The American Quarter Horse has long been a symbol of the American West and the spirit of the cowboy. The 2010 Road to the Horse Remuda, sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association, will be brought to you by Wood Ranch of Heber Springs, Arkansas who will bringing ten outstanding three-year-old colts for the World Championship of Colt-Starting on March 6-7, 2010 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Raising Quarter Horses since 1956, the 190-year-old Wood Ranch breeds around 100 mares each year, many from WT Waggoner Estate, Four Sixes Ranch, Haythorn and the RA Brown Ranch. With an excellent all-around breeding program, Wood Ranch owner Jody Wood says that it was easy for him to hand-pick the geldings for Road to the Horse.

Breeding AQHA, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) money earners by sires with true-blue bloodlines, Wood Ranch has grown a reputation for performance horses that go above and beyond expectation.

Contrary to normal management practices, Wood has let the remuda remain as untouched as possible. In order to meet Road to the Horse requirements, the ten colts were gelded as yearlings and turned out, with the exception of necessary medical handling.

“Generally we start training on all our horses when they are two-year-olds but for Road to the Horse we let them continue to grow and mature for another year. That extra year ensures that they are physically and mentally ready to participate in the competition,” says Wood.

Having provided the horses for Road to the Horse in 2008, Wood is no greenhorn when it comes to preparing a remuda. Feeding schedules, safety precautions and transportation to the event are all aspects that must be carefully planned and executed.

With the help of Nutrena, the official feed sponsor of Road to the Horse, Wood has the horses on a schedule that will prepare them to look and feel their best for the 2010 event. Wood has fed SafeChoice, by Nutrena, since 2007 when he was preparing to supply the remuda for 2008.

“Nutrena was the feed sponsor the first year that we provided horses for Road to the Horse. Since then we have come to depend on the Nutrena’s nutritional consistency. Our horses do extremely well on SafeChoice. It keeps them in excellent shape,” says Wood.

Wood will also be working with Road to the Horse Boss Wrangler Adam Tarpley and round pen sponsor WW Livestock Manufacturing. While at the event, they will design a handling system that will provide the utmost safety precautions to ensure the well-being of each colt throughout the event.

Wood Ranch will have a booth at Road to the Horse where spectators can learn more about the ranch and their horses. To learn more before the event, visit www.woodranchquarterhorses.com.

Tickets to the event are selling fast! To secure your spot and see the Road to the Horse remuda from Wood Ranch, visit www.roadtothehorse.com or call 877-772-5425 to purchase your tickets. Ticket prices start at just $58 per person and make a great birthday, anniversary or valentine’s day gift.