If you love horses, you will enjoy watching experienced cowboys and cowgirls from around the Country gentle, start, and ride unbroke horses in just a few hours. How is this possible? These horse trainers are not only very talented, but they are using Natural Horsemanship methods. This technique speeds up the process of starting and gentling a horse. Our event is not only to entertain you, but also to educate you about how a horse thinks, operates, and responds to a Horse Trainer’s cues using body language. Watch THE ACTION as you see the unique personalities of not only the horses, but also of the Contestants, and their original concepts to starting colts.

It is Colt Starting Challenge USA’s goal to provide a forum for Horse Trainers from around the Country to compete at our events, in order to show off their Natural Horsemanship skills. The Trainers compete against each other in order to find out at each event, who wins the Champion Trainer buckle. Trainers gain cumulative points at each event towards participation in the National Finals, at the prestigious NFR Cowboy Christmas Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in December.

Colt Starting Challenge USA was founded by expert Horse Trainer Russell Beatty and his wife and announcer Cristy Beatty. They now tour the United States to produce Colt Starting Challenge USA events from California to Virginia.

For more information, see our web site at www.coltstartingchallengeusa.com and our Facebook page for videos of our events.

Colt Starting Challenge USA Schedule

Colt Starting Challenge USA Contestants

Ben Cunningham – Lake George, CO

Ben Cunningham grew up in family that traveled and moved a lot, seeing a lot of the US and Canada. His dad however made sure they always had a little land. Ben recognized early on that livestock was something that he wanted to base his work around and the western United States was where he wanted to  live.

When Ben was about 16 his folks moved the family to Virginia and as soon as he turned 18 he headed off for Montana and got a job with one of the premiere cattle ranches of the state. Ben had been riding horses since he was knee-high but it was here, working cattle that he realized the importance of good Horsemanship. He began learning about Ray Hunt and the Dorrance brothers and got hooked on the traditional vaquero way of natural horsemanship, thus he embarked on his quest of becoming a horseman.

Ben has since worked elsewhere and has been starting colts, working with a wide  variety of troubled horses and helping individuals to attain to better Horsemanship. At age 21, he is currently located in Lake George, CO.

Anthony (Tony) Edwards – Peyton, CO

I’m an Oklahoma cowboy who resides in Peyton, Colorado. I ride horses out of the Prairie Wind Ranch. I’ve been riding for over 30 years and training for half that. I love that the relationship with the horse is built on trust and respect. Which sounds strict, however allows to have fun , and accomplish goals.

I have adopted the philosophy of riding your horse not for what he can do for you, but what you can do for him. The more I learn about horses and people the more I learn there’s so much to learn.God bless y’all I’m Tony Edwards, look forward to seeing y’all horseback somewhere soon.

Fred Olguin – Hudson, CO

Fred Olguin here. Here is a little snap shot of my training career. I am 55 years old now, and have found that the natural horsemanship way is the only way to start a young horse. I do almost all of colt starting alone, so the old ways of snubbing off to a seasoned horse is kind of out of the picture for me. Like Dad used to do.

For the last 30 years or so I have started young horses or worked out “kinks” on some troubled mounts. Most of my work has been for myself or friends. I’ve taken ideas from the likes of Chris Cox, Monty Roberts, Pat Parelli and anyone else that has some touch with horses including my Dad. He was a ranch hand on a spread in Southwest Colorado, and had some fine horses. He started them a little differently, but was a believer that lots of work and no abuse to the animal was how you achieved the goal of trust and reliability on your horse.

I use a bosal on most of the young ones, only in the last ten years or so have I used a snaffle bit, “O” ring style. I have had a couple pretty good ones come out of that method also. This will be my first time in this environment, I am looking forward to the challenge. And hope I end up with a nice horse for someone.

Rhett Fincher – Cresson, TX

Rhett Michael Fincher is a 3* Licensed Parelli Professional and a Senior Horse Development Specialist.  He currently resides in Cresson, Texas with his wife, Theresa, 3 horses and 3 dogs.  Rhett currently leases a property in Texas with 300 acres, 20 stall barn, and facilities for training.

Rhett has started over one thousand colts, competed in colt start competitions across the country, teaches horsemanship, and helps trainers and owners with challenging horses. He has spent over five years with world-renowned horseman, Pat Parelli and has additionally studied Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, Buck Brannaman and Monty Roberts so that Rhett could develop a deeper understanding of horse psychology and how to cause the horse to want to follow direction versus brace against it.

Rhett’s mission is to help others obtain the relationship they desire with their horse while keeping their horses dignity in tact.