Road to the Horse 2026 & Kentucky Recap!

Wow, sitting here at home reflecting on my trip down to Lexington, KY for Road to the Horse I am filled with gratitude. It's currently cloudy and rainy here as I write this, which sure makes me miss the warm Kentucky breeze infused with the smells of sweet bluegrass.

In this post I want to share some of the highlights for me during this trip, my perspectives that I took away from the competition as a viewer and professional in the industry, but I also want to talk about the importance of making time to do things that inspire you. Whether that be taking trips to watch competitions, attend clinics or lessons or just spend time with like minded people. Anyone who has spent any length of time with horses in their life knows how tough times can get, which is why it is SO important to make efforts to put yourself in places where you feel re-energized to get back to business so to speak.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Road to the Horse competition, here is a quick breakdown. Over the course of 4 days it hosts two colt starting competitions consisting of four competitors in each. The first competition is called the Wild Cards, in which 4 selected competitors compete in 2 training sessions and a finals round on Friday morning. The winner of the Wild Card rounds then moves on to compete with the other 3 Championship competitors for the title of Road to the Horse Colt Starting World Champion. The championship round is laid out the same with the finals being on Sunday. There are many mixed emotions in the horse world about colt starting challenges and whether or not it's fair to the horse, and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but for me watching many of these competitions as well as competing in one myself I believe that these competitions are rooted in deep respect for the horse. They highlight the core of just how incredible these animals are and the amazing things that can be accomplished together when horses and humans come together as one.

Throughout the weekend the love for the horse was palpable. It is a true celebration of horsemanship across the disciplines. Seeing liberty performances, horsemanship demonstrations by working cows, dressage, and riding bridleless in addition to watching great trainers start their colts & fillies. I couldn't help but feel such overwhelming emotion for how special horses really are. Watching each competitor connect with their young horses, and work with them to build trust, confidence, and courage was inspiring. Each competitor came from a different background, some Western and some English, so it was very cool to see the varying approaches to working with and preparing their horses for the final day. It shows us that there is more than one way to get a job done and that one way is not necessarily better than the other, simply just different, and what may work with one horse may not be as successful with another.

During the time spent with their fillies, each competitor worked through their respective challenges that came up with grace and humility. I don't think I heard a single person speak a negative thing about their horse, even when things were going tough. To me this just exemplifies the depth of understanding these trainers have for the horse, and the knowing that every effort from the horse is a gift not to be taken for granted. Which is a token of knowledge we can all be reminded of regularly.

On the final day, each competitor is given 20 mins in the round pen to get their horse prepped, saddled, and mounted before stepping out into the large arena filled with various obstacles. Once they do they has 35 mins to complete a list of rail work maneuvers such as : walk, trot, lope both directions, stop, back up, turn left and right, dismount & mount, and pick up all 4 feet. After the rail work is completed they can move on to attempting the 11 various obstacles. This is really where the partnership's built over the weekend shone. The curiosity and try showed by each filly was remarkable, and I appreciate each time a competitor recognized when it was time to not push further.

Overall, my key take away is go out and do the dang things and enjoy the journey

! Try something new, go to clinics, go to horseshows, find companionship with motivated and like minded people. It is way to easy to get stuck doing what is comfortable and familiar.. But growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when you’re willing to step outside what’s comfortable and place yourself in environments that challenge and inspire you.

Putting yourself out there can feel vulnerable, but that is also where new perspectives, better habits, and deeper understanding begin to take shape. When you surround yourself with like-minded people who are also committed to learning and improving, you create a space where progress feels possible and supported.

So take the step. Sign up for the clinic, start the conversation, show up even if you’re unsure. The right people won’t expect perfection - they’ll meet you in the process, encourage your growth, and remind you of what you’re capable of. And over time, you’ll find that the version of you who was once hesitant is the same one now helping to lift others up alongside you.