Road to the Horse 2008

American Cowboy Magazine's Exclusive Online Coverage
by Lisa Rohner Schafer

March 4, 2008

The Dust has Settled . . . Chris Cox Still Reigns

. . . and after a day of travel, I'm home reflecting on the weekend's event. It's hard to believe that just two nights ago I was in Murfreesboro, Tenn., running down interviews with this year's Road to the Horse contestants. After three days of unrelenting pressure, not a one refused me — a real testament to what class acts they all are.

I have to apologize that Mike Kevil's interview is short due to a malfunction of my new video device. He was on his way home before I realized that most of his interview was missing. Sorry Mike.

I'm sure that like me, the six-thousand people who filled the Tennessee Miller Coliseum are savoring the memories of the weekend. I've included a few photos from Sara Bewley of some key moments. You can also get to the video and audio interviews if you click here. In addition to the clinicians and celebrities, learn about the horses from head wrangler Thomas B. Saunders and 2006 Road to the Horse Champion Stacy Westfall.

	Is the grin bigger this year? Maybe so. Not only does Cox get to see his favorite charity, the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, get $15,000 from Qwest and Fort Dodge Animal Health. He gets to take home a $10,000 cash prize.
Producer Tootie Bland and RFD personality and author Rick Lamb congratulate Cox.

Ken McNabb's horse hesitated a bit before moving through the number five obstacle, a pair of raised poles, each supported by gates either side.

When Ken wasn't talking to the crowd, he was talking to his horse, reassuring him, "It's ok. You're ok."

Ken, along with Mike Kevil, made a spectacular turnaround with his horse well into the second day of round pen work.

Crawling under his colt's belly was only one of the unique things Tommy Garland did with his horse during the freestyle portion of the competition. He also knocked a huge beach ball around and got his horse to stand on a raised platform.

He hopes to come back and compete again, and I'm sure there are many who would like to see him again.

Mike Kevil would also like to come back again, although, when I think about it, I'm pretty sure he said "as a judge." Having judged for three years before competing this year, he says competing really was more fun.

And what's not to enjoy? Just look at the fun he's having just minutes before he knows he's going to be in the open arena on this horse and maneuvering it through obstacles.

He says he never considered leading the horse through the course. By the time his round penning was over, he judged — and rightly so — that he would be able to do a respectable obstacle course run.

PREVIOUS ARTICLES:

March 2, 2008, 7 p.m. CST - Chris Cox Wins
March 1, 2008, 11:30 p.m. CST - Day One
March 1, 2008, 8:00 a.m. CST - Mystery Contestant is Mike Kevil
February 27, 2008, 4:00 p.m. - What to Expect

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