Battles have been fought in the name of religion, politics, honor, love and economics through the ages, but for the first time ever, rhinestones will be at the center of the fray when Road to the Horse crew and clinicians square off against Extreme Mustang Makeover trainers in the The Outrageous Rickrageous "Battle For The Bling" at Road to the Horse in Franklin, TN March 13-15, 2009.

Road to the Horse owner and producer Tootie Bland and Extreme Mustang Makeover founder Patti Colbert will be pitting two of their best horsemen and horsewomen against one another for bling and bragging rights.  The spoils that will go to the victor? A rhinestone laden jacket by western couturier Rickrageous.

Bland threw down the gauntlet against Colbert during the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover Finals when the two entered the arena to announce the Road to the Horse Extreme Road Trip winner.  Both cowgirls were glitzed-out in their Rickrageous jackets when they got into a standoff about who had the most bling. Of course, both being fashionable, strong-willed cowgirls neither would concede defeat to the other.

To settle the matter of who laid claim to the most rhinestones, Bland challenged Colbert to a competition for a new Rickrageous jacket, a challenge that Colbert quickly accepted. 

Plans are for 2008 & 2009 Road to the Horse competitor Tommy Garland and his 2008 Road to the Horse colt, Spirit, to face off with the Extreme Mustang Makeover Legends division champion Mark Lyon of Arlington, Nebraska and his three-year-old bay mustang, Christian.  In addition, Bland challenged Patti to put up her toughest, wildest, most outrageously bold mustang trainer to compete against the infamous Thomas B. Saunders V, Road to the Horse boss wrangler. 

Colbert came back with the statement that "a girl could beat Thomas Saunders" and put her bling where her mouth was by choosing Extreme Mustang Makeover trainer Wylene Wilson of Queen Park, AZ to go head-to-head with Saunders.  Wilson competed during the Extreme Mustang legends finals (bareback and bridleless with a broken hand) on her mustang Filthy Rich. 

Details of the match-up will be announced at Road to the Horse in March, but rest assured with these two dynamic cowgirls at the helm both teams will surely "bring it" in the Battle for the Bling.

Road to the Horse is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. It is "the original colt starting challenge". The two-day sold out event matches the absolute best horse trainers and clinicians of today against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras.  By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today's horsemanship heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow's hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a shining star of horse industry.  Hosted by Rick Lamb, of RFD-TV's The Horse Show with Rick Lamb, spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses.

Road to the Horse is proud to partner with many outstanding companies including Horse & Rider, Mustang Makeover, Cinch, Cruel Girl, Gist Silversmiths, ABI Equine and John Deere .  For more information on Road to the Horse and Tootie Bland Productions, visit www.roadtothehorse.com or call 325-736-5000.