Todd Crawford: The Making of a Horseman

Todd Crawford is a 13-time AQHA world champion, a $3 million NRCHA rider and an AQHA Professional Horseman, but his story starts in Pennsylvania with a veterinarian dad, farm chores and the kind of daily repetition that makes great horsemen.  

We sit down with him to trace how a kid from a vet-and-farm background turns horsemanship into a championship career. Along the way, we dig into the horses, mentors and hard-earned choices that shape what Todd calls a truly good horse. 

We talk through the stops that shaped him, including Findlay College and the influence of Dale Wilkinson and Clark Bradley, plus the early “pay your dues” years that taught him how training operations actually run. 

The horse stories are the heart of it: Hickorys Holly Cee, the breeding decisions trainers are forced to make, and the unforgettable run-up to Smart Crackin Chic's Snaffle Bit Futurity win, complete with doubt, last-minute adjustments and pressure that could have derailed the whole week. 

We also dig into what Todd looks for in a winner, how big atmospheres like The World’s Greatest Horseman feel from the saddle and why he’s stayed in a tough business for decades.  

If you enjoyed today's episode, check out the video version of today's episode on the AQHA YouTube channel. 

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