ron-ralls

Ron Ralls Featured on Horsemanship Radio

ron-rallsNRCHA Hall of Famer Ron Ralls is the April 1 featured guest on Horsemanship Radio. • Photo by Primo MoralesLegendary reined cow horse trainer Ron Ralls is the featured guest on the April 1 release of Horsemanship Radio. In the interview, Ralls shares the basis for the success that has resulted in his induction into the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Hall of Fame.

Ralls, a Bakersfield, California native, was raised on a 50,000-acre ranch and spent 20 years helping move cattle from horseback in tough terrain. He knew nothing of the show arena until he was introduced to Monty Roberts. Roberts offered to establish him as a horse trainer if he would move to Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, California. Ralls agreed, learned a lot and in 1985, qualified for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open finals, and became one of the NRCHA’s leading professionals, winning back-to-back World’s Greatest Horseman titles

The World’s Greatest Horseman is all about one horse, one rider and one very impressive title. With roots in Western ranching work, horses compete in four events – herd work, rein work, steer stopping and cow work – using the same bit. Ralls admitted that coming from a background devoid of competition made his climb to the top harder, but credited studying the basics with  Roberts, along with persistence, to his longevity.

“Monty had a couple of 3-year-olds he wanted me to take home and work on the ranch and bring them back,” Ralls said. “So I did, and brought them back six months later. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. He talked about ‘leads.’ I had no idea what a lead was.”

The Horsemanship Radio Show is an online radio show dedicated to the exploration of good horsemanship throughout the world. Recent guests have included: Bob Baffert, Triple Crown’s American Pharoah trainer; clinician Chris Cox; and Last Chance Mustang Author Mitch Bornstein. Upcoming episodes will include trainer and clinician Ken McNabb and jockey Larry LaGue. Hosted by Roberts’ daughter, Debbie Roberts Loucks, the show includes segments, tips and interviews exploring good horsemanship. 

Horsemanshipradio.com is the fastest-growing program on the Horse Radio Network, which dominates horse programming podcasting in the United States. The shows are aired on the 1st and the 15th of every month and can be found online at www.horsemanshipradio.com, on the Horse Radio Network or through the free iTunes app. The show is also free on iTunes and Google Play.