Looking to become a living legend, two-time Road to the Horse champion, Chris Cox seeks to become the only competitor who will hold three buckles from the world championship of colt-starting. Competing against Pat Parelli and two-time winner Clinton Anderson, Cox hopes to be the “last man standing” at the Road to the Horse Legends in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on February 25-27, 2011.

Entering the Road to the Horse arena for the first time in 2007, Cox had the formidable task of going up against two previous champions. Competing against Stacy Westfall and Clinton Anderson, Cox said he went into the competition hoping to win but also wanting to educate the crowd.

“The crowd was into it. It felt good. When I picked the horse and went in there, I was the last person to catch my horse. It’s constant work. I had to stick with it. I came here with the same plan I always use to work with a horse and I stuck with it,” said Cox in a post-event interview.

Cox said that he felt privileged to participate in such a great event. Named the 2007 Road to the Horse champion, he won his first buckle in a fierce competition where both fans and judges agreed upon the winner. Returning to defend his title in 2008, Cox had three competitors including Mike Kevil, Tommy Garland and Ken McNabb.

According to host Rick Lamb, one of the main aspects in play during Road to the Horse is learning to stay flexible and adjusting to fit the situation. Not giving his horse the required amount of rest time, Cox began day two as an underdog after receiving a score penalty. However, he was able to adapt his plan and pull neck-and-neck with all the competitors across the board.

A very close competition, fans were held on the edge of their seat until the champion was announced. Emerging victorious, Cox left the event two for two, bringing home his second Road to the Horse championship title and buckle. Looking to obtain a perfect three for three record, Cox will bring his superb horsemanship skills into the arena in hopes of winning the 2011 Road to the Horse Legends.

“I’m not going to do anything different to prepare for Road to the Horse. I’m just going to stay in shape and do what I do every day, which is travel and train horses. I won’t be competing against the other competitors. I’m competing against myself and with the horse. What the other competitors do during the competition doesn’t affect me,” says Cox.

General admission bleacher tickets are on sale now. In addition to the publicly available seats, a special prime seating block has been set aside for members of the Road to the Horse Nation. The Nation, a membership club that fans can join for $39.95 a year includes a host of benefits in addition to prime seating, including a members-only website, advance access and line privileges, merchandise discounts and more.

Road to the Horse, the World Championship of Colt-Starting is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. The two-day sold out event matches three of the country’s 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 heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow’s hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a catalyst for the advancement of natural horsemanship. 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 across the equine industry including Road to the Horse presenting sponsor, Western Horseman and strategic partner AQHA along with Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Horses Magazine, Martin Saddlery, Gist Silversmiths, Horsecity.com, Callaway Farms Manufacturing, Extreme Mustang Makeover, Rockin J Horse Stalls and Flying D Enterprises. For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the 2011 Road to the Horse visit www.roadtothehorse.com

About Chris Cox

Chris Cox’ entire life has been influenced by his relationship with the horse. With his television show on RFD TV, the nationwide Ride the Journey Tour stops and appearances at equine expos and events, Cox has touched the lives of many a horse enthusiast and shown them there’s a straight-forward, practical way to gain a better relationship with their horses.

Cox is not only a successful clinician; he trains and competes at the highest levels of cutting horse competition. At his Diamond Double C Ranch near Mineral Wells, Texas he often has over twenty horses in training.

Cox offers progressive six-day horsemanship clinics at his ranch and nationwide three-day clinics to make it even easier for those throughout the country to get first-hand instruction directly from him.

Learn more at www.chris-cox.com