Category: Blog

RFD-TV founder Patrick Gottsch on the importance of small communities, big communication and chasing the American dream.

Pictured: left to right: Raquel, Rose, Patrick, & Gatsby Gottsch – courtesy of the family

For as long as Patrick Gottsch can remember, he has loved the rural lifestyle. Born on a small farm outside of Omaha, Nebraska, Gottsch grew up raising corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs alongside his family. He recalls life growing up on the farm with fond memories, still cherishing the great family atmosphere that rural life provided. Although he initially attended college after high school at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, the urge to farm was magnetic, and Gottsch soon returned home. It was a decision that would have a far-reaching impact.

“My dad set me up on a farm next to his,” Gottsch shared. “Then we had three of the worst drought years in Nebraska history. It was 100 degrees nearly all summer long. We had 22% interest and $2 corn. My dad told me, ‘There’s no future in farming—you need to go to town and get a job.’”

Gottsch took his father’s advice, landing a job selling satellite dishes to consumers residing in both rural and urban areas. It didn’t take him long to realize that people in both locations were complaining about the same thing—there was a significant lack of quality agricultural programming. Commodity reports aired at four o’clock in the morning. The satellite programming offered 26 sports programs, but no rodeo or Western sports. There was a gap—a big gap—and Gottsch aimed to fill it.

“One night, I just wrote down on the back of an envelope, ‘RFD-TV—rural America’s most important network.’ I decided we should run commodity reports in the morning, equine programming in the afternoon, and Western sports and music at night. The rest, like they say, is history.”

What started 22 years ago as an idea haphazardly jotted down on the back of an envelope has expanded over the course of more than two decades to include the additions of Rural Radio on Sirius XM and The Cowboy Channel. In December, during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo month, The Cowboy Channel consistently ranks amongst the five most-viewed sports channels, beating out industry giants like NBC and CBS Sports—a true testament to the fact that the Western way of life is not going anywhere. At least, not anytime soon. 

Gottsch says only recently has he begun to look back over the last 20 years and marvel at all that has been accomplished since his idea’s inception. 

“Honestly, we look back now, shake our heads, and ask, ‘How the heck did we do that?’” Gottsch laughed. “But here we are. We are a family-owned company, which I’m very proud of. I tried to get outside investors, but everyone told me what a dumb idea it was, so ultimately, we ended up with all our stock still in the family. We have gotten every break in the world in the last 22 years. It’s like this was meant to be.”

For Gottsch, the success of RFD-TV and its programming is a tip of the hat to the quintessential American dream.

“America is full of these kinds of stories where someone had an idea, and they had the freedom to go out and pursue it,” Gottsch shared. “The ones who don’t give up usually find a way to get it done. That’s part of the beauty of America.”

Building a successful company that caters to the interests of agricultural communities and watching it not only sustain, but thrive, has shown Gottsch that no matter what mainstream media may have people believe, the heartbeat of rural America is alive and well. 

“The rural way of life is not dead—not even a little bit,” Gottsch said. “A generation ago, almost everyone had a connection to farming or agriculture—you had a parent, grandparent or great grandparent who farmed or lived in the country. That’s not the case anymore, which makes communication more important now than it ever has been.”

For Gottsch, one of the greatest joys is showcasing rodeos across the country.

“For rural communities, the rodeo is often the biggest event of the year,” Gottsch explained. “The whole town—often the whole county—comes together to pull it off. Almost every rodeo includes a grand entry, with a prayer, the national anthem and a presenting of the colors. Rodeo embodies those traditional values, and we feel fortunate to have to opportunity to showcase it.”

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We recently caught up with sponsored rider and professional barrel racer Cheyenne Wimberly to chat about horses, barrel racing, and how Equinety XL works to give her horses that extra edge out on the rodeo road.

Equinety: How long have you been involved in rodeo and barrel racing, and how did you get your start?

CW: I grew up in a family that was horse oriented. My dad team roped, and my mom barrel raced. She had some nice horses and then once I started, I got all her horses. She pretty much made horses for me to ride. I was competitive at a really young age—I won my first state championship when I was 4 years old. I turned professional at age 10. Back then, they didn’t have an age limit, so I filled my permit, and I was sixteenth in the world when I was 11 years old. I really have been barrel racing my whole life.

Equinety: What is your favorite thing about barrel racing and rodeo? 

