Have you ever thought of hanging off the side of a galloping horse?
As a Riata Ranch cowgirl, Brandi Phillips does it for a living!
“I started Riata Ranch in 2003, and it was actually an accident. My mother, Theresa Machado, trick rode and roped with Riata when she was in high school,” Phillips said. “My younger sister was taking lessons out there for a few months but had to leave for the summer so I was supposed to just finish her classes.”
“Jennifer Nicholson invited me to try the trick riding and from the first day I was hooked!”
Phillips originally started riding horses when she was younger, and started trick riding at the age of 12 with a paint named Cisco.
“[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][He] was just retired last year at the ripe age of 22,” Phillips said. “He was the first horse I really bonded with and started my real love for horses.”
Today, Phillips and her four-legged partner Apollo showcase their talents across the country.
“I didn’t do anything with him at first but when I lost my other horse, Willy, to colic he stepped right in,” Phillips said. “I only had a few weeks to make a trick riding horse out of him and he’s been going ever since.”
“You don’t find horses like him often. He’s carried me many miles and I trust him with my life.”
Some of the locations they have performed in include; soccer fields, polo fields, a drive way, and many rodeos. However, her stand out show wasn’t even a trick riding event.
“We packed our trick ropes to Windsor, England and performed in Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
“That is one I will NEVER forget,” Phillips said. “It was a true experience and a huge piece of history.”
Phillips trusts Best Ever Pads to keep Apollo sound and comfortable throughout their routines, and stylish of course!
Aside from her trick riding, Phillips recently learned to team rope from Best Ever Pads team rider Ryan Reed, and Judy and Ozzie Gillum.
“Horses are my favorite,” Phillips said. “They teach me so much and I just don’t want to do anything else!”[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]