Brandi Phillips attributes a lot of her career success to the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls and the program that Chad & Jennifer have built and it’s not just her career as a specialty act, but in their overall mentorship and stability for youth. Through trick riding and trick roping, Brandi has been able to travel the globe competing in trick riding competitions (and winning!) in Canada, as well as performing for Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee!

“’My initial experiences from horses were from my grandmother Linda who was very influential in my life,’ says Brandi, who grew up with Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Arabians. As a very small kid, that is where her first introduction began, but when her grandfather got sick they sold all of them to move closer to town. Brandi didn’t get back to horses until she got involved with Riata Ranch – it was definitely a journey to make it a career!

“’It’s cool to not be raised around them to now having my life revolve around [horses],’ says Brandi.

“The Riata Ranch was started in 1957 by Tommy Meyer as a riding school with western performance teams, reining and cow horses. Tommy put cowboys and cowgirls through the ringer to make them well rounded all around competitors. In the 1970’s it transitioned to a full time trick riding team, which is where Jennifer Nicholson was a part of the original trick riding team. A mentorship, leadership program that uses trick riding and trick roping teaches you skills that you can use later in life. Typically, it’s a youth a program and you don’t stay around through your adult life but Brandi is one of the few that once she got there, she didn’t leave for quite a long time!”

Listen to Brandi’s episode here!

COWGIRL 30 Under 30 is sponsored by The Cowboy Channel, Wrangler, Montana Silversmiths, Durango Boots, Charlie 1 Horse Hats, and Cavender’s.

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Listen to Janie Johnson’s episode, Broadcaster for The Cowboy Channel and Barrel Racer, here!