Our very own Tik Maynard is back at Road to the Horse — and we’re throwing a weekend-long watch party to cheer him on!

Fire up the livestream and join us here in the NF+ community from March 28 – 30 as Tik defends his title at the World Championship of Colt Starting in Lexington, KY.

How to join us:

📺 Catch all the action live (and free!) on the official Road to the Horse YouTube.

🗣️ Join our daily watch party threads in the RTTH forum to chat about the competition, because...

🎁 Everyone who comments in the RTTH threads this weekend will be entered for a chance to win a free, private 30-minute Office Hours session with Tik! 

When we'll be tuning in:

🗓 Friday, March 28 

• 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT – Championship Round 1

🗓 Saturday, March 29

• 11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT – Tik’s Clinic

• 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT – Championship Round 2

🗓 Sunday, March 30 (Tik’s time slot TBD—stay tuned!)

• 10:45 AM ET / 7:45 AM PT – Championship Round 3, Competitor 1 & 2

• 1:15 PM ET / 10:15 AM PT – Championship Round 3, Competitor 3 & 4

PS — if you're attending in person in Lexington, drop by the NF+ booth on the sponsor concourse to meet the team & Tik!

If you have any questions about the schedule, accessing the livestream, or more, we're all ears. And whether it's IRL or online, we'll see you this weekend! Go Tik! 🤠

RTTH 2025: How To Watch & When To Tune In

How do I access the livestream of the event?

Domestic and international viewers can catch all the action live (and free!) on the official Road to the Horse YouTube. This is what we'll be tuning into for the watch parties. (There will also be on-demand replays on the Pluto TV app 24 - 48 hours later.)

When will we see Tik compete & when should I tune in?

Friday, March 28 

• 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT – Championship Round 1

Saturday, March 29

• 11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT – Tik’s Clinic

• 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT – Championship Round 2

Sunday, March 30 (Tik’s time slot TBD—stay tuned!)

• 10:45 AM ET / 7:45 AM PT – Championship Round 3, Competitor 1 & 2

• 1:15 PM ET / 10:15 AM PT – Championship Round 3, Competitor 3 & 4

What if I have a question or need help?

If you have any questions about the schedule, accessing the livestream, or more, ask away — and lots more info can be found on the Road to the Horse website, too!

The first three episodes of our brand-new case study series, Riding with Tik Maynard, are now streaming on NF+!

In each case study, Tik works with real riders and horses in unscripted sessions. The initial three episodes introduce you to Diane and her young horse, Chico, as they move the early stages of backing with patience, precision, and a whole lot of listening.

Plus, these new episodes come just in time to cheer Tik on as he defends his title at Road to the Horse! More to come on that in 3... 2... 1...

Noëlle will be sitting down soon with financial coach Mary Hurston for a No Stupid Questions episode of Dear Horse World, and we want your questions on money, finances, and budgeting as a rider and horse owner!

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the financial side of horse ownership — whether it’s covering unexpected vet bills, the expense of show season, or just managing the month-to-month costs — this is your chance to ask an expert. Mary is a financial coach (and fellow equestrian) who knows firsthand that no two months of horse ownership look the same.

Drop your questions for Mary below and we'll ask as many as we can during the episode. (And no question is too basic or simple: when we say "no stupid questions," we mean it!) 

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, March 18th at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT for a "Review My Ride" virtual clinic with Josh Nichol! 

This is a great opportunity to get personalized advice from Josh on your training questions, and to learn from other riders' experiences and challenges. 

Let us know you'll be there and add the clinic to your calendar! (And if you can't make it, the full replay will be available on NF+). Then, submit your video here for a chance to have Josh review it during the event.

Let us know if you have any questions & see you tomorrow!

Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt shaped modern horsemanship not through rigid techniques, but through their ability to read a horse. Their influence runs deep, and their lessons on feel, timing, and intuition still shape the way we train and ride today.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Martin Black, we take a closer look at their philosophies, the impact they had on generations of horsemen, and how their wisdom continues to resonate in today’s horse world.

🎧 Listen now on NF+, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

The latest episode of Dear Horse World is here, featuring the fascinating Martin Black, who grew up learning from legends like Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance and has spent a lifetime blending traditional Vaquero techniques with modern, evidence-based methods.

Join Martin and Noelle as they dig into the balance between tradition and innovation, the lessons English and Western riders can learn from each other, and why intuition should always come before labels.

🎧 Listen now on NF+, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!

Ready to take your riding to the next level? Join us for a 14-Day Rider Fitness Challenge, designed to help you build strength, balance, and mobility in just 15 minutes a day. No gym or fancy equipment needed; just simple, effective exercises that fit seamlessly into your barn life.

Each day, you’ll follow a targeted workout inspired by Ifa Simmonds’ Cross Training for Equestrians, focusing on the key muscles that support a stronger, more stable ride. Whether you’re looking to refine your seat, improve your core engagement, or just feel better in and out of the saddle, this challenge is for you.

Commit to the challenge, check in with the community, and see how just two weeks of small daily effort can transform the way you ride. 💪

Ready to ride stronger? Join us for the 14-Day Rider Fitness Challenge!

On February 24, we’re kicking off a challenge designed to help you build strength, balance, and mobility in just 15 minutes a day. No gym or fancy equipment involved — just simple, effective exercises that fit seamlessly into your life.

Each day, you’ll follow a targeted workout from Ifa Simmonds’ Cross Training for Equestrians, focusing on the key muscles that support a stable, effective ride. Whether you’re looking to refine your seat, improve core engagement, or simply feel stronger in and out of the saddle, this challenge is for you.

How it works:

📅 The challenge goes live Monday AM right here in the community

🏋️ Follow the daily 15-minute workouts

🤝 Check in, connect, and stay accountable with the community

✨ See how just two weeks of small, daily effort can transform the way you ride

Plus, we’re setting up an Office Hours session with Ifa so you can ask him your personal questions about fitness and strength!

🔥 Who’s in? Let us know in the comments if you’re joining us!

The final episodes of Tik Maynard's Four Building Blocks to Better Horsemanship are now live on NF+!

In Episode 3: Motivation, Tik meets Sienna, a skeptical pony with a history of avoiding contact. With the help of animal behavior scientist Amelia McCray, he unpacks what truly motivates horses—and how understanding fear, curiosity, and reward can build trust instead of resistance. Through a thoughtful mix of pressure and release, clicker training, and food rewards, Tik shifts Sienna’s experience from one of fear to curiosity.

In Episode 4: Play, Tik explores the essential yet often-overlooked role of play in training. With liberty expert Michelle Young, he breaks down how play fosters connection, transforms the way horses feel about learning, and turns training into an invitation rather than an obligation.

Have you been tuning in? Let us know your thoughts!