The new Rule SHW419.4, effective January 1, 2018, states, “Unnatural ranch horse appearance (Horse’s tail is obvious and consistently carried in an unnatural manner in every maneuver).” Judges can assess a 10-point penalty for unnatural tail appearance.

AQHA and other livestock organizations are concerned about the regulation requiring 10 consecutive hours off duty and how that will affect the welfare of animals being transported. Livestock industry guidelines recommend that drivers avoid stops when hauling livestock, as stopping for long periods of time would have a detrimental effect on the animals being hauled.

Despite its being issued nearly two years ago, awareness for this rule among livestock haulers and the equine industry is nearly non-existent… More time is needed to reach out to the horse industry, and ensure that industry outreach can address ELD compliance and ELD impact.

Cheek received a $1 million credit line from Lori Grenier in exchange for 5% equity in her company. That’s the largest valuation for a solo female entrepreneur in the show’s history.

The President congratulated the team and was presented with custom Texas A&M cowboy boots by head coach Tana McKay. “There have been other equestrian national champions, but this is the first time that the sport has been recognized by the President and the White House,” McKay said. “That in itself is a huge honor, not only for our school being recognized, but also for our sport. It validates all of the hard work that we have put into this sport, the progress that we have made to grow our sport, and the direction that it is going in down the road. This a very important step for our sport. We are extremely excited and humbled to even be part of it, and it is a great experience for the student-athletes and the staff. It is something that we will never forget.”