West Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team Clinches Second Straight National Title
West Texas A&M University’s Ranch Horse Team has done what no other team has before—dominated the National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association competition by winning its second consecutive team championship and sweeping all individual categories in the event held April 13 to 15 at the Amarillo National Center in Texas. This groundbreaking achievement solidifies the program’s supremacy at the national level and highlights the university’s rising prominence in collegiate ranch horse competition.
The WT team, composed of 19 student riders competing in multiple divisions, outperformed squads from heavy-hitting universities including Texas Tech, Texas A&M, North Central Texas College, and New Mexico State. They competed in two intense rounds across four classes—ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail, and cow work—in three divisions: novice, limited nonprofessional, and nonprofessional.
Coach Dr. Lance Baker, professor of animal science and leader of the team, praised the athletes, saying,
“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 for themselves and their team.”
He underscored the historic nature of their victory: “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.”
Individual Riders Shine with Top Honors
The individual titles were captured by three standout WT students: Parker Ralston, a sophomore agribusiness major from Collbran, Colorado; Marin McCarthy, a freshman equine industry and business major from Aledo, Texas; and Avery Turner, a freshman equine industry and business major from Gilmer, Texas.
Ralston won the highly competitive nonprofessional division and earned the coveted Kris Wilson Top Hand Award, recognizing him as the top rider overall at the show. McCarthy took home the limited nonprofessional crown, while Turner was the novice division champion and also nabbed the Outstanding Freshman Award sponsored by the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Other WT students earned top-ten finishes in their divisions, including senior Cutter McLaughlin in third place nonprofessional, and freshman Kailey Robers in fourth place limited nonprofessional. The depth of talent across all competitors from WT was clear and contributed heavily to their dominant team score.
Championship Brings Tangible Rewards and Recognition
As the national champions, the West Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team was awarded the use of a branded award trailer from Hughes Trailers in Canyon for one year—a symbol of their hard work and success on the national stage. The victory builds on their 2025 championship after four consecutive years of high performance since the competition’s launch in 2021.
WT’s program excellence is aligned with the university’s long-term vision outlined in WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, emphasizing student self-reliance, leadership, and commitment. The success is also fueled by the university’s $200 million One West fundraising campaign, the largest in Texas Panhandle history, supporting student innovation and competition opportunities.
Looking Ahead
With this historic sweep, West Texas A&M University’s Ranch Horse Team is setting the national benchmark for collegiate ranch horse competition. The team’s continued excellence signals a bright future for WT as it prepares to defend its title and grow the sport’s profile across the nation.
For Alabama audiences and U.S. readers passionate about college sports, agriculture, and equestrian events, this latest development mirrors a growing enthusiasm for specialized collegiate competitions that combine athleticism, tradition, and industry expertise.
Stay tuned as The Alabama Report follows this and other key collegiate sporting achievements shaping the future of American athletics and agricultural education.
