West Texas A&M Secures Second Consecutive National Ranch Horse Championship
West Texas A&M University’s Ranch Horse Team has just sealed an unprecedented victory, winning its second straight National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association championship in a commanding performance at the Amarillo National Center. The competition ran from April 13 to 15, where the WT team not only captured the team title but swept first place in all individual categories, showcasing overwhelming dominance in Division 1.
The team’s sweeping success marks a historic milestone, with WT triumphing over powerhouse rivals such as Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, and New Mexico State University. This victory follows their championship 2025 season and builds on three reserve titles since the contest began in 2021.
Record-Breaking Performances Elevate WT Riders to National Spotlight
Coach Dr. Lance Baker, a respected animal science professor, praised the team’s dedication, calling their performance “what no other team has done before at Nationals—winning the Division 1 team title and sweeping all the individual categories along with the outstanding rider and freshman awards.”
Among the standout stars:
- Parker Ralston, sophomore agribusiness major from Colorado, claimed the prestigious Kris Wilson Top Hand Award as the event’s top rider in the nonprofessional division.
- Marin McCarthy, freshman equine industry and business major from Texas, secured first place in the limited nonprofessional division.
- Avery Turner, freshman from Gilmer majoring in equine industry and business, took the novice division title and earned the Outstanding Freshman Award sponsored by the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Across the divisions, WT riders consistently placed at the top, demonstrating depth and versatility. Nineteen students competed in four demanding events — ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail, and cow work — across three competition divisions.
Impact Beyond the Arena: Building Leaders and Champions
The team’s dominance is more than a tally of trophies. As part of West Texas A&M’s broader vision, this competition cultivates traits like self-reliance, courage, and teamwork. Dr. Baker emphasized the importance of trust, sacrifice, and shared goals as key to the team’s success.
In addition to the honor of the championship trophy, West Texas A&M earned the use of a branded award trailer from Hughes Trailers, based in Canyon, Texas, for a full year — a prized symbol of their elite status.
About West Texas A&M University and Its Equestrian Excellence
Founded in 1910 and a part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990, West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, serves over 9,000 students and offers comprehensive programs in agriculture and animal sciences. The university recently earned Carnegie Foundation status as a Research College and University.
The Ranch Horse Team’s achievement spotlights WT’s commitment to agriculture and equine industries, maintaining a legacy that resonates nationwide. For California and US audiences, this success echoes the importance of sustaining competitive agricultural education and leadership development — essential for rural economies and equestrian communities across the country.
Fans of competitive equestrian sports and agricultural programs nationwide should keep an eye on WT’s rising champions as they build momentum ahead of next season, continuing to push boundaries in collegiate ranch horse riding.
“There are few things more gratifying than a group of student athletes with total buy-in, who share the vision and the dream, who trust the process, who sacrifice and dedicate themselves to a worthwhile goal,” said Coach Dr. Lance Baker.
West Texas A&M’s Ranch Horse Team has reset the standard for collegiate ranch horse excellence, delivering a national performance that demands immediate attention across the ranching and equestrian worlds.
