We’re honored to have Ritchie Industries’ continued support as our Walkabout Tour featured sponsor for 2019. Clinton’s partnership with the automatic waterer company dates back to the early 2000s when he was just starting his career in the United States.
At the turn of the century, Ritchie Industries was trying to break into the equine world. The automatic waterer company was a household name in the livestock industry, but hadn’t found its place with equestrians. “We had been trying several different approaches, but we weren’t having a whole lot of success,” Ritchie’s CEO, Leon Yantis, says. “Little did I know that was about to change.”
In the fall of 2003, Clinton walked into Leon’s office and asked for a sponsorship. “I remember him being confident that if I would put my money with him I would see a return on my investment. His challenge was to take the money we were spending on print advertising and put it with him for a year. If it worked, great; if it didn’t, then we’d go our separate ways.”
Without much to lose, Leon figured he’d give Clinton a shot. “He intrigued me from the start, and even though I didn’t imagine he’d have the level of success he has today, I knew he was a phenomenal clinician. Even today, his talent with a horse, his ability to communicate and his marketing genius completely blow me away,” Leon shares.
Since the day he accepted Clinton’s challenge to sponsor him, Leon says his decision has paid off. “He’s really helped us with brand awareness. He has an extremely loyal fan base, and his customers trust him to represent quality products that he believes in,” Leon acknowledges. “Our partnership has been beneficial for both of us.”
Which is why, in 2009, when Leon had the opportunity to take Ritchie’s partnership with Clinton to a new level, he didn’t hesitate to act on it. “Clinton was looking for a feature sponsor of the Walkabout Tour, and as far as I was concerned, it was a no-brainer to take it. I had always coveted that spot,” Leon says.
It just so happened that Clinton was in the CEO’s office when he learned that the sponsorship was available. “I immediately said I’d do it, and he told me to go to my board of directors and he’d go back to Texas and put a proposal together. I said, ‘No, Clinton, I’m serious; I’ll do it. I was really excited about the opportunity and jumped on it,” Leon shares.
As the feature sponsor of the Walkabout Tour, Ritchie Industries teams up with Downunder Horsemanship to run the Ritchie Charity Ball Toss at each tour stop. A local non-profit organization is chosen to run the event, which is an opportunity for Clinton and Leon to give back to the communities the tour visits. Spectators purchase tennis balls from the non-profit organization for $5 throughout the weekend and on Sunday afternoon toss them into the arena trying to be the closest to a pre-determined marker. Those closest to the marker receive Clinton’s instructional videos and Downunder Horsemanship training tools. All money raised goes straight to the non-profit organization. Ritchie Industries has been known to contribute its own money to the non-profit organizations and match the funds raised dollar-for-dollar.
“Ritchie Industries is a great example of the type of company Downunder Horsemanship likes to surround itself with. Not only is it a company that produces high-end products, but the team there genuinely cares about its customers and the welfare of horses,” Clinton says. “I can’t thank Leon and the team at Ritchie Industries enough for all they have done and are doing for Downunder Horsemanship. Without their generosity, the Walkabout Tour would not be possible.”
