Ride the Remuda Productions announces well-known horse trainer and horsemanship clinician Chris Cox (Mineral Wells, Texas) will compete against past champions Clinton Anderson (Belle Center, Ohio) and Stacy Westfall (Mt. Gilead, Ohio) in the fourth annual Road to the Horse colt starting challenge held in Murfreesboro, Tenn. March 3 and 4, 2007.
 
“We’re excited and ready for this champion of champions event,” says producer Tootie Bailey Bland. “Phenomenal clinicians Clinton Anderson and Stacy Westfall will return to defend their titles and challenge the amazing Chris Cox. There will be so much talent in the round pens for 2007 event–who would want to miss the Super Bowl of Horsemanship?
 
Each year, Road to the Horse fans pack into the Tennessee Miller Coliseum to watch and learn horse-training secrets from professional “horse whisperers.” As the original two-day colt starting challenge, Road to the Horse gathers top horses, top horse trainers and expert judges to ensure optimum education and quality horse training demonstrations. On the first day of competition, clinicians watch as 10 equally-bred and previously-untouched horses race into the coliseum. Soon, judges select which horse each clinician will work with and round one begins. On day two, clinicians have two more hours of training time before entering the obstacle course and freestyle rounds—time to show off all they have accomplished with their equine partners.
 
“Our clinicians have been called the ‘Top Guns’ of horse training,” Bland explains. “We work hard to find the best talents that have integrity and focus on educating the crowds—while adding their flare for entertaining.”
 
Chris Cox says he’s honored to compete against proven champions Anderson and Westfall. “It’s a great opportunity to compete with two of the world’s finest horsemen and women and to share my brand of authentic horsemanship,” he says. “I’m honored that I was asked to participate with both Anderson and Westfall in the 2007 Road to the Horse.”
 
Road to the Horse sells out annually and has been featured on RFD-TV and in magazines such as Horse & Rider, Trail Rider, Horsetrader, and many more. Bland says she chose Cox from a pool of more than 30 clinicians who apply each year. Stellar horsemanship and a drive to teach and entertain made Cox the perfect challenger for this champion-of-champions event.
 
More About Chris Cox
Training horses properly and educating horsemen with the right knowledge is what Chris Cox is all about. Chris was born in central Florida where his family had a cattle ranch. When he was barely a year old, his father sold their ranch near Kissimmee and bought Prince of Wales Island off the northeastern coast of Australia, near Thursday Island. It was there, amid wild brumbies and brahman-cross cattle, that Cox found his calling. Long days spent on horseback forged a lasting bond and he gained a healthy respect for his four-legged partner’s intelligence and ability.
 
Cox attended Longreach Pastoral College, a two-year agriculture college in Queensland where he earned the Horsemanship Award for top scores in class work and practical skills. Although he already had a successful training business in Australia, Cox, who maintains a dual citizenship, returned to the United States in 1986 to further his career.
 
Cox has trained a variety of breeds for different disciplines and has been active in the cutting horse world as both a trainer and competitor. He has traveled the United States, Canada, South America and Australia conducting clinics and demonstrations. In 1999, he appeared at Equitana USA, the AQHA World Show, the Calgary Stampede, and the 1999 Special Olympics–where he performed on two-time AQHA Superhorse, Rugged Lark. He also has worked with the Bureau of Land Management to conduct training seminars featuring newly captured mustangs. Visit www.chris-cox.com.