Road to the Horse 2021 will be hosted by …
Matt West – Host
Born and raised in northeast Oklahoma, Matt West has always been fascinated with the cowboy lifestyle. After receiving a degree in agriculture from Northeast Oklahoma A&M and then attending Oklahoma State University, it was a dare that put Matt behind the microphone for the very first time. Beginning his career in amateur rodeo, West has since earned his PRCA card and continues to work various PBR events across the country and even in Canada. It is his strong faith and continued family support that West credits for his quick success, but also notes that it is his extended rodeo family and new friends that he has met along the way, that has kept him traveling and doing what he loves to do. Road to the Horse 2021 will be West’s ninth year as the host of Road to the Horse.
Dan James – Horseman’s Host
Dan James is a Road to the Horse fan favorite; fans have been intrigued with the roman-riding Australian horseman since his first performance at Road to the Horse 2012. James has held many titles at Road to the Horse as a past Champion, competitor, and entertainer. Now he’ll be adding the title of Horseman’s Host to his already impressive list of Road to the Horse titles.
Born in Queensland Australia on a small cattle farm and starting his first colt in his early teens sparked his hunger to understand more about the horse’s thinking patterns. After studying at Longreach Pastoral College, James began traveling the world to gain a better understanding of the horse. In 2008, James joined his good friend, Dan Steers, in Western Australia at El Caballo Spanish Horse Centre where they performed together each weekend. In 2009, Steers and James relocated to New South Wales and founded Double Dan Horsemanship. Now based in the United States, Dan James continues to perform, teach, and inspire horse lovers at the Australian Equine Performance Center, based in Midway, Kentucky. James is joined by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter Isabella and son Jesse.
Booger Brown – Fan Host
Booger Brown is a 4th generation Cowboy who has been working cattle and riding horses his entire life. He is an accomplished horseman, and renowned horse trainer, who has trained and shown cutting horses and various types of performance horses. Booger also hosts horsemanship clinics across the country. He has a love for all animals, and is well-respected and trusted within the horse community, with many seeking after him when they are having challenges with their horses.
Road to the Horse fans were introduced to Booger Brown at Road to the Horse 2019 when he competed as a Wild Card. Booger is also one of the stars of the award-winning, and fan-favorite series “The Cowboy Way,” which can be seen on the general-entertainment television network INSP. Booger Brown lives in Geneva, Alabama, with his wife Jaclyn and their son Matthew.
Road to the Horse 2021 will feature these entertainers …
Bobby Kerr
Bobby has a career rich in western heritage that spans over 45 years. Born in Ontario, Canada, Bobby’s passion for horses and the western lifestyle led him to pursue his dreams of training and showing in Cutting, Reining, Roping and Working Cow Horse events. Kerr now spends his time on the rodeo and horse show circuit performing with his team of American Mustangs and inspiring audiences around the nation with their incredible display of courage and trust.
Kerr has dedicated his life to his horses and his relentless passion for the western lifestyle has inspired millions of fans around the nation. A PRCA Specialty Act of the Year and Founder of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Kerr will bring his award-winning Mustang Act to the fans of Road to the Horse.
Tomas Garcilazo
Tomas, a native of Mexico City, was introduced at an early age to his family heritage and tradition of “La Charreria” which is a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican Charro. Charros take extreme pride in their highly developed horsemanship and roping abilities. Tomas, third generation Charro, has devoted his life to sharing Mexico’s National Sport La Charreria with the world. A lifetime of preparation, performances and competition continue to require total self-discipline, patience and commitment by Tomas to training and mastering the artistry of La Charreria. Incorporating a display of refined horsemanship while demonstrating maguey rope artistry in his performances bring audiences to their feet applauding in appreciation of his skills. Tomas devotes countless hours to his horses who with their athletic ability and intelligence willingly execute maneuvers when asked by their friend. It is a rare and honorable experience to witness these partnership performances. Tomas has performed throughout Europe, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. He has appeared on Broadway in New York City and toured the U.S. with the Will Rogers Follies, an acclaimed 6 time Tony Award winning show. He was a featured performer for two years at Disney’s Wild West Show in Paris, France plus the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show touring Holland and Germany. Tomas has performed numerous times for Mexico’s Presidents along with guest performances at the U.S. White House and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Tomas resides in southern California and continues to share his legacy with audiences at rodeos, stock shows, horse shows and equine events internationally. His awards are many including the PRCA 2018 2013, 2012 and 2007 Specialty Act of the Year award at the Las Vegas National Finals Rodeo and currently TV talent show winner Go Big Show. Tomas Garcilazo’s proficiency as a skilled horseman and rope artist defines him as one of the finest Charros presenting La Charreria today. Learn more here.
