2024 Best of Western Horseman: For Your Horse
|
|
|
|
|
Horses are an investment. We invest in them our money, our time, our work, our passion and more. We connect with them the same way we connect with our own family, and we care deeply for their happiness, comfort and well-being. There are so many ways to improve a horse’s quality of life from the inside, out, from proper nutrition with feed and supplements, to comfortable and well-fitting tack and gear, warm blankets, fly masks and more. The 2024 Western Horseman Best For Your Horse winners allow us to take the best possible care of the horses we love so much.
Photo courtesy of Purina.
Best of Feed Winner: Purina
Headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota, and a proud subsidiary of Land O’Lakes Inc., Purina Animal Nutrition has been a trusted name for more than 130 years. Their impressive network spans the United States, consisting of more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and large retailers. In addition to providing products for horses, the company supplies nutritious options for cattle, swine, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits and more
Horse owners can expect well-tailored products for their equine companions, with Purina paying attentive care to horses’ needs based on breed, age and activity level. The company’s nutrition solutions include complete feeds, supplements and specialty technologies, from the Purina Microbiome Quotient platform to the Purina Systemiq Probiotic Supplement and everything in between.
Dr. Mary Beth Gordon, Senior Director, Equine Technical Innovation, Purina explains why the company pours such effort into providing top-notch equine products.
“We understand that your horse is more than just an animal; they are a cherished companion, a trusted partner and a vital part of your life,” Gordon says. “Our mission is to unlock the greatest potential in every horse, ensuring they receive the highest quality nutrition to thrive in every aspect of their lives.”
Purina’s dedication to scientific research and development innovation includes an equine research team that pushes the boundaries of equine nutrition and health to bring customers the best in nutrition and general care. Purina recognizes there are many ways to support the health of a horse and is confident they have the leading solutions.
Best of Feed Runner-Up: Total Feeds, Inc.
Dr. R. Harry Anderson and his wife grew up on small family farms in Benson County in North Dakota. Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and physiology from North Dakota State University. He continued his education getting a Ph.D. in Animal Science from South Dakota State University. He spent 15 years as a nutritionist for a Fortune 500 company and another 15 years as a private consultant, making rations for the cattle industry.
“Helping animals and people is my passion,” Anderson says.
Best of Feed Honorable Mention: Nutrena
“At Nutrena, we know health, happiness and performance go hand in hand. That’s why we have spent more than 100 years developing feed to nourish and fuel your horses to look and feel their best. As horse owners and industry participants ourselves, we are passionate about providing products that help horses and animals across the United States to thrive.” — Russel Mueller, Nutrena Equine Sales Marketing Manager
Photo courtesy of Hay Chix.
Best of Horse Care Winner: Hay Chix
Hay Chix has been improving the horse feed industry since 2010, first from their headquarters in Minnesota and now in Texas. By testing theories with the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin — River Falls, Hay Chix laid the foundation for its customers’ best feeding programs. It’s thanks to these university studies that the Hay Chix Net, their specially designed small-holed mesh hay net, has been proven to reduce waste by 57% in round bales and slow down consumption, changing how people feed their horses and livestock. Perhaps most importantly, Hay Chix’s nets are touted as extra safe since the knots in the netting are fixed, ensuring the holes do not expand.
Hay Chix owner Kritsin Jacobsen looks forward to exploring new innovations the company can contribute to the industry and acknowledges a few integral truths about Hay Chix that help it shine.
“We are 100% family-owned,” Jacobsen says. “We manufacture all our products in the heart of the USA: Texas. We take pride in bringing our customers the very best. Most importantly, we are honored to use the platform we’ve been blessed with to spread inspiring messages. To be a finalist in this contest shows us just how big of an impact we are making within the Western world, but saddle up and hold tight; we are not even close to being finished!”
