When Reliance Ranches quietly handed the reins of a young stallion named Watch The Lane to Rhen Richard, it was a bet on the future.
And so far? The bet is looking solid.
“He wants to please you,” Richard said. “He’s one of those horses that turns up and feels good in competition.”
At just 4 years old, Watch The Lane already has already picked up $92,330 in the heading. He’s by the standout sire The Goodbye Lane and out of Earlette, and if Richard’s instincts—and track record—are any indication, this stud is built to make an impact both in the arena and in the breeding shed.
Natural Talent. Quiet Fire.
From the start, Watch The Lane had the look—shape, balance, movement. But it’s his mind that’s turned heads in Rhen’s futurity string.
“Monty McNair picked him out at the BFA sale—just a plain-looking bay colt at the time,” said Reliance Ranches’ trainer Bobby Mote. “But from day one, he was easy, laid back, wanted to get along. Monty’s got a great eye, and this one stood out.
“We were originally buying for the barrel side, but he just took to the rope so naturally,” Mote explained. “In my mind, the traits we want in a head horse and a barrel horse aren’t that different—athletic, collected, quick-footed. He checks every box.”
The horse’s training came easy for Mote. And keeping him a stallion? It was a no-brainer, because the horse had always acted like a gelding. He hauls next to mares without a peep, and he has gone back and forth from the breeding barn without any stress.
“He almost feels like not enough horse because he’s so laid back,” Rhen said. “But you get somewhere, the lights turn on, he’s got a little nerves involved, and he’s perfect.”
That kind of temperament matters. Especially in high-pressure settings like futurities, where the line between broke and blown-up is razor thin. As Watch The Lane matures from 4 to 5, Richard says he’s only getting sharper—and showing more expression as he learns to fire at full speed.
“He’s got a lot of curve to his neck, he moves his feet pretty, and he’s not shocky about the way he hits the ground. When it’s a judged event, those things matter.”
Built for the Long Game
Physically, he’s got the goods: strong-bodied, full-made and low-maintenance.
And while the performance side of Watch The Lane is already getting traction, the breeding barn is next.
“He’s got bone. He’s got mind. And there’s not much I’d change on him conformationally,” Richard said. “We’ve got mares that will cross really well with him, and I think he’ll complement them too.”
What’s Next?
The plan is unfolding: a trip to the Gold Buckle Futurity in Abilene, followed by a few months in the breeding shed. Rhen and Reliance both know he’s just getting started, and the focus now is on setting the stage for a strong sophomore year—and the kind of long-term legacy that puts a stallion in the books.
And, with the speed and mind on this horse, he’ll move to the barrel pen, too.
“He’s a touch green in the barrels, but the style is there—low, fast, and balanced with his butt down,” said Mote. “He’s not far off. A few exhibitions and he’ll be ready. By spring, he’ll be dangerous.”
With limited exposure and one big futurity win already under his belt, Watch The Lane is the kind of horse that’s easy to root for—and hard to overlook. Keep an eye out. This one’s got the look of a future household name in both team roping and barrel racing.
