Looking towards Road to the Horse 2025 I have a similar plan to last year. I will be studying the discipline of colt starting by reading books, starting horses, attending clinics and watching past years of RTTH (and, I almost hate to admit it, watching videos on YouTube).
So far on my winter schedule I will be working with Glenn Stewart for four days in November, three days with Martin Black in January, and a three-day colt starting demonstration at EquiFest of Kansas in March.
Just like last year, I’ll be working with Jake Biernbaum, a friend from down the road, and one of the most knowledgeable colt starters in the world. He has several young quarter horses that he is allowing me to start for him and with him (I figure if I start four of them it’s sorta like starting one full horse.)
Next month, Cristobal Scarpati (2025 Wild Card) will be visiting for a few days from Argentina and I’m excited to learn from him as well. He is such a natural talent and watching him play with a horse is so joyful.
I’ll also be working with Capera Catt, whom we have begun calling TomCatt. So far, I have only been doing groundwork with him, but I may take a few days to get him going under saddle again.
The team will be the same as last year. Jake, Sinead and Juliette as crew. Nick will be returning as Pen Wrangler, the laces to my shoe.
The main difference to last year is that now I know a little more about what I’m getting into. The pros and cons of this seem about equal.
The pros are having more understanding about the rules, the atmosphere, and what the judges are looking for.
The big con is the level of expectation. There is a saying that it is much easier to win a championship than to defend a championship, and that’s because if I enter this to “win” or to “defend a title” it is going to mess with my head. I need to be in the arena with the same mindset as last year: it’s about the process and not the outcome.
The big con is the level of expectation. There is a saying that it is much easier to win a championship than to defend a championship, and that’s because if I enter this to “win” or to “defend a title” it is going to mess with my head. I need to be in the arena with the same mindset as last year: it’s about the process and not the outcome.
That said, it is interesting to look at people that have won back-to-back RTTH titles. Nine trainers have had the chance to return to defend a title in consecutive competitions. Five of them have won back-to-back, four of them have not.
Five times the winner won again:
- Clinton Anderson ’03-’05 (no competition is on record for 2004)
- Chris Cox ’07-’08
- Guy Mclean ’12-’13
- Mike Major ’22-’23
- Vicki Wilson ’17-’18
Four times the winner did not win the next year:
- Stacy Westfall ’06-’07
- Richard Winters ’09-’10
- Jim Anderson ’14-’15
- Vicki Wilson ’18-’19
2025 will have as big a range of styles as any year I have ever seen. I’m looking forward to watching the Wild Card competition. I would love to be watching the main event live but I will settle for watching it later on television.
In preparation for RTTH 2024, I learned more about starting horses than I did in the previous five years leading up to that point.
And that’s what I’m most looking forward to again. The learning.
Tik Maynard
RTTH 2024 World Champion
RTTH 2025 Championship Competitor
