she had an unfortunate unplanned dismount, she absolutely sailed through the obstacle course. Not only did she get through every single obstacle, but she and Tuff Twister made it look effortless. She finished the obstacles with over 15 minutes to spare – a feat that was not matched by any other competitor. 

“She smoked it,” Elisa said in an interview with Horse Illustrated. “I’m totally blessed to have that horse and she was a very good girl.” 

Up next was Ryan Rose with his filly Desire Some Cash. She was clearly a bit overwhelmed with the rail work, but showed great bravery with the obstacles. They ended up crossing the final obstacle, a bridge where the rider had to pull a sword from a rock, with mere seconds remaining. 

Tiffany McLaury was up next with her hunk of a filly, Sunny Lucky Cat. She was the perfect example of true horsewoman, taking the time to work her filly through the overwhelming environment and opting to tackle some of the obstacles in-hand instead. 

Finally, Nick Dowers and his filly Nasty Tea Pot took the stage. Dowers also had a wonderful ride, getting through almost every single obstacle – there were a few sticky points where he opted to go around. But he did attempt every obstacle and made it over the last bridge with plenty of time to spare. 

The 2026 Road to the Horse Champion

The entire weekend had come down to this one moment – who will be crowned the 2026 Road to the Horse Champion? Would it be Wild Card Champion Tiffany McLaury, who held first in the first round? Or Nick Dowers, who won the second? Ryan Rose had the most consistent scoring, but Elisa Wallace had a flawless run through the obstacles. 

In the end, with a score of 1099, Nick Dowers took the title, winning the Road to the Horse for the third time. He was a strong competitor the entire weekend and it paid off big time by the finale. 

Elisa made up a huge number of points in round 3, earning herself a Reserve Champion title. Wallace also chose to bring her filly, affectionately named Windy, home with her to Florida – we’re looking forward to seeing this pair continue in their training together! 

Another Road to the Horse has come and gone. This event never fails to be the most emotional, nerve-wracking, and entertaining event of the year. We’re looking forward to the 2027 event and seeing who will be invited to compete for the chance to be the next Road to the Horse World Champion. 

The post Road to the Horse 2026 Recap  appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Madison Wintrich

Road to the Horse is an exciting, unique colt-starting event, dedicated to changing people’s ideas and creating a better world for the horse. From March 27-30, 2025, in the prestigious Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., spectators got to watch some of the world’s finest colt starters compete for a world championship title and over $100,000 in prizes. This year’s competition boasted competitors from the United States, Argentina, Canada, and New Zealand, and showcased a wide range of horsemanship types and styles. 

The format of the competition is simple: the first two days, four Wild Card competitors compete for a spot in the Championship Competition. These competitors choose a filly from the remuda provided by the Pitchfork Ranch. They are then given two days to work with their respective fillies, each session awarding points based on twenty different categories, including Catching & Haltering, Overall Horsemanship – Reading of Colt, and Colt’s Demeanor at End of Session. Once a Wild Card winner is crowned, they move on to the Championship Competition, to compete against the other three chosen trainers. 

The Championship Competition is set up very similarly: the scoring system is the same, but they get more time with their colt, split up into three days.  

The Wild Card Competition

This year’s Wild Card competitors were Joseph Bentz of the United States, Dustin Sippola of Canada, Cristobal Scarpati of Argentina, and Buster McLaury of the United States. After choosing their Pitchfork Ranch fillies, they got right to work on round 1.  

The Road to the Horse 2025 Wild Card competitors. From left to right: Buster McLaury, Dustin Sippola, Cristobal Scarpati, and Joseph Bentz. Photo by Madison Wintrich

From the start, the Wild Card competition was going to be a close one. Sippola led the competition after the first session with a score of 256.5, with McLaury a close second with a score of 253, and Bentz right behind him with a 246.5. Scarpati trailed behind with a score of 159.5.  

In round 2, McLaury pulled ahead with a score of 276, in front of Bentz with a score of 256. Sippola was just barely behind with a 255, and Scarpati finished up with a score of 174. Round 3 was no less exciting; Sippola took the round with a score of 382, Bentz was just behind with a score of 379.5, and McLaury was just behind them with a score of 368. Scarpati took home a score of 70 after a tough last session with his filly. 

After the conclusion of round 3, the scores were tallied up and the results were in. Buster McLaury clinched the Wild Card competition with a total score of 897 and would move on to the Championship Competition. Dustin Sippola took second place with a score of 893.5, Joseph Bentz took third with a score of 882, and Cristobal Scarpati was fourth with a score of 403.5. 

“I was so impressed by the Wild Card competitors,” said Road to the Horse judge Jesse Westfall. “The Wild Card Competition was excellent. It was so close. We honestly did not know who was going to win.” 

Horse Illustrated had the wonderful opportunity to interview Cristobal Scarpati after the conclusion of the Wild Card Competition. “It was a whole new experience for me,” he said. “I came here very confident. I was very encouraged to come here and do my best and share with the audience what I do, my philosophy, my method, everything.” 

Scarpati found out very quickly that his filly would be a challenge, and he struggled a bit with changing his game plan to something totally different. However, in the spirit of Road to the Horse, he found a way to put her first. “The philosophy of this event is doing the best for the horse. I tried to get the goals for every session, but I tried to put her first overall. I am not struggling with any guilt because I did my best and I tried my hardest to make it easier for her. Everything I did aligned with who I am, and that is why I am so happy. I didn’t win anything, but I met so many great friends and the feedback from the audience was very generous and beautiful.” 

