Anthony Lucia – Official Host
Anthony Lucia brings a lifelong passion for the Western way of life—its people, livestock, and traditions—to the Road to the Horse stage. One of four sons of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Tommy Lucia, he was raised in professional rodeo and immersed in the sport from an early age. Anthony began trick roping at age nine, earned his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) card in 2009, and performed at major rodeos nationwide, including the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He earned his PRCA Announcer endorsement in 2011 and has since built a distinguished career as one of rodeo’s leading voices, announcing premier events such as the San Antonio and Fort Worth Stock Shows and Rodeos, The American Rodeo, the Cinch Timed Event Championships at the Lazy E Arena, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale, Utah’s Days of ’47 Rodeo, multiple PRCA Circuit Finals, the Breakaway Roping National Finals, and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. A three-time PRCA Announcer of the Year (2023–2025), Anthony also received the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Announcer of the Year award in 2025, further solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s most respected and trusted announcers.
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. He adds 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.
A lifelong cowboy with strong family values, commitment to patriotism and faith in Christ, Ken McNabb grew up in a traditional ranching community. He knew all of his life that he wanted to work with people and horses and started studying horsemanship while still in junior high school. His other passion has always been ranching & livestock production. In 2005, Ken started his own television show, Discovering the Horseman Within, which aired on RFD-TV and YouTube. In 2009, Ken partnered with Diamond Land & Livestock of Douglas, Wyoming to host the 1st ever Diamond-McNabb Ranch Horse Sale, now in its 17th year. In 2013, Ken was the recipient of the Telly Award for an educational program called “A Day in the Life of a Rancher” which aired on his TV show. Ken has spent the last 28 years traveling the United States from coast-to-coast teaching and hosting horsemanship clinics & events.
Dan Steers
Dan began his horsemanship career in Western Australia apprenticing under master horseman Pete Webber. He went on to start young horses for cutting horse trainer Corry Holden, earning early success in the show pen while becoming a respected campdraft competitor. Dan later co-founded Double Dan Horsemanship with Dan James; now an internationally recognized program known for its blend of elite horsemanship, education, and entertainment. Visit doubledanhorsemanship.com.
E Imaginations
Ermes Zamperla is an eighth-generation stunt rider and acrobatic performer who began showcasing his multi-talented skills at the age of six, performing across the United States and Canada. He has toured with the iconic Cheval Theatre and Ringling Bros. Circus, among many other prestigious venues. In addition to live performance, Ermes has worked in television and film, most notably as a horse wrangler and stuntman for the hit series The Walking Dead.
Amanda Pennino is a first-generation equestrian who began riding at age seven. Trained across multiple disciplines, she gravitated toward the jumper ring, leading her to serve as captain of her collegiate equestrian team, work as a groom and warm-up rider for top professionals, and teach riders of all ages the foundations of horsemanship. Over four years ago, Amanda began working alongside her partner, Ermes Zamperla, opening the door to the world of equestrian performing arts. She has since performed with Cirque Ma’Ceo, a European boutique equestrian circus touring North America, where she mastered the ancient arts of bareback and Cossack riding.
Together, Amanda and Ermes combine a deep dedication to equestrian arts, a love of horses, and a keen understanding of movement and physicality. These qualities are evident in their training, stage presence, and instruction, and led to the creation of their production company, E Imaginations—a dynamic variety show specializing in acrobatic equestrianism.
Jake Durancik — Entertainer
Jake Durancik is a 26-year-old horseman from the small town of Yorkville, Illinois. Horses were not part of his early life; he didn’t begin working with them until the age of 15. What started as curiosity quickly grew into a deep passion and a clear sense of purpose. Jake is the founder of Durancik Liberty Horses, where his focus is liberty work and developing partnerships built on trust, mutual respect, and choice. He believes the strongest connections are formed when a horse feels safe to be themselves, allowing for a relationship that is honest, playful, and alive. Liberty is more than a discipline—it is the foundation of how Jake connects, learns, and grows with every horse. He shares his journey and his work through Durancik Liberty Horses on Facebook and YouTube.
Whispery Pines Percherons — Entertainers
Sam and Kellie Rettinger have been involved in the equine industry their entire life and are the proud owners of Whispery Pines Percherons, home to eight beautiful black Percheron geldings. Their focus is to bring their love of horses to the world by enabling people to experience Percheron horses on a personal level. In doing so, they showcase the versatility, grace and beauty of the Percheron breed. Learn more at WhisperyPines.com.
Fleur De Lis Vaulters – Entertainer
Fleur De Lis Vaulters is a nonprofit equestrian vaulting program with locations in Winchester and Paris, Kentucky. Vaulting, often described as gymnastics and dance performed in harmony on the back of a moving horse, is the fastest-growing equestrian sport in the United States. The program teaches strength, balance, confidence, coordination, and teamwork—skills that extend beyond the arena. Most importantly, the team vaults as one family, combining discipline with fun to create a supportive and inspiring environment for all participants.
