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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Outrageous Rickrageous " Battle For The Bling"
Road to the Horse Smack Down VS. Extreme Mustang Makeover
September - Battles have been fought in the name of religion, politics, honor, love and economics through the ages, but for the first time ever, rhinestones will be at the center of the fray when Road to the Horse crew and clinicians square off against Extreme Mustang Makeover trainers in the The Outrageous Rickrageous "Battle For The Bling" at Road to the Horse in Franklin, TN March 13-15, 2009.
Road to the Horse owner and producer Tootie Bland and Extreme Mustang Makeover founder Patti Colbert will be pitting two of their best horsemen and horsewomen against one another for bling and bragging rights. The spoils that will go to the victor? A rhinestone laden jacket by western couturier Rickrageous.
Bland threw down the gauntlet against Colbert during the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover Finals when the two entered the arena to announce the Road to the Horse Extreme Road Trip winner. Both cowgirls were glitzed-out in their Rickrageous jackets when they got into a standoff about who had the most bling. Of course, both being fashionable, strong-willed cowgirls neither would concede defeat to the other.
To settle the matter of who laid claim to the most rhinestones, Bland challenged Colbert to a competition for a new Rickrageous jacket, a challenge that Colbert quickly accepted.
Plans are for 2008 & 2009 Road to the Horse competitor Tommy Garland and his 2008 Road to the Horse colt, Spirit, to face off with the Extreme Mustang Makeover Legends division champion Mark Lyon of Arlington, Nebraska and his his three-year-old bay mustang, Christian. In addition, Bland challenged Patti to put up her toughest, wildest, most outrageously bold mustang trainer to compete against the infamous Thomas B. Saunders V, Road to the Horse boss wrangler.
Colbert came back with the statement that "a girl could beat Thomas Saunders" and put her bling where her mouth was by choosing Extreme Mustang Makeover trainer Wylene Wilson of Queen Creek , AZ to go head-to-head with Saunders. Wilson competed during the Extreme Mustang legends finals (bareback and bridleless with a broken hand) on her mustang Filthy Rich.
Details of the match-up will be announced at Road to the Horse in March, but rest assured with these two dynamic cowgirls at the helm both teams will surely "bring it" in the Battle for the Bling.
About Road to the Horse
Road to the Horse is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. It is "the original colt starting challenge". The two-day sold out event matches the absolute best horse trainers and clinicians of today against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras. By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today's horsemanship heros and launching the careers of tomorrow's hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a shining star of horse industry. Hosted by Rick Lamb, of RFD-TV's The Horse Show with Rick Lamb, spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses.
Road to the Horse is proud to partner with many outstanding companies including Horse & Rider, Mustang Makeover, Cinch, Cruel Girl, Gist Silversmiths, ABI Equine and John Deere . For more information on Road to the Horse and Tootie Bland Productions, visit www.roadtothehorse.com or call 325-736-5000.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NO KILL DATE
eZall Asks Horse Owners - What is Your Green Resolution for the Coming Year?
Grove City , Ohio -- Recognizing Earth Day is a great first step to being more conscience about your impact on the world around you, but on this Green Wednesday (the day after Earth Day), experts agree that for sustained impact "going green" needs to become a way of life. You can start by creating a list of "green resolutions" for the coming year.
"Small efforts on a daily basis can add up and start making a real difference," agrees eZall President and Founder Steve Funk. "As a horseowner, I'd look pretty comical trying to pull a horse trailer with a sub-compact hybrid car, but there are definitely ways all of us can make a difference in the world around us and eZall is proud to be doing its part."
The company's resolutions for the coming year include reducing packaging (a natural extension of the company's current use of recyclable packaging) and researching new plant based technologies to expand its product line.
Stumped for ideas for your green resolution? Don't really consider yourself a "greenie"? Going green can be good for you, your animals and your pocketbook. Here are some simple tips to get your brainstorming juices flowing:
- Donate tack you no longer use to a local 4-H club or therapeutic riding organization. By donating your equipment you save it from a landfill and you make a difference in the life of rider's and horses in your community.
- Rehabilitate your equipment rather than re-buy. Products like eZall's Multi Purpose Cleaner can help by giving that grungy pad or blanket a new lease on life. Simply spray or soak the item with a solution of Multi Purpose Cleaner and water and age old dirt and grime will be lifted away. Plus, nothing could be safer. The Multi-purpose Cleaner is a partner in the US EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) program and meets USDA requirements for use in food processing.
- Replace traditional bulbs in your barn with energy efficient LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). You could reduce your energy consumption by as much as 10%. That's good for your pocket book and green at the same time!
- Compost your grass clippings, barn manure and kitchen waste together to reduce what you send to the landfill.
- Capture rainwater from your barn's roof or waste water from your wash bay (make sure you are using bio-based grooming products) and use it to water your landscaping.