CW: I have always loved trying to find the next great horse. I love the effort that the horses give you at every level, but especially when you get to the professional level. You really have to give them credit for being the best and for being elite. When you get to this level, you really see the difference in horses. 

Equinety: What separates those tough 1D horses from the professional elite?

CW: Heart is what separates the pro-level horses. They’re just a different animal. The days that they don’t want to work, they still work. They are like any elite athlete—human or horse—every day they give you everything they have. Some days are better than others, but they still give you everything they have, every day.

Equinety: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

CW: I don’t know that I ever really learned from advice. I learned from experience. I have been given a lot of advice over the years, but I don’t think the advice went as far as the learning experiences did. I might have tried the advice, but really, I just learned. I learned from experience. Barrel racing is hard for advice—everyone wants to give it but really life lessons are just the best lessons. 

Equinety: What would you tell someone who thinks they want to start rodeoing professionally?

CW: First, make sure that you have a horse of that caliber. Then seek out someone who has been there and done that. And then work hard—really hard. It’s a lot of work.

Equinety:  How did you get starting using Equinety products?

CW: I started when I came back to rodeoing. I had taken quite a bit of a professional break—like 20 years—so when I started back, I was tired, and I knew my horses were tired. I knew I needed something that was going to help regenerate at a cellular level to rebuild what they were using up and the damage that they were doing to their bodies. This job is hard on them—the road is hard on them and runs are hard on them. I have a friend who is a big trainer who was using it at the time and loved it. When I started researching and I looked at Equinety, there were no by-products, no fillers—just pure amino acids. I called John Dowdy and we started using it, and I love it. 

Equinety: What do you like most about feeding Equinety?

CW: There are a lot of supplements on the market but there are few, if you do your research, that are like Equinety. The horses all eat it. I have never had one horse that didn’t want to eat it, even the picky eaters. At home, it’s easy to feed horses but when you get on the road, they get so picky. That’s the best thing ever about Equinety. They never sift through it, and they always want to eat it. 

Equinety: In what ways have you noticed Equinety giving your horses that extra edge?

CW: They bounce back faster. I started seeing a pretty big difference within about two weeks. At that time, I knew this was going to be a part of my program. It was a missing link that my horses needed to compete at such a high level.

Equinety: What’s one thing you’d like to tell people about Equinety?

CW: Try it. Sometimes I think people worry because they get the container and it is small, but it’s one of those supplements you just have to try. There are a lot of trendy supplements, but Equinety has done a great job of keeping this product real and getting the information out there that is true.

Last month, we introduced readers to our core product – Equinety Horse XL. We talked about how this powerful combination of free form crystalline amino acids works at the cellular level to promote unprecedented repair and regeneration. And while Equinety Horse XL is designed to be a stand-alone supplement for all classes of horses in all life stages, we know that some horse owners just can’t help but go the extra mile for their equine partners. Cue Equinety Ultimate OEC oil.

Equinety Ultimate OEC oil was born from a collaboration between Equinety president John Dowdy and Zach Bruggen, D.V.M. Dr. Bruggen, who had been using Equinety Horse XL on his own horses with great results, had been searching for an oil that he could feel good about feeding when he brought his idea for a new product to the Equinety team. Having supplemented with various oils in the past, Dr. Bruggen knew that they could produce favorable results, but he was also concerned about some of the ingredients that were found in commercial oils on the market at the time. His quest to find the perfect blend of ingredients to enhance the benefits of Equinety Horse XL eventually led to the development of a product that has been specifically formulated to nourish the cells that Equinety Horse XL repairs. 

So, what will you find in Equinety Ultimate OEC oil? It’s simple, really – just like in our Equinety Horse XL supplement, you’ll find only the best. Each bottle is filled with the highest quality cold-pressed flaxseed oil, all-natural vitamin E and colloidal silver – no fillers, no fluff and no harmful substances. 

Cold-Pressed Flaxseed Oil

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Omega-3s and Omega-6s these days, and rightfully so – these two types of fatty acids are an essential part of the equine diet. While horses do require both types of fatty acids, ensuring that they receive the right balance of Omega-3s and Omega-6s is imperative. Omega-6 fatty acids, which are often found in cereal grains and other oil sources such as soy, sunflower and corn, can be pro-inflammatory – especially if they are not consumed in conjunction with the appropriate amount of Omega-3s.

