Rhen Richard raked in $93,112 in the 2025 ARHFA Old West Pre-Futurity Heading, highlighted by the $50,000 win aboard Reliance Ranches’ Watch The Lane.
Richard had four chances for cash in the short round June 20, but it was the 4-year-old stud by The Goodbye Lane out of Earlette to top the field June 20, with a 931.17. Richard also picked up $29,792 for second aboard Captain Leggett and $5,320 for eighth on Little Foose Sug. In the rounds, Richard added another $8,000. The six-time NFR qualifier from Roosevelt, Utah, isn’t shy to say things lined up just right that day.
“I had a day,” Richard said with a grin. “I think all the top guys have those days. I was just fortunate to do it at a big futurity.”
When Reliance Ranches‘ Gary McKinney threw out the idea of Richard riding Watch The Lane in Heber City, Richard was all in.
“Gary and I have had a great relationship, and I just told him I’d do anything to help,” Richard said. “I rode him a few runs at Bobby and Gary’s place, and it’s by Llano. And then I practiced on him twice before here.”
Twice before was evidently enough. While jumping from horse to horse the duration of the Old West, Richard aimed to let Watch The Lane do his thing and not overpower his natural talent.
“That horse is just pretty user friendly and he’s just super showy,” Richard explained. “He has a cool look about him, and I don’t think I really did anything special. I didn’t try to overshow him. I just tried to go out there and make clean runs, and I think that’s what’s cool about this deal is I think it’s easy to overshow a horse, but when you have one that is capable of doing it and looking pretty just naturally, I think that’s what I try to do.”
His user-friendly attitude is extra impressive considering he’s a stallion.
Watch A&C’s training program on Roping.com
“I mean, he walked in the box and backed in there he was a 10-year-old,” Richard said. “It’s hard to do for a young horse, so it was pretty easy to have confidence in him that, hey, he’s going to be on my team right here and I go do my deal and not worry about it.”
The Old West Rope Horse Futurity carries extra significance and maybe a touch more pressure to Richard given his involvement.
“Talk about having some pressure riding somebody else’s stallion that is capable of winning the event and having it at your own venue,” Richard said. “So, just super blessed. I know the team’s going to be happy to have the week over; it’s been a lot, but we’re super excited where it’s headed. We think we have some really big things to come in the future that will benefit everybody that has a part of this, and we’re just excited.”
