Road to the Horse is proud to announce Clayton Edsall as a Championship Competitor for Road to the Horse 2027, taking place March 18–21, 2027, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. A World’s Greatest Horseman Champion and NRCHA Two Million Dollar Rider, Edsall has won nearly every major NRCHA premier event championship, developing some of the sport’s most recognizable horses along the way. Now, he is ready to put his horsemanship to the ultimate test as he pursues colt starting’s most prestigious title—the World Championship of Colt Starting.
“It’s about returning to where it all began,” said Edsall. “A young horse, a blank slate and the kind of horsemanship that can’t be measured by a résumé—just a lifetime spent learning to understand the horse.”
That connection goes back to 2014, when Edsall served as a pen wrangler for Antoine Cloux of Switzerland, who competed at Road to the Horse that year. The experience left a lasting impression, and competing at Road to the Horse has remained on Edsall’s wish list ever since. Now, more than a decade later, he will return to the Kentucky Horse Park not as a Pen Wrangler, but as a Championship Competitor.
“We’re excited to have Clayton join the Road to the Horse Competitor lineup,” states Tina Battock, President of Morris Equine Group. “Clayton has dedicated his life to the horse and has proven that he can build a solid foundation on a young colt, then continue that development all the way to the highest levels of competition. We’re excited to see him bring his knowledge, experience and horsemanship to the Road to the Horse round pen in 2027.”
Raised on his family’s cattle ranch in Montana, Edsall grew up horseback, branding, doctoring, roping and gathering cattle. As a young man, he worked on ranches throughout the West, sometimes living in a teepee and starting colts miles from an arena. His education came through long days, fresh horses and real jobs, along with the influence of legendary horsemen including Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, Joe Wolter, Brian Neubert and Tink Elordi.
That foundation eventually carried Edsall into the performance-horse world, where he has spent nearly two decades establishing himself as one of reined cow horse’s most accomplished horsemen. Today, Clayton and his wife, Chelsea, and their two children call Texas home, where they operate Edsall Performance Horses.
More than a competition, Road to the Horse is a celebration of horsemanship, featuring championship colt starting, world-class equine entertainment, educational clinics, demonstrations and a bustling trade show.
The Wild Card Challenge kicks off Thursday, March 18, and concludes Friday, March 19. As in years past, the Wild Card Challenge Champion will step directly into a Championship Competitor position Friday afternoon, earning the opportunity to compete for the $135,000 purse.
Edsall joins previously announced competitors Dan Steers (Australia) and Josh Lyons (USA) to complete the 2027 Championship Competitor lineup. The three will be joined by the Wild Card Challenge Champion in the quest for the World Championship of Colt Starting.
The Wild Card Challenge competitors will be announced shortly, completing the 2027 field and setting the stage for four colt starters to compete for the most coveted title in horsemanship.
Road to the Horse 2027 takes place March 18–21, 2027, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Tickets are available at RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 800-514-3849. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and announcements.
About Road to the Horse
Founded in 2003, Road to the Horse strives to inspire people to reach a higher level of horsemanship and develop unity with a horse based on trust and not fear. We believe that through education and entertainment, we can change people’s ideas and create a better world for the horse. Road to the Horse competitions identify the superior colt starter who accumulates the highest score. Judging focuses on the competitor and the effectiveness of their horsemanship methodology to communicate, educate and build a partnership with their colt based on trust. Fans witness the entire journey, from colt selection to the final obstacle challenge. Tickets and information available at www.RoadtotheHorse.com.
About Morris Equine Group
Morris Equine Group consists of some of the industry’s most recognized brands, including Western Horseman, Quarter Horse News and Barrel Horse News. The group also includes EquiStat, a statistical service offering detailed information and earnings for the performance horse industry. Morris Equine Group is home to the National Barrel Horse Association, the West Coast Barrel Racing Association, the first-ever PBR Team Series Champions Nashville Stampede, the World Championship of Colt Starting Road to the Horse and the Decatur, Texas, event center The Ranch at NRS.