 Contrarily, Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, and consuming them in appropriate amounts may help with:

• decreasing chronic lower airway inflammation
• reducing the risk of metabolic disorders like Cushing’s disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome
• increasing fertility in both mares and stallions
• improving cardiovascular health
• promoting a healthier coat and skin

Our Ultimate OEC oil is derived from 100% cold-pressed flaxseed oil, which contains the highest concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids of any available oil source. We know that the production process can be just as important as the ingredients themselves, so the flaxseed oil in Ultimate OEC oil is cold pressed to preserve integrity and bioavailability. This ensures that horses receive the optimal benefits of the Omegas that they are consuming. Oils that undergo heat and chemical processes do not retain the same quality and have significantly less nutritional bioavailability. 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the horse’s liver. While it provides several benefits for horses, its most powerful one is arguably its antioxidant effects. These effects help horses maintain a healthy immune system and improve muscle and nerve function.

Ultimate OEC oil provides a high-quality source of natural, cold-pressed vitamin E, called D-alpha tocopherol. Just as with the Omega-3 fatty acids, the source of vitamin E is important. There are two broad types of vitamin E: synthetic and natural. Synthetic vitamin E is derived from petroleum and has little to no bioavailability to the horse. Natural vitamin E has a very high bioavailability, which allows the horse’s body to properly process, absorb and utilize its benefits. Our Ultimate OEC oil contains the recommended daily dose of vitamin E, which is 1,000 IU’s. 

Horses that have plenty of daily access to fresh pasture will likely receive adequate vitamin E intake through grazing. But for the vast majority of horses – those that are supplemented with hay, commercial feeds, or a combination of these – adding vitamin E to the diet is often necessary. The vitamin E found in forage begins to decline as soon as it is harvested and continues to decline the longer the forage is stored before feeding. Just because vitamin E is found in your grass doesn’t mean it’s in your hay. 

Horses that are in high performance careers will benefit from supplemental vitamin E, as will horses that are prone to muscle soreness or episodes of tying-up and those undergoing treatment for or recovering from equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). 

Colloidal Silver

The third ingredient you’ll find in our Ultimate OEC oil is colloidal silver. Colloidal silver has been used in human supplementation for many years and is gaining popularity in the equine industry. It is often used in respiratory nebulizing to help horses with respiratory issues and to improve performance. Colloidal silver has a naturally occurring antimicrobial and antiviral property that may help protect against or reduce the severity of infection. 

Colloidal silver helps maintain proper gastrointestinal pH and can help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers. It also stimulates thirst and encourages horses to consume the necessary 10-12 gallons of water per day, which in turn reduces the risk of dehydration, impaction colic, and episodes of tying up.

Repair, Nourish, Excel

At Equinety, we strive to deliver only the best in our quest to help horses worldwide. Our Equinety Horse XL supplement optimizes cell repair, allowing horses to feel better, live longer, and achieve peak performance. Our Ultimate OEC oil complements this by nourishing repaired cells with high quality, readily bioavailable ingredients. Together, these products provide a solid supplement foundation that keeps your horse looking, feeling and performing his best. Are you looking for that extra edge? If so, you’ll find it with us. 

As equestrians, we spend a lot of time preparing our horses to meet the demands that we will place upon them. We integrate a good conditioning regimen, properly fitting gear, and quality veterinary and farrier care into our programs. Many of us also keep our equine partners on a regular schedule with the chiropractor and massage therapist, and we eagerly invest in the latest products to enhance our horses’ comfort and well-being. But sometimes we overlook one of the most important pieces of their health – nutrition! Do we really know what we’re feeding our horses, and why? Are we doing everything that we can do to give them that extra edge, both in their daily lives and in the performance arena?

We get it – choosing the right supplements can be overwhelming, and a five-minute Google search will yield so many results that it can be hard to know where to start. At Equinety, we believe that the best approach is a simple one – one that empowers horses to repair themselves from the inside out, with a little support from us.

Amazing Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are one of the most important – and often overlooked – components of an optimally balanced diet. Amino acids can be strung together in unique combinations, much like links on a chain, to form different proteins that serve distinct needs within the horse’s body. Each amino acid chain relies on the bioavailability of specific amino acids, and if even one of those key ingredients is not available, that protein chain cannot be manufactured. Amino acids are responsible for many vital roles in the body. Among other important functions, they bolster exercise performance, reduce recovery time, aid in wound healing, assist in muscle development and stamina, and improve mood.