Best of Horse Care Runner-Up: Vetericyn
Vetericyn has been developing revolutionary pet and equine products to help keep animals healthy since 2009. Their award-winning product line is fueled by cutting-edge science and a passion for innovation. Vetericyn is made in the U.S. and helps animal owners and veterinarians world-wide take better care of their animals.
“I enjoyed caring for all the animals on my farm and wanted to keep them as safe as possible,” founder Bob Burlingame says. “These fundamental ideas inspired me to be part of the animal health care industry.”
Best of Horse Care Honorable Mention: Back on Track USA
Back on Track creates therapeutic products that help people, pets and horses achieve a more active and comfortable lifestyle. Back on Track’s proven therapeutic technologies include Welltex, Iontex, Coppertex, Haematex and Cool on Track. All were developed by combining modern textile technology and traditional Chinese medicine to create unprecedented health and wellness results, often referred to as. “The Back on Track Effect.”
Back on Track’s joint and muscle support products and braces are FDA Class 1 Listed. Trauma Void, Back on Track’s line of riding helmets, is a global leader in safety and comfort.
Photo courtesy of The Saddle House.
Best of Saddles Winner: The Saddle House
Founded by Adam Schwalm in 2014, The Saddle House is the result of Schwalm’s lifelong love of saddles and tack combined with the steady success of selling high-end, used saddles from a booth at weekend shows. Now located in Sealy, Texas, The Saddle House boasts quality gear for multiple disciplines made in their shop, specializing in reined cow horse, ranch horse, cutting and reining. In addition to their custom saddles, customers can shop for tack, including bits, breast collars, cinches, headstalls and more. Despite providing such a wide variety of gear, Schwalm emphasizes the importance of excellence in the materials used and the meticulousness put into creating each product.
“From bits and spurs to hackamores to the saddle line, everything we carry is top quality. Our slogan is ‘Quality above all,'” Schwalm says. “I personally go through every saddle myself before we send it out. We are also known for a selection of quality gear that people can’t find most places.”
Premium quality and attention to detail are not the only things customers can count on when shopping with The Saddle House. Schwalm says another priority puts them a cut above the rest.
“I believe what separates us from the others in our space is customer service. We’re a small company with a great team that prioritizes customer service,” Schwalm says.
Being the owner of a small company means Schwalm is particularly thankful to the Western Horseman readers who voted for The Saddle House.
“It is exciting for us to be a finalist for the first time. Appreciation and gratitude for our customers and our team are the first things that come to mind. Being recognized with those bigger companies is a blessing and an honor.”
Best of Saddles Runner-Up: Trent Ward Saddlery
Last year’s Best of Saddles winner, Trent Ward Saddlery, was founded in 2005 as a small saddle shop inside a horse barn in Kaufman, Texas, inspired by Ward’s dream of building and selling quality saddles at a fair price.
As a teenager, Milton Aguilera started working for the company and became passionate about growing the business. In 2024, he purchased the company known for its unbeatable saddle tree warranty, ranging from 10 years to life. The company specializes in building personalized, handcrafted, top-quality saddles for ropers and cow horse riders of all disciplines.
Saddles are made to the customer and the horse’s liking, as customer satisfaction is the company’s top goal.
“It’s a real honor to be voted into the finalists,” Aguilera says. “This lets us know that people feel our best efforts to serve them and the goodwill we have for this market. We are determined to do our best, and to be nominated by our customers makes every saddle worth it.”
With more than 15 years of experience and offering stock saddles to custom builds, Trent Ward is a favorite among Western riders. Trent Ward Saddlery warranties their saddle trees for 10 years to life, depending on the saddle, and guarantees top-notch craftsmanship whether the saddle is already in stock or been specifically manufactured just for you. They’re located in Texas but provide services worldwide.
Best of Saddles Honorable Mention: Jeff Smith’s Customer Western Saddles
Jeff Smith’s Custom Saddles is one of the top Western saddle makers in the industry, specializing in custom performance saddles for cutters, ropers and barrel racers, with many of the company’s saddles awarded at National Cutting Horse Association events.
