Equine Network

What Equine Network does

Equine Network is the largest equestrian sport company in North America, operating approximately 40 owned competitions and sanctioning more than 800 third-party events annually across both Western (team roping, barrel racing, ranch sorting, youth rodeo) and English (hunter/jumper, dressage, eventing) disciplines. The company supports four team roping associations with over 100,000 competitors and pays out approximately $100 million in annual prize money, anchored by the World Series of Team Roping Finale which alone awards more than $20 million. The product portfolio spans live event ownership (WSTR, Pink/Ruby Buckle, The Patriot, RSNC, Nilforushan Equisport), streaming and content platforms (Roping.com, RideTV, EQUESTRIAN+, Horse Radio Network), seven print publications (Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, EQUUS, The Horse, Horse & Rider, Team Roping Journal, American Cowboy), a horse marketplace (Equine.com, 130,000+ horses sold since 1995), and distributed consumer products (Spalding Labs fly control, USRider/USRoper/HaulSafe/TrailGuard roadside assistance).

The underlying technology includes a multi-platform digital media and events stack built on Google Cloud Platform infrastructure, comprising proprietary livestreaming platforms, a proprietary first-party audience database covering 530,000 confirmed horse owners, 300,000 western riders, 165,000 English riders, and 57,000 equine health professionals, and the Global Handicaps system that enables tiered competition across skill levels. The company operates an in-house marketing agency (Catapult) that leverages this first-party data for behavioral targeting on Google, Meta, and streaming platforms. Founded in 1995, headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and previously owned by Growth Catalyst Partners, Equine Network was acquired in January 2026 by CVC Capital Partners' Global Sport Group in a transaction valued at approximately $300 million.

Name

Equine Network

Legal name

Equine Network, LLC

Website

https://equinenetwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Equine Network is the largest equestrian sport company in North America, operating ~40 owned competitions and 800+ sanctioned events while running a vertically integrated media, streaming, and marketplace platform serving 189,000+ members, advertisers, and horse owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Sports Media & Events

NAICS

Racetracks (711212)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equine Sales, Auctions & Bloodstock Agencies (AFAEAGAH), Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Equestrian sports media
• Livestock competitions
• Horse marketplace
• Equestrian content streaming
• Rodeo event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorship: Equine Network sells digital advertising (17M+ impressions/year, 500K email subscribers, 2.3M social followers), print advertising across 7 publications with 250K subscribers, podcast advertising (3M+ downloads/year across 50+ shows), and video production services. The company has deep industry connections enabling authentic storytelling within the equestrian community. Sponsors include Boehringer Ingelheim (Horse Week title sponsor for 4 years).
2. Event Competitions & Prize Money: Equine Network generates revenue through owning and operating equestrian competitions across Western (team roping, barrel racing, ranch sorting, youth rodeo) and English disciplines (hunter/jumper). Supports four team roping associations with over 100,000 competitors and pays out $100 million annually. The World Series of Team Roping Finale alone awards $20M+. Events are supported by sponsorships and entry fees.
3. Memberships & Subscriptions: The company operates subscription-based services including EQUESTRIAN+ video platform ($24.99/month) with 5,000+ videos, USRider roadside assistance programs, Spalding Labs fly control products, and memberships across multiple associations. Equine Network has 189K memberships and serves thousands of active subscribers with training and care products.
4. Marketplace & Listing Fees: Equine.com, established 1995 and facilitating 130,000+ horse sales, generates revenue through listing fees for horse buyers and sellers. Current pricing offers 120-day listing for $20. Free listings provided for rescue organizations through A Home For Every Horse program.
5. Acquisition Integration & Brand Expansion: Ongoing strategic acquisitions of event producers (Nilforushan Equisport Events, The Patriot Events, Cinch Ranch Sorting National Championships, Pink/Ruby Buckle) to expand event portfolio, audience reach, and revenue streams within the equine industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Equine Network operates as a vertically integrated equine sports platform: it owns and produces approximately 40 live equestrian competitions (team roping, barrel racing, ranch sorting, youth rodeo, hunter/jumper) and sanctions 800+ third-party events annually, while also publishing magazines, running streaming/video platforms (RideTV, EQUESTRIAN+, Roping.com), hosting the Equine.com horse marketplace, distributing partner products (fly control, roadside assistance), and monetizing audiences through advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions, and memberships.