The Wranglers – Entertainer
The Wranglers are an elite performance drill team from Allen, Texas. They are back to back National Drill Team Champions and they are the 2022 USEDC Sportsquest International Champions. The Wranglers focus on performing creative drills that illustrate the beauty and athleticism of their horses with an emphasis on entertaining their audience. Good horsemanship and showmanship is at the core of what they do. The Wranglers are primarily a youth drill team with team members ranging in age from 13-22 years old. The team has been coached by April Evans for 12 years and a major component of the team is mentoring young women and providing a positive place for them to grow in their horsemanship. The Wranglers are honored to showcase their performance drill routine for the incredible fans at Road to the Horse 2025. The Wranglers have been featured in Texas Lifestyle Magazine, they have performed at several Road to the Horse events and at the Art of the Cowgirl.
Elliot Holtzman – Entertainer
First-generation horse trainer and equine entertainer Elliot Holtzman brings adventure and horsemanship to every performance. He has a diverse background that includes primitive survival skills, construction, piano instruction, and horse training. Based in Nocona, Texas, Holtzman and his wife, Caitie, own and operate Versatile Horsemanship, where they start colts, train liberty horses, teach clinics, and compete and entertain with their own horses. Learn more at versatilehorses.com.
Laura Green – Entertainer
Laura Green-Hart is a horsewoman, mother and singer from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She is a University of Kentucky graduate and she once pursued a music career in Nashville in the nineties, but left it to become a wife and mother. She and her husband, Lee Hart, run Hart Training together. They ride, compete and work together. Their goal is to train and provide performance horses for people who aspire to ride in events like Extreme Cowboy Racing, Ranch Versatility, Working Cowhorse and all around riding. Together they share 6 children and one granddaughter. Laura has had the honor of singing both the American National Anthem and the Canadian National Anthem at several EXCA National and World Championships, the Calgary Stampede, and a few Road To The Horse events, including the 2022 Wild Card Challenge in Ft. Worth where she was also Lee’s pen wrangler. As an Amercan, a mother, and a cowgirl, Laura has great respect and gratitude for our servicemen and women who protect us, for our farmers who feed us, and for our cowboys who strive to preserve a precious lifestyle. She is grateful for the opportunity to show her respect for America by singing our National Anthem for you all.
Holly Spears – Entertainer
Holly Spears is a singer and songwriter whose music has charted alongside stars like Garth Brooks and Katy Perry. Her acting and music are featured in Nail 32, available on Prime Video, and her music videos have aired on the UP Channel before “Heartland.” Holly’s singles and albums are available on iTunes, Spotify and more. Follow her on Instagram (@HollySpearsOfficial), Facebook (Holly Spears Country) or check out her children’s sing-alongs and farm videos as “Farmer Holly” on social media. Visit hollyspears.com..
Mary Kaye Holt – Entertainer
An award-winning singer-songwriter and owner of the NashWest brand, Mary Kaye Holt tours extensively, showcasing her unique blend of western roots music as a solo performer or with the group Gone with the West. A native-born Texan, she moved to Utah as a young woman, where she raised her family of ten children. She now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Gary Holt, owner of Equestrian Legacy Radio. Together, they co-host and produce three weekly shows. For more information, visit marykayeholt.com.
Phoebe White – Entertainer
Phoebe White is a Kentucky cowgirl and 16-year-old multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and yodeler whose first nationally released album debuted at No. 7 on the Western radio charts in 2022. In 2023, White performed on the Grand Ole Opry and was honored with a special exhibit at both the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and the Frazier History Museum. She has also made numerous national television, radio, and media appearances. Her 2024 album, produced by Michael Johnathon and featuring Grammy Award winners Riders in the Sky, Suzy Bogguss, and Kentucky bluegrass legends The McLain Family Band, reached No. 3 on the Western Music Charts as reported by the International Western Music Association. Performing publicly since the age of seven, White has won more than 26 talent competitions and placed in over a dozen others, including a performance for the celebrity judges on Season 23 of American Idol. Through her music, she reintroduces the historic songs of America’s rural and western heritage to modern audiences, honoring the past while inspiring future generations.
For more information, visit singphoebesing.com.
Birdie Nichols – Entertainer
Birdie Nichols is an award-winning country artist and songwriter from Arizona whose music embodies the authentic spirit of the American West. Rooted in Western heritage and rich storytelling, her songs celebrate the grit, grace, and enduring traditions of cowboy life and wide-open spaces. Through heartfelt lyrics and classic country sound, Nichols brings the stories of the West to life. Her albums, Into the West and Western Heritage, are available on all streaming platforms. Follow her on YouTube and social media @birdienichols and @birdienichols07.
Russ Weaver – Cowboy Church
Russ Weaver and his wife, Anna Weaver, founded Shepherds Valley Cowboy Church in Alvarado, Texas, in 1997 and served as lead pastors until January 2023. Prior to that, they worked as home missionaries with the Assemblies of God, serving the rodeo and horse racing industries. Russ currently cohosts Cowboy Church with Susie McEntire on RFD-TV. In addition to his ministry work, Pastor Russ is an avid team roper (heeler), saddle maker, and musician. Learn more at shepherdsvalley.com.