Smith first ran the business out of a tack trailer and later built a store in 2005. Driven to meet and exceed every customer’s expectation, Smith strives to make every saddle perfect. The company has one of the most lenient return policies in the industry to ensure people get the saddle they want and need.
About 20 craftsmen work in the saddlemaking shop using Hermann Oak leather, full stainless-steel D-rings and 100% wool. All saddles go through a detailed inspection process to ensure quality and accuracy before shipping to customers.
“It makes my day to know that we were voted a Western Horseman’s Best of Saddles [finalist],” Smith says. “It tells us we’re doing a good job.”
Photo courtesy Classic Equine.
Best of Tack & Gear Winner: Classic Equine
Beginning first as the rope company Classic Rope in 1986, Classic Equine was launched a decade later. The company specializes in gear all horsemen rely on, from protective leg wear to pads to cinches to accessories; customers can expect products that prioritize the safety and well-being of their horses. Ken Bray, president of Classic Equine, explains how the company recognized and filled a need in the market.
“Many of our employees rode and competed at all different levels and disciplines. We realized there was a void of safe, reliable and innovative gear made specifically for serious horse people,” Bray says. “We put a concerted effort into designing new products, doing thorough research and development, and identifying what works and what needs improvement. We continue this innovation today, always researching new raw materials and ways to make things better. Classic Equine is never complacent.”
By utilizing the experience of its employees and sponsored riders, Classic Equine provides is customers with products tested by those with the highest standards. It’s these standards and commitment to product innovation that sets Classic Equine apart from the rest. By pushing the envelope in technology and research, the company continues to improve upon existing products and creates new ones, always keeping the horse and rider in mind.
Bray expressed the company’s gratitude to those who voted for Classic Equine.
“This recognition is both humbling and rewarding,” Bray says. “We have an exceptional group of people who see these products from start to finish — innovation to testing to packaging to marketing. To know the people who choose Classic Equine trust us and know we’ll provide the products they need to protect their most prized possession validates the heart and soul we put into every product we offer.”
Best of Tack & Gear Runner-Up: Double Diamond Halter Company
Double Diamond Halter Co. was born from Pete Melniker’s Boy Scout knot-tying experiences. When he was older, he worked as a cowboy on Colorado and Wyoming ranches, where he saw his first rope halters. He commented to Duval “Slim” Walters that, since he ties knots all his life, it didn’t look too hard to make a halter.
“‘It’s tougher than you think,'” Melniker recalls Walters responding.
At horseshoeing school, Melniker met Phil Wolfe, who later sent step-by-step instructions for tying a Fiador knot without realizing Melniker was learning to tie halters. Double Diamond Halters officially opened in 1985, and is a favorite for their high-quality materials used, sizing consistency, and durability.
Today, Melniker employs around 10 people who help him make by hand all the gear, including lead ropes, mecates, slobber straps, reins, shuflies, get down ropes, lariats, hondas, horsemanship flags and dog leashes. Melniker is grateful to Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunts, team roper Mike Beers, barrel racer Sharon Camarilo, and clinician Greg Eliel for endorsing his products, and he considers their support significant to the company’s success.
“It’s an honor and humbling to be a Best of Western Horseman [finalist],” he says. “We were up against a lot of big outfits.”
Best of Tack & Gear Honorable Mention: Professional’s Choice
In 1976 Dal Scott, who was developing human orthopedics, sought to create a more supportive leg protection for his equine athletes. After rigorous research and development, the original Sports Medicine Boot was born, and Professional’s Choice began.
“At Professional’s Choice, we strive to always be innovative. Without innovations, you get left behind,” General Manager Monty Crist says. “It’s just like anything else. The technology is out there now; if you don’t keep looking for it and looking at it, your competition is going to pass you by. Our owner, Dal Scott, has always said, ‘If the product doesn’t promote the comfort and safety of the horse, we’re not going to put our name on it.'”
