The 2026 Road to the Horse competition took place in Lexington, Kentucky, last month. Nick Dowers took the title, winning the Road to the Horse for the third time.
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 20 categories, including catching and 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.
Source: Horse Illustrated, March 23, 2026. Link. The Road to the Horse competition focuses on the competitor and the effectiveness of their horsemanship methodology to communicate, educate, and build a partnership with their colt. Fans witness the entire journey, from colt selection to the final obstacle challenge.
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