There are two basic categories of amino acids: nonessential and essential. Nonessential amino acids are the amino acids that a horse can synthesize on his own within his digestive tract; therefore, no supplementation is required. Contrarily, essential amino acids can only be received through diet. That’s where we can help. 

Equinety Horse XL supplement provides a unique combination of the following eight essential amino acids: L-lysine, Arginine, Ornithine, Glycine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine, and Glutamine. Alone, each of these amino acids plays a unique role in repairing, restoring, and optimizing the body’s health and performance but together, this powerful combination stimulates the pituitary gland to unlock unparalleled health and repair.

The Power of the Pituitary Gland

Located at the base of the horse’s brain is a pea-sized organ called the pituitary gland. Specialized cells in this organ produce proteins and peptides, which the pituitary gland then sends throughout the body to perform a variety of specialized functions. One of the proteins secreted by the pituitary gland is called growth hormone. 

While it was once believed that growth hormone was only necessary during growth and developmental stages, research has shown that it plays a vital role throughout the horse’s lifespan. Without optimal growth hormone levels, horses experience a reduced ability to repair and regenerate cells. They may perform below their peak capabilities, be predisposed to injury, age prematurely, or even die at a younger age.

When released into the circulation, growth hormone acts directly on cells to stimulate regeneration and repair, and in liver cells specifically, it triggers the release of Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Whereas growth hormone only has a half-life of 20 minutes, IGF-1 has a half-life of 22 hours! Together, growth hormone and IGF-1 work as a signaling protein to prompt around-the-clock growth in young cells, and regeneration and repair in stressed or damaged cells. A deficiency in growth hormone leads to a deficiency in IGF-1, which in turn creates a reduced ability to repair and regenerate cells. 

So, What Does Equinety Have to do With All of This?

Equinety’s patented blend of eight amino acids is proven to stimulate the pituitary gland. And, as we just learned, the pituitary gland is responsible for releasing growth hormone into the circulation. When the pituitary gland is stimulated, it releases more growth hormone, which in turn collaborates with IGF-1 to produce more cellular protection, repair and regeneration. 

Equinety delivers this blend of free form crystalline amino acids in a way that is easily digestible and rapidly available to the horse. Our product is all-natural and is comprised entirely of amino acids, making it legal for use in all competition arenas with no negative side effects. Because Equinety works within the body’s natural feedback loop mechanism, there is no concern that a horse may receive too much growth hormone. His body will produce only enough to optimize cell repair and regeneration, and will always stay within normal physiological boundaries. Equinety is free from fillers, sugars, starches and soy, making it a safe option for all classes of horses in all life stages.

The Equinety Edge

Because Equinety focuses on equipping the body with the nutrients that it needs to heal and repair at the cellular level, the opportunities for positive change are boundless. Equinety supplies amino acids so that your horse’s own body can release the right hormones, in the right quantities, to address its own individual needs.

Unlike many other products on the market today, Equinety doesn’t target a single issue. Our focus isn’t on the hoof, coat, gut, attitude, mood, recovery, or any other singular part of the horse. Instead, we see the horse as a whole being and strive to deliver a product that will empower horses to repair themselves from the inside out. We provide the raw goods and then let the horse determine where and how they will best be utilized.

We maintain that every horse will benefit from using Equinety. It aids in hoof growth, coat condition and gut health, improves topline development and focus, enhances muscle development and soft tissue repair, and reduces healing time for injuries.

In the performance horse, Equinety offers a strong advantage. Horses in competition endure long-distance travel and increased stress, and the physical demands of competition often result in micro-traumas in the horse’s body. Because Equinety keeps growth hormone and IGF-1 circulating at all times, it is constantly at work repairing areas of damage and stress. Recovery time is reduced, areas of damage are repaired, and any adverse physical or mental effects are minimized.  

At Equinety, we believe that cost should never be a limiting factor when it comes to offering your horse the best in health and nutrition. It doesn’t matter whether your horse is a trusted trail partner, a retired pasture companion or an elite performance athlete – every horse deserves to thrive. That’s why a 100-day supply of Equinety is only $99.99. What could you do for your horse for one dollar per day?