Ron Emmons grew up on the central coast of California in Santa Barbara County – a place rich in Vaquero tradition. As a young adult, he was focused on making a living by working on ranches, and eventually began showing Paint horses. It was not until Emmons was in his early 30s that he started training for the public. When life offered Emmons a chance to change gears, he jumped at the opportunity to focus on reined cow horse competition in 2004. It was what he always wanted to do, and brought Emmons, who was raised with a spade bit in tow, back to his childhood horse memories.

Over the years, Emmons rode several champions in the reined cow horse arena, including his first bridle horse winner, Tangys Classy Boy (Tangys Classy Peppy x Crimson Sassy Chick x Crimson three). But, it is Olena Oak (Smart Chic Olena x Fritzs Oak E Doakie x Docs Oak), the horse Emmons rode to an AQHA world title, countless NRCHA premier event wins and to the two World’s Greatest Horseman titles that really propelled his career.

Cynthia Cantleberry of Paso Robles, California, is a 14-time AQHA World Champion and 2001 AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year. She has trained and shown horses since she was twelve. Cantleberry has shown in almost every discipline, from halter and hunters and jumpers to western pleasure, trail, ranch horse pleasure, western riding, reining, pleasure driving, and working cow horse.

Chris and Russell interview Shadd Parkinson at the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity

Hear from the Trainers Trainer, Don Murphy, about the beginning of Cow Horse and early shows in California.

Chris & Russell interview the 2024 Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge Champion, and the 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Bridle Champion, Kyle Trahern.

Join Western Justice Today: https://www.westernjustice.info/

Sign the petition to stop USDA overreach with The Horse Protection Act: https://www.ruralamericainaction.com/petition/stop-the-horse-protection-act

Chris and Russell sit down with Dave Duquette, Scott Dorenkamp, Karen Gerfen Glueck, and Colton Woods to discuss what the revised Horse Protection Act will mean for all horse shows nationwide.

As the February 1, 2025, implementation date for the revised Horse Protection Act (HPA) looms over the horse industry, many people involved with horses wonder exactly how they will be affected. Simply put, the revised version of the HPA would make unnecessary, heavy-handed government overreach the norm, devastate all levels of horse show communities, and effectively cripple much of the equine industry in the United States.

Dave Duquette has been a loud and clear voice of reason for agriculture and rural rights in the United States. With a passion for rural American causes, Western Justice founder Dave Duquette has experience fighting some of the most challenging battles in Agriculture.

Dave’s career as an animal welfare and agriculture advocate started over two decades ago. Dave, a Marine, has built several businesses, including his horse training facility in Northeast Oregon. During his career as a horse trainer, he began seeing the unjust policies inflicted on rural America and believed they needed someone to stand up for them, their families, their beliefs, and their way of life.

The Meat Board

6314 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76116

themeatboard.com

844-693-6328

EJ Laubscher talks about his childhood growing up in South Africa and being chased by hippos, baboons and all sorts of other dangerous animals as a kid. After making the move to America with his family EJ worked on hog farms and started all kinds of horses as well as a couple zebras chasing his dream of becoming a trainer. Since discovering the world of cowhorse he has already won over a quarter million dollars and recently made the move with his wife and kids to Winnewood, OK to further grow his business.

This episode is brought to you in part by War Horses For Veterans

COWHORSE FULL CONTACT EPISODE #86 Todd Bergen Part 3

Todd Bergen talks about:

- Filming the cow horse scenes for Yellowstone and getting the an epic fence turn that almost wrecked Jimmy and Rip.- The American Performance Horseman experience - The story behind Teton Ridge and the TR9 Training FacilityThank you to our sponsors: UltraCruz & Globe Life Insurance for all their support allowing us to bring you this great interview.

COWHORSE FULL CONTACT Episode #86 Todd Bergen Part 2

In this episode Todd reflects back and talks about:

- Working with Annie Reynolds learning to transition his training towards the cow horse events and developing that connection with a cow.- Building relationships and working horses with Ascension Banuelos, Tom Lyons, Matt Gaines & Clint Allen- How Todd and his wife Missy met and the not so flattering introduction to her family.- Learning to deal with customers and day to day operations of a training business.- Raising kids and parenting - Lip Syncing as the Village People at the Sun Circuit- Jack knifing the rig in a snow storm outside of Flagstaff heading home after the Reserve Championship at NRHA Futurity- Dealing with back issues- The call from Thomas Tull and moving to TR9 Ranch in Weatherford, TX.- Pre Show rituals and uncertainty due to lack of preparation- The story behind Smart Luck & Todaysmyluckyday who helped launch Todd's career.- Balancing the kids with workThis episode was sponsored by UltraCruz & Globe Life Insurance.

Be sure to tune into the 3rd and final part in this series - COWHORSE FULL CONTACT Episode #86 Todd Bergen Part 3

Todd Bergen sits down on the back porch at Dawson Performance Horses with Chris Dawson & Russell Dilday and takes a deep dive into his past going right back to the beginning:Highlights from this episode include:- Growing up in Salem, Oregon- From baseball to motorbikes, 4H, College years and contemplating becoming a professional Ski Bum ,Todd talks about how he gravitated back to the horses- The life lessons learned while working for Bob Avila learning all the aspects of how to train, how to win as well as the business side of running a Professional Training Operation- Reflecting on the "Dream Team Years" with John Slack while at Bob's- The progression of the Reining Horse breeding and competition- Breaking down the mental side of horse training.- Learning from watching other people- How Horse Training Intrigues him and drives him to be the best no matter what the discipline.Thanks to UltraCruz & Globe Life Insurance for sponsoring all three parts of this great Interview. Be sure to check out Part 2 coming up next ....