The Six White Horses
We’re excited to welcome the Hardin-Simmons University Six White Horse Team to Road to the Horse 2021, they’ll be presenting our colors during Saturday’s Opening Ceremony! This year marks approximately the 90th year of the six white horses program at Hardin-Simmons University which was started in the 1930s by Will “Sheriff” Watson, a loyal supporter, who rode his white horse at the head of the Cowboy band. The Six White Horses team has performed for millions of rodeo and parade attendees throughout the years. Their western-style and slick white horses personify the spirit of Hardin-Simmons.
Kristyn Harris
Kristyn Harris, a Texas-bred musical powerhouse, is the 4-time currently reigning International Western Music Association Entertainer of the Year (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), and the youngest person to have received this honor. Her powerful voice brought her all the way onto the 2018 season of ABC’s American Idol, where she sang and yodeled for the judges. This voice is complimented on stage by her swing guitar playing, songwriting, and energetic stage presence. Now 25, Kristyn tours across the U.S. and internationally. When she’s not playing music, her passions find her trick riding, training horses and raising cattle, which inspire some of the music she writes. She is also influenced by classic western and western swing music. Kristyn brings joy and passion to her music. She was awarded the 2017 Ameripolitan Music Awards Western Swing Female Artist of the Year and named the IWMA Female Performer of the Year in 2014, 2015, 2018 & 2019. Learn more at www.KristynHarris.com.
Eric Carter
Eric Carter is a senior vocal major from Dallas, Texas currently matriculating at TCU – Texas Christian University. He has been singing and performing since the age of two and has no intentions of stopping. Eric is an alumni of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He has performed solo and with many ensembles across the nation. He is excited for what the future holds for him and his gift.
Marcie Ellen
Marcie Ellen Duplantis is a Texas born singer-songwriter, opera singer, and educator. “Powerful, vulnerable, and beautiful”, are constants used to describe her singing. Follow her on socials @marcieellenmusic. More famously, upon the release of her Nashville produced, debut EP “Walls” Marcie Ellen charted at #14 on iTunes Christian & Gospel charts. Active in the music industry, she was vocal coach to American Idol contestant, Garrett Jacobs of Bossier City, Louisiana. Marcie Ellen completed a song-writing mentorship with former publisher to Contemporary Christian Artist, Lauren Daigle and regular records with Nashville producer, Ryan Corn, former artist to Curb Records (a label which represents artist such as Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes and Hank Williams Jr.) of Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more at http://www.marcieellen.com/
Master Sergeant (Retired) Erika L. Stevens
Erika is a native Texan who grew up in Denver, Colorado. She enlisted in the US Air Force band in 1988 and joined the Texas Air National Guard Band of the Southwest in l997 after separating from active duty and relocating to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Erika’s performance highlights include performing morale concerts for the troops fighting in the Iraq war in 2007 and performing “God Bless America” in the 7th inning of the Texas Rangers 2011 World Series, as well as performing the National Anthem for numerous MLB, NCAA and NASCAR events. She retired in November of 2020 with 29 years combined Active duty and National Guard service.
Nancy Hammock – RTTH Cowboy Church Host
Ms. Nancy Hammock of Perry Georgia was born in 1950, grew up as a country girl and loved it. She had a passion for horses at an early age and it has never faded. Another passion was floral design which ended up being her profession, allowing her to work with some of the top designers in the nation. Nancy was raised in the church, where she was saved as a young girl. Life got complicated with work, church, and horses, so Jesus got put on a shelf. She let life, the world and the love of horses take the lead. But in 1990 that all changed when Nancy went to her first cowboy church service where she had an encounter with God. It radically changed her life. She learned that putting God first would bring a new revelation that God wanted to use her for something more. All the while still letting her love of horses play a large part in spreading the gospel with cowboys and cowgirls. In 2018 Nancy became an Ordained Minister, enabling her to reach people in all areas of life. A ministry that started out by her horse trailer at events, with just a simple devotion and prayer soon developed into a much needed ministry to not only include herself and her daughter, but all cowboys and cowgirls who were on the road most of weekends, wanting to still serve God, but did not have a place to worship. Two of her favorite quotes she loves and speaks daily are- “Only one life we will pass but only what’s done for Christ will last” and… “Love God and love People”
