The teams that riders would participate in for The American Performance Horseman 2024 were revealed by Teton Ridge on January 8. To qualify, each rider had to place first in their respective discipline in 2023.
Teams of three, consisting of one rider from each discipline, were formed from five riders from the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA).
The Royal Blue team won last year. EquiStat Elite $6 Million Rider Adan Banuelos once again finds himself in the Royal Blue team. When it comes to coverage of The American Performance Horseman (TAPH) in 2024, look no further than Quarter Horse News. We’ve previously shared information on the qualified riders, so stay tuned for updates on which horses will be competing in this esteemed event.
After a successful and industry-defining debut in 2023, Arlington, Texas will play host to The American Performance Horseman for the next three years. Along with The American Rodeo on March 9, the event is one of the highlights of the American Western Weekend and is scheduled for Friday, March 8, 2024.
The event’s competitive exhibition format, produced by Teton Ridge, honours the history, culture, and prospects of Western performance horse sports. Five teams of three athletes each compete in the event, and each team is matched with a highly esteemed Quarter Horse. A professional trainer, a professional reined cowhorse, and a professional cutter make up each team.
What Are The Teams In The American Performance Horseman 2024?
Royal Blue: Casey Deary (Reining), Adan Banuelos (Cutting), Clayton Edsall (Reined Cow Horse)
Regal Red: Cade McCutcheon (Reining), Austin Shepard (Cutting), Sarah Dawson (Reined Cow Horse)
Racing Green: Andrea Fappani (Reining), Wesley Galyean (Cutting), Matt Koch (Reined Cow Horse)
Burnt Orange: Brian Bell (Reining), Morgan Cromer (Cutting), Corey Cushing (Reined Cow Horse)
Imperial Purple: Jason Vanlandingham (Reining), James Payne (Cutting), Justin Wright (Reined Cow Horse)
Soon, additional details regarding the horses that will be ridden during the event will be made available.
The previous year’s winners were Adan Banuelos and All Spice in the cutting division, Casey Deary and Down Right Amazing in the reining division, Sarah Dawson and Shine Smarter in the reined cow horse division, and Team Blue, which included Adan Banuelos, Fernando Salgado, and Sarah Dawson, in the team competition.
Where Will The American Performance Horseman 2024 Be Broadcasted?
Teton Ridge and DAZN, the biggest digital sports broadcaster in Europe, announced today a rights deal for the highly anticipated tournament and grand finale Western sports events that take place on March 8 & 9 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The agreement was made in response to the growing popularity of Western sports. In the history of American Western sports, this is the biggest transaction ever for overseas television rights. DAZN will not only carry The American Rodeo but will also make The American Contender Tournament Regional Finals and Finals competitions available to its 60 million subscribers in January and February of 2024.
This will allow fans all over the world to support the Contender athletes as they attempt to earn a ticket to the Crown Jewel of Rodeo in Arlington, Texas. Additionally, The American Performance Horseman action from Globe Life Field in March will be televised by DAZN, increasing the prominence of Western performance horse sports on a global scale.
According to Teton Ridge CEO Deirdre Lester, “Western sports are becoming more and more popular around the world, and Teton Ridge is committed to spearheading the effort to make American Western culture, lifestyle, and sports available to more people in more territories than has ever been done before.”
With its exceptional reach and authority, DAZN’s coverage of American Western sports is poised to attract new fans, enhance the image of Western sports players, and present viewers throughout the globe with fresh perspectives on the American West.
The American Rodeo, which Teton Ridge acquired in late 2021 and will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2023, is the biggest one-day payout rodeo in the country. It includes competitors in the eight traditional rodeo disciplines: steer wrestling, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, bareback riding, bull riding, and barrel racing.
In the final match, supporters can choose to support the professional athletes defending their title as champions or the underdog “Contenders” hoping to win a $1 million bonus.