Product overview

Equine Network is the largest equestrian sport company in North America, operating a comprehensive platform-plus-events architecture. The company organizes and hosts approximately 40 owned competitions and oversees 800+ sanctioned third-party events, spanning Western sports (team roping, barrel racing, ranch sorting, youth rodeo) and English equestrian disciplines (hunter/jumper, dressage, eventing). The product portfolio includes live event properties (World Series of Team Roping, Pink/Ruby Buckle, The Patriot, RSNC), streaming and content platforms (Roping.com, RideTV, EQUESTRIAN+, Horse Radio Network), media publications (Team Roping Journal, Horse & Rider, Practical Horseman, Dressage Today, EQUUS, The Horse), products (Spalding Labs fly control, USRider roadside assistance), marketplace (Equine.com), and a foundation. The company generates revenue through event revenues, sponsorships, advertising, subscriptions, and membership services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Western Sports Group: Digital media platform covering rodeo, team roping, barrel racing, and ranch sorting events
• Premier Equisport Group
• RideTV
• EQUESTRIAN+
• Horse Radio Network
• World Series of Team Roping
• National Team Roping
• USTRC
• Pink Buckle
• Ruby Buckle
• The Patriot
• Equine.com
• EQUUS Magazine
• Practical Horseman
• Dressage Today
• The Horse
• Team Roping Journal
• Horse & Rider
• Spalding Labs
• USRider
• Equine Network Foundation
• Catapult
• Roping.com
• A Home For Every Horse
• Hope in the Saddle

Products and services

• World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) Finale The annual team roping championship culminating in the richest quarter horse event in the world, awarding over $20 million in prize money. For amateur and professional team roping competitors across all skill levels via the Global Handicap system.
• Pink Buckle & Ruby Buckle Barrel Racing Elite barrel racing and futurity competitions offering millions in prize money and exclusive opportunities for horses enrolled in incentive programs. For elite barrel racers and futurity competitors.
• The Patriot Youth Rodeo America's richest youth rodeo featuring team roping, barrel racing, calf roping, breakaway roping, pole bending, goat tying, and rough stock events. Includes the Hooey Junior Patriot program. For young rodeo athletes.
• Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) The leading ranch sorting competition association with 15,000+ members competing at 354 sanctioned events annually, culminating in the Cinch RSNC World Finals. For ranch sorting competitors at all skill levels.
• Premier Equisport Group - Temecula Valley National and The Oaks Top-tier USEF-rated hunter/jumper horse shows produced at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA, featuring expertly built courses and rider-focused environments. For hunter/jumper competitors, owners, and trainers in English disciplines.
• EQUESTRIAN+ Video Platform Subscription video platform providing 5,000+ training videos from top experts in dressage, hunter, equitation, show jumping, and eventing disciplines. Membership at $24.99/month. For English-discipline riders seeking world-class training.
• Roping.com The No. 1 source for instructional content for ropers of all disciplines including team roping, breakaway roping, calf roping, and goat tying, featuring livestreams and top-roper instruction. For ropers seeking training and competition coverage.
• RideTV Livestreaming Platform Livestreaming platform delivering elite show jumping, barrel racing, team roping, and ranch events live and on-demand to equestrian audiences.
• Equine.com Marketplace Online marketplace for buying and selling horses established in 1995, facilitating 130,000+ successful horse sales. Listings $20 for 120 days with photo/video support and free listings for rescues via A Home For Every Horse. For horse buyers and sellers.
• Spalding Labs Fly Control Products Natural fly control products (Fly Predators, Bye-Bye-Insects, Bye-Bye-Odor) for barns, pastures, and animals. Distributed through Equine Network's marketing channels to horse owners.
• USRider Roadside Assistance 24/7 roadside assistance program built specifically for horse owners, offering support for trucks, trailers, and horses including flat tires, dead batteries, towing, and lockouts with livestock-aware customer service. For equestrian travelers.
• MySeniorHorse.com Dedicated website for educating and assisting owners and managers of senior equids (horses, donkeys, mules aged 15+). Provides expert-driven content backed by Waltham Petcare Science Institute research.
• Catapult Marketing Agency In-house performance marketing agency offering strategy, creative, campaign management, digital services, website design, tradeshow experiences, and research services for equine and agricultural brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 team roping competitors supported with $100 million paid out annually across associations
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Freshfields Bruckhaus DeringersupportingOthers · 28 January 2026Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer served as legal advisor to CVC Capital Partners on the acquisition of Equine Network. Freshfields is one of the world's leading law firms.
• United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)coreOthers · 20 December 2024USEF licensed Premier Equisport Events (a Nilforushan Equisport Events and Equine Network partnership) to operate hunter/jumper competitions at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. USEF's expertise and guidance were critical to securing competition licenses for the new venue expansion.
• Nilforushan Equisport Events (NEE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2024Equine Network acquired a controlling interest in Nilforushan Equisport Events, a premier horse show management company producing USEF-rated shows at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA. The partnership created Premier Equisport Group (PEG), combining NEE's show management expertise with Equine Network's resources. Ali Nilforushan (former Olympian) leads operations. The venue is proposed for LA28 Olympic Games equestrian events.
• Boehringer IngelheimcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 October 2024Boehringer Ingelheim returned as title sponsor of Horse Week for the fourth consecutive year. Horse Week is an annual online film festival celebrating horses, produced by Equine Network Productions. Boehringer Ingelheim provides animal health products (vaccines, parasite-control, medicines for horses) and has been a consistent marketing partner supporting equine content and events.
• Linda Mars / Mars Portfolio of Equine BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Equine Network partnered with Linda Mars and the Mars portfolio of equine-focused products and services to launch MySeniorHorse.com, a dedicated website for owners of senior equids (15+ years). The Mars portfolio includes BUCKEYE Nutrition, SPILLERS, WALTHAM Equine Studies Group, ANTECH, SOUND EQUINE, and MARS EQUESTRIAN. Mars brands provide scientific backing (Waltham Petcare Science Institute) for content on senior horse care.
• Equine Network FoundationsupportingOthers · 20 March 2024Equine Network Foundation is a non-profit organization established to advance equine welfare and well-being. Programs include Hope in the Saddle (stories of healing through horses), A Home For Every Horse rescue support, and general equine welfare advocacy. Led by Melissa Kitchen, President. Leverages Equine Network's brand partnerships and resources.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)supportingTechnology or Integration · 6 May 2021Google Cloud Platform backed Equine Network as a technology infrastructure partner, enabling the company's digital media and streaming platform capabilities.
• A Home For Every HorsesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA decade-old program offering assistance to horse rescues, now part of the Equine Network Foundation. Equine.com provides free marketplace listings for rescues under this program. Partnership connects rescue organizations with potential adopters and supporters.
• Spalding LabssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpalding Labs provides natural fly control products (Fly Predators, Bye-Bye-Insects, Bye-Bye-Odor) distributed through Equine Network's marketing channels to horse owners. Equine Network promotes Spalding Labs products as part of its barn and pasture management solutions.
• USRider, USRoper, HaulSafe, TrailGuardsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRoadside assistance programs built specifically for horse owners, competitors, trainers and veterinarians. Offered 24/7 support for trucks, trailers, and horses including flat tires, dead batteries, towing, and lockouts. Equine Network distributes these programs as part of its member services and products portfolio.
• Purina Animal NutritionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPurina Animal Nutrition supported the launch of A Home For Every Horse and Equine Network Foundation through Mike Jerina, expressing commitment to the greater good for horses. Partnership reinforces Purina's connection to the equestrian community through Equine Network's rescue and welfare programs.
• Galway Downs / Temecula ValleysupportingOthersGalway Downs in Temecula, CA is the primary venue for Nilforushan Equisport Events' USEF-rated hunter/jumper shows. The venue is located less than five miles from the Pacific Ocean and is proposed as the equestrian venue for the LA28 Olympic Games.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Endeavor Group Holdings: Global sports and entertainment company (owner of IMG, PBR, UFC) that operates sports leagues, events, and content platforms. Comparable as a broad incumbent combining event ownership, media rights, and athlete representation — though at much larger scale and across multiple sports.
• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Owns and operates horse racing venues (Churchill Downs, Arlington, etc.), pari-mutuel wagering, and racing media (TwinSpires, BloodHorse). Comparable as a venue and media operator in the equine space, though focused on horse racing rather than performance/rodeo disciplines.
• The Stronach Group (1/ST RACING): Privately held horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering conglomerate operating premier thoroughbred venues and media platforms. Comparable as an equine event and wagering-adjacent operator, though focused on racing versus performance disciplines.

