STEPHENVILLE —Tarleton State University’s Stock Horse Team secured their first division championship win in the National Intercollegiate Ranch and Stock Horse Association (NIRSHA) Collegiate National Championship last week at the Tri-State Fairgrounds in Amarillo.
The NIRSHA Collegiate National Championship featured 16 college and university teams across two divisions. Competing in Division II, the Tarleton State team earned 982 overall points, edging out the competition with a 40-point lead.
“This win demonstrates our ability to be competitive with the best,” said Bobbie Walton, coach and Director of the Equine Center. “What defined this team’s success throughout the year was working together as a team. From helping support one another during practice, motivating each other to practice, supporting their teammates at the shows and spending time together outside of team activities. In the end, they put in the work.”
The NIRSHA title marks a significant comeback for the Texans following their fifth-place finish at last year’s championship. When the team fell short in their spring competitions, the riders returned to practice determined, reaffirming their capabilities and remaining open to feedback. Through hard work and guidance from coach Walton and assistant coach Teghan Brooks, the team persevered through a difficult season and secured the hard-fought championship title.
“Instead of letting our first few shows define our entire season, we adjusted, worked harder and came back even stronger,” said junior Riley Pirkle. “What set us apart this year was that we had each other’s backs and lifted one another up.”
For their win, freshmen Mason Markell and Chloe O’Neal, sophomores Cooper Leather and Taylor Wells, Riley Pirkle, and seniors Jewels Neason and Bodie Vicars received 2026 National Champions ribbons and a Hughes livestock trailer for the team. The riders, however, say they walked away with more than prizes or recognition, as they established lifelong memories and confidence in their strengths.
“We have come close a few times, but to cross the finish line this year is a great accomplishment,” said Vicars. “I will carry this feeling as well as the lessons I have learned on the team with me as I graduate and move on.”
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