Road to the Horse will return to the Kentucky Horse Park, March 19–22, 2026, bringing the excitement, tradition, and passion that have defined the event for more than two decades. At the heart of next year’s World Championship of Colt Starting is the Wild Card Competition, which highlights exceptional horsemanship talent from around the globe. Road to the Horse is proud to introduce its first Road to the Horse 2026 Wild Card competitor, Tiffany McLaury. Tiffany follows in the footsteps of her father, Buster McLaury, a fan favorite at Road to the Horse 2025 who captured the Wild Card Championship title.
“Tiffany McLaury embodies the dedication and talent we seek in a Wild Card competitor. With deep roots in a horsemanship-focused family, she brings knowledge, experience, and passion to the Road to the Horse round pen” states Tina Battock, President of the Morris Equine Group. “We’re excited to welcome her as a Wild Card Competitor in 2026.”
The Wild Card Competition will feature four talented colt starters, each vying for the opportunity to advance to the World Championship stage. Tiffany McLaury leads the Wild Card lineup, with one new competitor revealed each week until all four are announced. Together, the four Wild Cards will bring diverse backgrounds, styles, and horsemanship philosophies to the Road to the Horse round pen.
“I am humbled and excited to have been selected as a Road to the Horse 2026 Wild Card competitor” stated Tiffany McLaury. “Horses have taken me places I’ve only dreamed of going, and this competition is another of those opportunities they have brought me. What an honor it will be to do what I love on such a prestigious stage.”
Horses have been at the center of Tiffany McLaury’s life since childhood. Growing up on large Texas ranches, she learned from some of the best horsemen in the country. At twelve, with guidance from her parents, Buster and Sheryl McLaury, she started her first colt, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion. Tiffany earned a degree in Political Science with a minor in Equine Science from Sul Ross State University, but her love of horsemanship ultimately became her career. She credits her parents and mentors Ray and Carolyn Hunt for shaping her approach, viewing horsemanship as a lifelong journey of growth, trust, and partnership.
Now based in Paducah, Texas, Tiffany starts and sale-preps horses for the WH Green Ranch and the public, while also collaborating with renowned ranches across the U.S. She has competed successfully with her mare, Lil Miss Wicked Pep, earning national titles including the 2020 ARHA Senior Ranch Boxing World Championship, and has been featured in Western Horseman’s Women of the West series. Through it all, Tiffany remains dedicated to honoring the horse with respect, tradition, and care in every partnership she builds.
The Wild Card Challenge kicks off the event on Thursday, March 19, and wraps up on Friday, March 20. As in years past, the Wild Card Champion will immediately advance to a Championship Competitor position on Friday afternoon, joining Championship Competitors Elisa Wallace, Ryan Rose and Nick Dowers and competing for a share of the $134,000 purse. Road to the Horse 2026 takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park on March 19-22. Tickets are available here or by calling 800-514-3849. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook or Instagram for the latest information.