- Vote with your dollars. Choose products, like eZall, that are derived from natural and renewable resources.
The eZall product line is an effective, non-toxic, environmentally safe and plant based line of natural cleaning and grooming products for animals. Unlike traditional grooming products, eZall products do not contain any harsh petroleum distillates, chlorines, ammonias or caustics. Readily biodegradable, eZall's formulas are derived from renewable resources such as soy, corn, peanut, palm kernel, linseed, safflower, sunflower, walnut, jojoba and cotton seed.
By using plant-based chemistry that adds value to crops, eZall helps support the vitality of rural farming communities. The company's Total Body Wash product is heralded as a five minute batheing innovation. Using a special foamer which regulates product and water flow, a horse has the solution foamed on and then rinsed off with no scrubbing. No scrubbing and no residue in the haircoat means eZall is an excellent choice for water conservation. Plus, it's safe and won't pollute groundwater.
For more information, visit www.ezall.com or call 1-877-TRY-EZALL.
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Release: Immediate
Personality Test Your Horse (or Yourself) in Just 5 Minutes Online at HorseHarmonyTest.com
If you've ever wished your horse came with an owner's manual, a new web site may be just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Madalyn Ward D.V.M, author of "Horse Harmony, Understanding Horse Types and Temperaments" is now offering online horse and human personality typing at her website horseharmonytest.com. The best part? It's free!
Using Traditional Chinese Medicine as her resource, Dr. Ward developed 11 basic horse types and temperaments. The Five-Element Personality approach is based upon the idea that humans and animals have a 'constitutional type,' these are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. She describes the personality as well as the best training, job, diet and management method for each in her book. Visitors to her web site can discover their temperament or their horse's after completing a brief 5 minute personality questionnaire online.
Whether you're a horse owner who is searching for your perfect mount or looking to improve your relationship with your current horse, having a basic foundation for understanding one another's temperament is a critical building block for success.
"The online test is particularly helpful for breeders and trainers trying to match prospective clients with the right horse. It helps take the guesswork out of the equation and significantly increases the chances for a successful match. We have many high end breeders typing all the horses in their barn," says Dr. Ward.
Dr. Ward is the owner of Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic in Austin , Texas . She is the author of several books and the publisher of the monthly newsletter, "Holistic Horsekeeping." For more information on her book, "Horse Harmony, Understanding Horse Types and Temperaments," visit www.horseharmonytest.com .
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COX IS TWO FOR TWO AT ROAD TO THE HORSE
MURFREESBORO, TN -Defending champion Chris Cox (Mineral Wells, Texas) emerged victorious at his second Road to the Horse competition with his win Sunday, March 2, 2008, at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum, making him the only competitor other than Clinton Anderson to win back-to-back championships. Along with taking the title, Cox also received a $15,000 donation toward his charity, The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer from Quest and Fort Dodge Animal Health. The winning horse was WR Shinosmoke by Shining King Cody out of Alamosa.
The competition was neck-and-neck until the moment the winning envelope was opened. Top judges Robert M. Miller D.V.M., Jack Brainard, James Gholson, Terry Crofoot and Toni Warvell took in the action both days, and even into the last minutes of competition felt it was any man's game.
"None of us knew where it was going to go," said Warvell. "It was so close. The clinicians were spectacular in the short-go. I was just very impressed."
The Arkansas-bred Wood Ranch horses proved to be the challenge Boss Wrangler Thomas B. Saunders V was looking for. Competitors Tommy Garland, Ken McNabb, Mike Kevil and Cox tested their knowledge and horsemanship skills on four three-year-old American Quarter Horse geldings. The exhibitors and competitors enjoyed this year's selection of horses. Garland even bought his colt. McNabb and Kevil, a former judge, had two of the most impressive turn-arounds going into day two, and both clinicians left the arena to standing ovations after the obstacle course round.
"It is absolutely amazing the feel that these gentlemen have developed over the years," said celebrity host Larry Mahan. "They are a great group of clinicians. It was a beautiful thing."
According to host Rick Lamb one of the main aspects of Road to the Horse is learning to stay flexible and adjusting to fit the situation. This year learning to adjust played a big part in the clinician's tactics. When day two began Cox was the underdog and adjusted his program after the judges instilled a 10 minute time penalty at the beginning of the second round because he did not rest his horse for the required time during round one.
"The thing about horsemanship is that you have to learn how to adjust," Cox said during his obstacle course round. "This colt has come a long way."
Entertaining, exciting and educational are all words to describe the 2008 Road to the Horse competition. The American Cowgirl Chicks, the clinicians, the Extreme Mustang Makeover and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department added a thrilling touch to opening ceremonies. One of the weekend's biggest surprises was the announcement of John Lyons, "America's Most Trusted Horseman," as a competitor in 2009.
Photo: Sara Bewley for Road to the Horse