Direct peers

• Professional Bull Riders (PBR): Owned by Endeavor, PBR is a Western-discipline sports league with major prize purses, a touring event model, livestock-based competition, and significant content/media operations. Highly comparable to Equine Network's team roping and rodeo portfolio in audience profile and business model.
• Dover Saddlery: Specialty retailer of equestrian products, apparel, and horse care goods with strong content/educational assets and a rider-loyal customer base. Comparable to Equine Network's consumer-products distribution (Spalding, USRider) and rider-targeted content brands (Horse & Rider, Practical Horseman).
• Horseware Ireland: Global equestrian apparel and horse-rug brand with sponsorship of major riders and competitions. Comparable as an equestrian brand that combines product sales with content/event marketing to reach horse owners — similar audience monetization playbook to Equine Network.

Regional players

• National Western Stock Show: Long-running Denver-based livestock exhibition and rodeo event with a Western heritage audience and rodeo competitions. Comparable as a regional equestrian/livestock event operator, though non-profit and with a single-venue model versus Equine Network's distributed platform.

Others

• US Equestrian Federation (USEF): National governing body for equestrian sport in the U.S., licensing competitions and sanctioning events. Equine Network's Premier Equisport Group is licensed by USEF to operate at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, making USEF a partner and structural counterpart in the same event ecosystem.
• Livestream/VeilSide (FeverUp-style events marketplace): Event management technology and live event production platforms. Comparable as technology infrastructure peers for Equine Network's event management software and livestreaming operations (RideTV, Roping.com), though serving broad event verticals rather than equestrian specifically.

Emerging players

• Athletic Brewing / Whistle Sports (sports-content peer): Digital-first sports content networks monetizing niche sports audiences. Comparable to Equine Network's digital video and podcast strategy (RideTV, EQUESTRIAN+, Horse Radio Network), though focused on mainstream/action sports rather than equestrian.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EquiNetwrkStore
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz9TQJdWB1qNJxLlKmKKB9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/EquineNetworkLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/equine-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/equinenetworkllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Equine Network