Photo Courtesy of J.M. Capriola Co.
Best of Retail Stores Winner: J.M. Capriola Co.
Upon opening in 1929, J.M. Capriola Co. has built a legacy of offering high-quality, handcrafted Western gear, custom saddles, original Garcia bits and spurs, and other cowboy and rancher essentials. Founded by Joe Capriola, the business has thrived over the years under the management of several generations and even after a devastating fire, proving the resiliency and demand for authentic and trusted Western products. Susan Wright, who owns J.M. Capriola Co. with her husband, John, explains what makes the company stand out from its competitors.
“What truly distinguishes J.M. Capriola Co. is its dedication to preserving our Western heritage,” Susan says. “The company blends old-world craftsmanship with a deep understanding of the needs of modern ranchers and cowboys. Each product is meticulously handcrafted, often using techniques passed down through multi-generations. This commitment to quality and authenticity has earned J.M. Capriola Co. a reputation as a trusted name in the Western industry.”
Despite the fire in 1958 and the opening of the new J.M. Capriola CO. store in 1959, the company is still at 500 Commercial Street in Elko, Nevada. This location helps bring customers a sense of deep-seated tradition and a connection to generations past.
Susan reflects on the generations J.M. Capriola Co. has served and what it means to have been a 2024 Best of Western Horseman Awards finalist.
“Being selected as a Best of Western Horseman Awards finalist is a profound honor, especially alongside major industry players like NRS, Teskey’s and Valley Vet Supply,” Susan says. “These companies are giants with vast inventories and large teams, while we at J.M. Capriola Co. represent something rare — a connection to a time when Western stores were a fixture on every Main Street, their neon signs glowing with the promise of authentic cowboy gear … This recognition reaffirms that our commitment to quality and tradition resonates with our customers, and that’s something we hold dear.”
Best of Retail Stores Runner-Up: Valley Vet Supply
Valley Vet Supply is a one-stop shop for animal health products for horses, livestock and pets. It is known for its incredibly fast shipping, with most orders shipping the same day they are received. Products range from vaccines and dewormers to prescription medications, tack supplies, apparel and more.
Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by Arnold Nagely and Ray Shultz, two practicing veterinarians with doctorates in veterinary medicine. Before long, the duo received an overwhelming volume of calls for advice and requests to ship medications. They quickly realized they could help address the animal health needs of a broader area. For 12 years, the veterinarians balanced a practice while operating Valley Vet Supply before eventually selling the practice to focus on the retail operation.
“It is truly an honor to be voted by readers as a Best of Western Horseman Retailers For Your Horse,” says Aimee Robinson, the company’s editorial and brand voice director. “We celebrate the Western lifestyle and feel this is a testament to our dedication to the industry and our customer.”
Best of Retail Stores Honorable Mention: Teskey’s
The Teskeys started their tack and apparel company in their garage, and they sold tack at small horse shows. Today, their facility spans 100,000 square feet of shopping space, living up to their goal of striving to be the largest supplier with plenty of inventory and options for everyone, be it saddles, reins, ropes, feed, supplies, boots, hats, apparel, home decor, antiques and even custom-award design.
“We feel honored the community and the people we sell to keep us in such high regard,” Manager Jordan Cooper says. “We want to make sure everyone who walks through the door has an experience like never before. We want them to feel at home with us and our family. It not for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Photo courtesy of Silver Lining Herbs.
Best of Supplements Winner: Silver Lining Herbs
Silver Lining Herbs is loves for its premium herbal blends for horses, canines and humans, offering a comprehensive range from probiotics to bone and joint support supplements to equine dewormers. Senior Operations Manager Chance Schuknecht explains the passion for the company’s holistic solutions was sparked decades ago when the mother of company founder Mickey Young, Ruth, was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
“[Ruth] had eight operations, and around the last operation, they left a tool inside of her,” Chance says. “[She rejected another surgery] and said, ‘Let me just live my life out.’ At that same time, she was introduced to a holistic practitioner who led her to an herbal program. She ended up living years after that. She dedicated her life to helping people out with holistic means.”
