
EPISODE
16
Episode 16 - Mustang Champions with Matt Manroe
EPISODE LINKS.
SHOW NOTES.
In Episode 16 of McFarland Minutes, Natalie introduces special guest Matt Monroe, the executive director of Mustang Champions. They delve into the organization’s unique approach to Mustang horse competitions, highlighting not just the Western disciplines but also introducing English disciplines. Matt shares his personal journey in advertising and digital marketing, and how his passion for Mustangs has shaped his career. The episode covers the intricacies of Mustang competitions including the significant prize money, the importance of Mustangs in American history, and the personal bond Matt feels with these horses. They also discuss how the event in Las Vegas aims to both entertain and educate attendees and viewers about Mustangs. The conversation wraps up with insights on how the public can get involved, attend the events, or even adopt a Mustang.
00:00 Introduction to McFarland Minutes
01:27 Meet Matt: Executive Director at Mustang Champions
02:02 Matt’s Career Journey
03:15 The Vision of Mustang Champions
03:54 Mustangs in English Disciplines
04:40 Competitions and Prize Money
05:22 Unique Aspects of Mustang Competitions
09:13 Becoming a Competitor
09:55 Why Mustangs? A Personal Connection
12:10 The Mustang Community
13:05 Schaefer Outfitter Collaboration
14:13 Upcoming Events and Spectator Experience
16:29 Mustang Population and Conservation Efforts
19:01 Mind-Blowing Insights and Concerns
20:18 The Reality of Wild Horses
21:06 Creative Contributions and Personal Impact
22:32 Event Participation and Streaming
25:26 Western Fashion and Mustang Awareness
27:34 Event Preparation and Execution
34:20 Adoption and Final Thoughts
ABOUT THIS EPISODE.
When Natalie and Scout sat down to record Episode 16 of McFarland Minutes, they didn’t know just how powerful a story their guest would bring to the mic. Matt Manroe, executive director of Mustang Champions, shares how every step of his journey led to one mission: elevating the Mustang from an overlooked symbol of the West to a celebrated competitor on the national equestrian stage.
That mission is Mustang Champions, a groundbreaking program that not only honors these iconic horses but also reimagines what’s possible for them. Historically, Mustangs have shined in Western arenas, but Matt and his team saw a broader horizon. What if these horses, so often misunderstood, could take on English disciplines like show jumping and dressage? What if they could perform with music and flair in freestyle routines that bring audiences to their feet?
Under Matt’s leadership, those questions turned into reality. Today, Mustang Champions hosts competitions at venues as prestigious as the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and the Kentucky Horse Park. Riders compete for prize money, yes, but they also compete for something bigger: the chance to shift public perception of what Mustangs can do.
As Matt shared his story, one moment stood out: his experience training Mustangs alongside his daughter. He described it like something out of Avatar, a spiritual, almost electric connection between human and horse. The trust that Mustangs offer, once earned, is deep and rare. It’s that bond, Matt believes, that makes them so special, not just in competition, but in life.
But Mustang Champions isn’t only about horses. It’s about people, too. A Mustang event feels less like a competition and more like a reunion. Riders cheer each other on. Families bring their kids. Newcomers are welcomed with open arms. Matt explained that, unlike many traditional equestrian spaces, this community thrives on camaraderie and inclusion.
And there’s more at stake than ribbons or accolades. As taxpayers, Americans technically “own” over 60,000 Mustangs managed by the Bureau of Land Management. That number is more than a statistic; it’s a responsibility. Mustang Champions seeks to turn that distant fact into a personal cause by giving people the chance to meet, train, and love these horses firsthand.
Whether it’s through VIP seating at a live event or tuning into the livestream from home, Mustang Champions invites everyone to witness the magic. And if you’re inspired to go further? Adopt a Mustang. Volunteer. Spread the word.
For more details or to get involved, visit mustangchampions.org, mustangchallenge2025.com, or mustangclassic2025.com. We’ll be right here cheering them on and we hope you will too.
IN THIS EPISODE.

Matt Manroe
Executive Director / Creative Director
https://mustangchampions.org/
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS.
NATALIE MCFARLAND

PRESIDENT, FOUNDER
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
After freelancing her way through college, Natalie established McFarland Productions in 2014, which has continued to grow rapidly over the last few years. Her passion and focus have always remained the same; capturing, understanding, preserving and promoting Ranching, Farming, Western Lifestyle and AgriBusiness. She has always had a love for the western culture and even at a young age it was unmistakably clear she would someday find a career serving the industry.
Natalie grew up on a small ranch, rodeoed, showed horses in a variety of disciplines, showed livestock, and participated in 4H and Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. She has trained herding dogs and started colts, worked with sheep and cattle and has had the experience of racing to finish up a hayfield before a rainstorm hit. She understands the joys, sorrows, wins, losses and hard work of ranchers and farmers. That’s why McFarland Productions can produce authentic marketing campaigns for the businesses, organizations, events, and brands of the western and agriculture industry – it’s who she is.
With a passion for building community surrounding brands, Natalie focuses on building real connections between companies/brands and the people that make up their community. Telling the stories of your customers and making them apart of the brand’s story is her main focus. Creating real, human, meaningful connections and strengthening community within the western and agriculture industry through strategic marketing services.
SCOUT FOSTER

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC STORYTELLING
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
Scout’s faithfulness to the agriculture and western sports industry is rooted in tradition. Growing up in Central Florida, she stood by her family as they supported different sectors of the industry, including raising beef cattle, bucking bulls for local rodeos, and spending weekends with her grandparents who lived on Disney’s Wilderness Preserve.
Moving away from The Mouse, Scout graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Nation’s top agricultural communications college at Texas Tech University in 2022.
Now residing in Crockett, she and her husband, Lane, keep busy raising beef cattle and bucking bulls with her family. Scout also loves gardening, raising chickens, reading, and her two dogs: Rue and Dill.