View our full interview with Scarpati below.

The Championship Competition

Following the conclusion of the Wild Card Competition, the incredible opening ceremonies took place. The audience was treated to impressive performances by Luke Gingerich, Dan James, Broken Spoke Clydesdales, the Wranglers Drill Team, and many other incredible talents. 

A performance from Luke Gingerich during the opening ceremonies. Photo by Madison Wintrich

Now, it was time to meet our competitors and horses. Vicki Wilson was first up. A New Zealand native, Wilson is a heavily decorated show jumper who has won Road to the Horse twice—in 2017 and 2018. Her holistic training approach focuses on horses’ mental and physical wellbeing, as well as providing them with proper education and instilling a love for their job. After meeting the Pitchfork Ranch remuda, Wilson decided to work with #9, Lil Smart Cattack, a gorgeous red roan. 

Next up was Tik Maynard, a Canadian eventer who found great success in the 2024 Road to the Horse competition, taking home the Championship title. He has a huge focus on educating others, teaching clinics, writing books, joining podcasts, and even becoming an instructor for The Horseman’s University and NOËLLE FLOYD Equestrian Masterclass. Maynard decided to choose #5, a stunning buckskin named Goodluck Suncat. 

Finally, we met our third competitor, Phil Haugen, a classic All-American cowboy from the mountains of North Dakota. He successfully competed in calf roping, team roping, and saddle bronc riding for 20 years, and in 2021 was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. Haugen’s training methods focus deeply on meaningful communication with the horse and allowing them time to think through situations and understand what is being asked. This was his first time at Road to the Horse, and he chose the lovely #8, Starrin Miss Bamacat, to be his colt. 

Buster McLaury, who joined the Championship Competition after his win in the Wild Card, decided to work with #7, a flashy red roan named Sugar Cattack. 

Round 1 started soon after the competitors chose their horses. McLaury very quickly got his horse haltered and began working with him off of his saddle horse. Wilson wasn’t too far behind, and opted to work on giving in to pressure from the ground. It was clear that Haugen had quite a sensitive horse, so he opted to slow down a bit and work through those issues in a thoughtful manner. 

By the end of round 1, everyone had saddled their horses and had an overall good day. Wilson took the lead with 265. She had several lovely moments with her colt, including some incredible cantering. Overall, her colt seemed to be the most in-tune with what was happening, and that definitely reflected in her score. McLaury took a close second with 262.5 points, with Maynard in third with 258.5 points, and Haugen bringing up the rear with a score of 191. 

Round 2 brought success to every competitor. Each horseman got the opportunity to ride outside of their round pen and felt confident enough to do so. Everyone also took the time to begin introducing their colts to obstacles and scarier items they had probably never seen before, such as a tarp and a ball. Phil’s colt seemed to have a much easier time this round and ended up bringing in a score of 206.5. Buster stayed very consistent and brought in a score of 260, with Vicki trailing behind with a score of 200.5. Tik blew away the competition and brought in a very impressive score of 275. 

In round 3, competitors individually worked with their horses in the round pen, on the rail, and through an obstacle course. As the lowest scorer, Phil Haugen went first. He remarked about how good the horse had been, especially considering the huge environment they were competing in. His horse laid down some lovely rail work and showed impressive confidence through the obstacles. Haugen was able to have fun with this last round and even showed off with an expressive victory lap that riled up the audience. 

Wilson went next. After a good start in the round pen, her colt was a superstar through the obstacles, tackling the tarp, jumps, and pool noodles with ease. He was able to show off his personality a bit, as he got very playful with many of the obstacles. As with most of the colts, there were a few moments of being overwhelmed with the environment, but he recovered quickly, and they were a very entertaining pair to watch. 

Next up, we had our Wild Card winner, McLaury. His colt had a bit of sass in the round pen that he handled well. He also had a great rail work section, maneuvering each requirement with relative ease. His colt handled the first few obstacles confidently, but got a bit insecure with the tarp, pool noodles, and rope. Overall, he had a wonderful round. 

Finally, we had the 2024 champ, Tik Maynard. He had a great round pen session, as his horse was clearly very relaxed and receiving his trainer’s input well. His rail work went equally well, with some very expressive canter from his colt. He had a few anxious moments with the obstacles, including the tarp and pool noodles, but overall navigated the course well. For his finale, Maynard stood on top of his horse while the crowd went wild — the most perfect ending to a wonderful competition. 

Final Scores

After an exceptionally exciting weekend, it was time to learn the scores. For round 3, Phil Haugen scored a 484.5, bringing his final score up to 882. Vicki Wilson scored a 507.5, leaving her with a final score of 973. Buster McLaury brought home a score of 487.5, bumping his final score up to 1010. However, nobody could touch Tik Maynard after he scored an impressive 538.5, making his final score 1072. For the second year in a row, Tik Maynard was crowned the Road to the Horse World Champion. 

The 2025 Road to the Horse Competition was nothing short of exciting, educational, and inspiring. People from all over joined together to celebrate these trainers, horses, and the spirit of horsemanship. One thing is for certain — we can’t wait to see who will get to compete next year. 

This article about Road to the Horse 2025 is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe! 

The post A Recap of Road to the Horse 2025 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.