Mark Matson not only became America’s next great horseman after winning Project Cowboy at Horse Expo Pomona with a score of 470.5, he was also voted Cowboy Congeniality, winning a fantastic prize package from the American Quarter Horse Association.
Project Cowboy, presented by AQHA, is “American Idol” meets “America’s Got Talent” for cowboys, and gives horsemen the opportunity to display their talents on horseback and in front of the television camera. The first Project Cowboyof 2012 was February 2-3 at the inaugural Horse Expo Pomona in California. The entire competition was filmed for a reality television program that is tentatively set to air September 27 on RFD-TV, thanks to AQHA and its sponsorship of Project Cowboy.
Mark Matson grew up in southern Ohio. His family did not share in his passion for horses so he left home in search of knowledge. His experiences have taken him around the world. He enjoys roping, ranch rodeos, reining and team branding. He competes in the National Reined Cow Horse Association, and his greatest honor was winning the 2005 NRCHA open hackamore world championship. Aside from reined cow horse competition, Matson owns a horse-drawn carriage company in southern California. It was Matson’s bridleless routine aboard Smart Little Whizard, aka “Hermione,” in the freestyle finals that wowed the judges and the crowd. Hermione is a 2001 sorrel mare by Whizard Jac and out of Smart Blonde Chic by Smart Chic Olena.
Brian Bausch was the runner-up aboard American Quarter Horse Joses Perfection, aka “Chapo,” who ended up being a last-minute replacement when Bausch’s horse suffered a slight colic before the event.
Bausch grew up horseback while living in Kansas. He started giving clinics and making public appearances with his wife, Paula, in 2005. They live in Arizona with their two children. He has trained horses since 1994, and he has traveled the world because of horses. Brian has been a paid clinician in El Rancho Lebanon in the Middle East and at the Nebraska Expo.
He leads three horsemanship clinics per year and competes in reined cow horse, roping, reining and mounted shooting. He is a trick rider, trick roper, gun spinner and has performed around the world. Brian was the Michigan State high-point tie-down roper, a United States Team Roping Championships winner and a money-earner at NRCHA Derby. He is also a three-time Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association world champion, having earned titles in 2003, 2008 and 2009. He competed in the 2011 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Peponitasskipngobarb, aka “Black,” an American Quarter Horse ridden by Gilbert Chavez, was voted Fan Favorite. Working with only one eye, Black was a regal mover, carrying Gilbert to a fourth-place finish in the finals. Chavez grew up watching and learning from his grandfather and father as they trained horses. The crowd recognized the great bond between horse and rider. Chavez trains and exercises horses for a living, and he specializes in colt starting and problem solving. He also works with and trains children for gymkhanas, trail riding and barrel racing.
Project Cowboy and AQHA recently announced that Project Cowboy at Horse Expo Pomona; Project Cowgirl at the Western States Horse Expo will be June 8-10 in Sacramento, California; and Project Cowboy – Battle of the Sexes will become an RFD-TV television series. The shows will air in fall 2012.
Patti Colbert and Tootie Bland are keeping the show reality-based and invited 16 cowboys to become a part of the Pomona Horse Expo show.
“It makes better television when we follow only 16 characters, than to follow 100,” stated Colbert, Project Cowboy producer. “The format will be more like ‘The Bachelor’ or ‘Survivor,’ which is intriguing and entertaining television.”
The same television format will apply to Project Cowgirl at the Western States Horse Expo. Colbert, and Bland will be inviting 15-20 women to become reality television stars.
“We are looking for unique, diverse cowgirls,” said Bland. “We want women from all walks of life as long as they can ride!”
The Project Cowboy – Battle of the Sexes on August 17-19 in Madison, Wisconsin, will be open to the world and will be a no-holds-barred competition to truly determine “The Next Great American Cowboy.” All contestants entered in Wisconsin, no matter the number, will become a part of the television production. Entry deadline for Project Cowboy – Battle of the Sexes is July 9.
Find out more about Project Cowboy at www.projectcowboy.net. To stay up-to-date on the latest information on Project Cowboy, become a fan on Facebook.
Project Cowboy’s top-10 finishers are:
- Mark Matson, 470.5
- Brian Bausch, 403
- Byron Hogan, 356
- Gilbert Chavez, 349.5
- Joe Novy, 341.5
- Joel Sheridan, 330
- Len Judd, 325
- Matt Sheridan, 309.5
- Joe Misner, 301
- Cody Pendant, 256.5
This article was written by Project Cowboy, with additional information provided by The American Quarter Horse Journal.
