From the time she was old enough to climb on a horse, Erin Taormino knew where she wanted to be: on the back of a horse. Growing up in Grenfell, Saskatchewan, horses were not necessarily a career path. They were something people rode for fun, through local 4-H Light Horse programs, and small open shows. For Taormino, though, they were much more than a pastime.
“As long as I can remember, I was just this horse crazy, infatuated girl,” she says. “From a young age, I just loved horses, and so I just rode. I was actually addicted to it.”
Taormino started in 4-H and local open shows before moving into AQHA western pleasure. While competing at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, a series of connections would change the trajectory of her life.
A Strong Foundation
Taormino moved to Texas to work and show, and fell in love with Texas. Wanting to find a new discipline, she eventually found work loping cutters and met NRCHA Hall of Fame Inductee Ron Ralls – her first real introduction to cow horse. At the time, Taormino wasn’t certain where horses would take her. She knew she loved riding, but she was still searching for her place.
“I was just kind of this horse-crazy girl that didn’t want to give up on a dream, but I really didn’t know where I was going to land,” she says. “I was young, and I was in Texas, and I was enjoying life, riding horses. I guess when it changed for me was when I really started working for Ron. When I fell into the cow horse, I just fell in love with it. It was different, it was fresh, and I loved the speed and the adrenaline of it.”
Working for Ralls gave her the foundation she needed, teaching her not only about cow horse but about horsemanship as a whole. He had also given her advice that would stay with her: find someone successful both inside and outside the arena, then stay long enough to truly learn from them.
Four years later, she made another important move, joining NRCHA
Making History
That willingness to learn and to stay the course has become a crucial part of Taormino’s own path. In 2025, it culminated in one of the biggest accomplishments of her career when she became the first, and only, woman to win the World’s Greatest Horseman. Even now, Taormino struggles to put the accomplishment into words.
“It’s still so surreal to think that that happened,” she says. “To put four events together twice in a period of two and a half weeks is pretty unbelievable. I don’t think you can put words to it. It is an honor, and it’s just amazing.”
Stay connected with Erin’s journey as she continues to make her mark on the cow horse world. Be sure to follow her on social media for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes action, and highlights from the arena!
An Unforgettable Connection
And then there’s Hazardouz Material aka “Skeeter.” The horse who carried her through that historic win has become much more than a competitive partner. Taormino describes him as a once-in-a-lifetime horse, the kind every trainer hopes to have.
“He’s one of those horses when you don’t think he’ll give you any more, he does,” she says. “We had a little bit of a slow start to our career, but then his five-year-old year just took off. He never ceases to amaze me. He’s that once-in-a-lifetime horse. There’s going to be other great horses, but I don’t think there’s going to be another Skeeter.”
Their partnership has continued to produce historic moments, including a recent win at The Run For A Million Cow Horse Challenge. For Taormino, the event represents something larger than her own success. By bringing together top competitors from reining, cutting, cow horse, and breakaway, she believes it gives the broader Western industry a chance to see how connected its various disciplines really are.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could watch Jackie [Crawford] rope, and then one hour later I’m going down the fence, and they’re all there, and they’re in my win picture,” she says. “How cool is that? What Taylor does, bringing all those people in for that weekend, puts our sport in the forefront for everybody to see. It makes you feel like the owners and the horses get the recognition they deserve in front of a crowd that normally wouldn’t come to watch a cow horse show.”
Riding for the Brand
Her partnership with American Hat came through her friendship with Crawford, and Taormino says the relationship quickly became about more than a sponsorship.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be sponsored by American Hats. They have been gold to work with from day one,” she praises. “They treat you like family, and this is going to sound cheesy, but I have never worn a better hat on my head. I get my kids, my whole crew, my barn crew, I get them all hats. I don’t want anybody wearing anything other than American.
American Hat Company
American Hat Company has been making the finest cowboy hats in the world, both felt and straw, since 1915. Crafted in Bowie, Texas, each hat is handmade by expert craftsmen. Whether you’re looking for a hat to wear for a rodeo, ranch work, riding, a concert, dancing, or to just add to your overall daily wardrobe, the American Hat Company has the perfect hat for you! Their goal is to provide the finest quality, American-made cowboy hats to their customers.
American Hat Company uses presses from the mid-1800s and sewing machines that have been in service since before the 1950s. Each and every piece of machinery is specialized for every step of the hat-making process. In addition, every single hat is finished and sanded by hand. The only cowboy hat that can live up to the standard of style, quality, and durability that you’d expect from an American-made product is one made by the American Hat Company.
American Hat Company takes a lot of pride in the fact that there’s no set expectation for men’s and women’s hats. Hats aren’t confined to a single style, so people can craft a hat style suited specifically for them. Hat shapes and styles also vary by location, lifestyle, and personal preference. American Hat Company provides you with a selection of quality hats in different price ranges and colors, as well as your choice of hat shape, including crowns, creases, and brims.
Beyond its products, American Hat Co. is known for investing in the future of the industry by supporting competitors who exemplify the values of hard work, integrity, faith, and dedication both in and out of the arena.
“If I am sponsored by someone, I stand behind them,” she continues. “It’s my values, what I believe in, everything. It’s a family, it’s a team. It’s not just a sponsorship.”
Last Updated on 09/10/2026 by Carly Davidson
About the Author:
CLN Community Sponsor
