West Texas A&M Captures Second Straight National Ranch Horse Title with Unprecedented Sweep
West Texas A&M University’s Ranch Horse Team has surged ahead to secure its second consecutive national championship at the National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association competition held April 13 to 15 at the Amarillo National Center in Texas. The team not only clinched the overall Division 1 title but also dominated all individual rider categories, a historic first in the competition’s short existence.
The urgent victory underscores WT’s deep talent pool, with nineteen students competing against powerhouse programs like Texas Tech University, Texas A&M, North Central Texas College, and New Mexico State University. The results reaffirm West Texas A&M’s rise as a national powerhouse in collegiate ranch horse competition.
Unmatched Individual Honors Put WT Students in the Spotlight
West Texas A&M riders won the three key individual divisions: Parker Ralston, a sophomore agribusiness major from Collbran, Colorado, earned the prestigious Kris Wilson Top Hand Award for top rider overall after dominating the nonprofessional division. Freshman Marin McCarthy from Aledo secured first place in the limited nonprofessional division, while fellow freshman Avery Turner from Gilmer won the novice division and was recognized with the Outstanding Freshman Award sponsored by the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Coach Dr. Lance Baker, a professor of animal science in WT’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, praised the dedication behind this historic win:
“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… This team has done 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.”
What the Title Means and What’s Next
This year marks West Texas A&M’s second national title in the event’s brief history, following their championship win in 2025 and after finishing three times as runner-up since the show began in 2021. Along with the trophy, the team earned the use of a custom award trailer from Hughes Trailers in Canyon for the next year, a symbol of their standing in collegiate ranch horse circles.
The event tested competitors across four classes — ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail, and cow work — in three divisions: novice, limited nonprofessional, and nonprofessional. The rigorous competition involved two go-rounds that pushed both riders and horses to their limits.
Broad Talent Across the Team Boosts WT’s National Presence
Beyond the champions, other WT riders placed strongly across divisions, representing a broad depth of skill that bodes well for future competitions. Senior agribusiness major Cutter McLaughlin from Amarillo took third in nonprofessional division, while junior Ashley Wortham from Wimberley placed fifth. Freshman Bayleigh Leathers and senior Chloe Rourke also contributed notable performances.
In limited nonprofessional, promising finishes included freshman Kailey Robers in fourth place and sophomore Lela Chisholm securing fifth. Novice division placements saw senior Bella Ayers taking third and freshman Elizabeth Iandoli finishing sixth, rounding out an extensive team effort led also by coach Sidney Dunkel.
WT’s Winning Culture Shapes Leaders in Agriculture and Ranching
The West Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team’s success is a key example of the university’s broader educational vision. The program fosters traits like courage, resourcefulness, and teamwork—qualities highlighted in the university’s strategic plan WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, supported by the One West campaign, which raised over $200 million to empower students.
This win cements WT’s reputation as a breeding ground for the next generation of leaders in agricultural sciences and ranch management, offering students not just competitive success but real-world skills critical to the nation’s ranching and livestock industries.
Looking Ahead
West Texas A&M is expected to build on this momentum as it prepares for next year’s national competition, where returning champions are sure to face even stiffer challenges. Meanwhile, WT continues to expand its academic and athletic programs, strengthening ties to the agricultural heartland from Texas to Ohio and beyond.
For Ohioans and US readers interested in collegiate agriculture and equine sports, West Texas A&M’s sweeping victory showcases the growing role such programs play in shaping sustainable farming and ranching solutions critical to the nation’s food security and rural economies.