It was in mid-1990s that Mickey, a repeat competitor at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, sold his rodeo company and enrolled in an equine dentistry school. There, he met Heather Mac, a holistic veterinarian, who encouraged him to pursue a professional holistic career. Thanks to the network Mickey had built among the rodeo community, plenty of people were interested in high-quality, natural medicinal alternatives. Mickey’s son, Josi, is now at the helm of the business. He furthers the legacy of serving customers individually and leads the company’s mission to deliver natural health products and the education needed for customers to provide optimal care for themselves and their animals.
“Depending on the circumstances an individual is in, we need to cater a special program for them,” Chance explains. “We use the example of Jesus Christ. He ministered to people on a one-on-one basis, whereas the medical world does it in a more blanket approach. We know that to give individual care, we have to think about the individual as an individual.”
Best of Supplements Runner-Up: 100X Equine
100X Equine knows horses. They’ve helped with adopting & rehabbing horses to enjoy for leisure as well as amateur and competitive showing. The owners’ experience stretches more than 40 years across disciplines, including several National Reining Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association championships.
The company’s love, compassion and dedication are 100% for horses and their well-being, believing a scientific approach to horse’s health needs is the foundation for caring for them. Providing shelter from the elements, a good water source, quality forage along with superb supplementation is key to their longevity and happiness.
100X believes it’s their responsibility to be a voice and difference-maker for horses and the Equine community. The company donates 10% of their net sales each month, as well as 100% of all corporate and individual donations, to horse rescues and sanctuaries in need. Supporting 100X Equine is supporting the equine industry.
Best of Supplements Honorable Mention: Platinum Performance Equine
“At Platinum, it all comes back to the horse, the rider and the veterinarians who serve them both. We believe strongly in what nutrition can do for a horse’s health, longevity and performance, and it is our privilege to research and develop formulas to support them. We thank Western Horseman for so thoughtfully recognizing the companies that work on behalf of the horse and the people that love them.” — Emily Smith, MS, Clinical Nutritionist of the Platinum Performance Marketing Team
Photo courtesy of Zoetis as seen in Western Horseman December 2023.
Best of Pharmaceuticals Winner: Zoetis
Zoetis is a global animal health company driven by a singular purpose: to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals. Initially founded in 1952 as a division of Pfizer, Zoetis became a standalone company in 2013. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide — from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers alike.
The U.S. Equine Division lives by the mantra “Always by Your Side.” Your horse is your everything, and when it comes to his care, you want to do what’s right. The team of veterinarians, horse owners and enthusiasts us dedicated to helping all horses live happier, healthier lives by connecting you with the equine care solutions, guidance and resources you need. Long Live the Horse.
Best of Pharmaceuticals Runner-Up: Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim provides innovation for preventing and treating diseases in animals. The company offers a wide range of vaccines, parasite-control products, and medicines for pets, horses, and livestock to veterinarians, animal owners, farmers, and governments.
As a leader in animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim values that the health of humans and animals is deeply connected and strives to make a difference for people, animals and society.
Best of Pharmaceuticals Honorable Mention: Merck Animal Health
Merck Animal Health covers a variety of species within its pharmaceutical solutions. Merck creates products horse owners are familiar with, such as Panacur Powerpac, a dewormer highly effective at fighting dangerous equine parasites, and Prestige, a line of flu-containing vaccines for your horse, as well as Safe-Guard and Regu-Mate.
Their science-based approach and relationships with the industry’s top veterinarians helps them create products that are exceptional, safe, trusted and convenient.
The post 2024 Best of Western Horseman: For Your Horse appeared first on Western Horseman.