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With time-honored skills and a pleasant manner, Mark
Luis demonstrates his versatility and success as a
professional trainer. Mark has achieved continued and
growing success in reined cow horse, cutting and roping
events. The son of a third generation cattle rancher,
Mark developed his horsemanship and cattle handling
skills growing up in rural central California. Mark
began his competitive career in the High School Rodeo
arena; he took part in calf roping, team roping, cutting
and steer wrestling. He won three District Championships
and a California State Final before moving on to college
competition at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo.
After college, Mark worked for John Branquinho, where he
helped Tony, Luke and Casey with their High School Rodeo
skills. Luke Branquinho later went on to earn several
PRCA World Titles; all three brothers currently compete
in PRCA events. During this time, Mark also took in
horses for training and was well on his way to building
a reputation as a competent horseman.
In 1997 Mark met Ron Ralls and accepted an offer to work
at Ralls’ training facility in Buellton, California.
Mark worked with Ron for five years refining his skills
and learning the business. In recent years, Ron Ralls
has earned numerous championships and World Champion
titles in the NRCHA and NSHA. Mark benefited early in
his career from working with Ralls, and other talented
horsemen, absorbing essential skills in cow horse
training.

Ralls’ move to Texas in 2002 launched Mark’s
professional career. Mark constructed a facility on
family owned land contributed by his parents, Dennis and
Kathy Luis. With the support of his family and a parcel
that has been in Mark's family for almost one hundred
years, Mark built and operated his own training facility
in Los Alamos, California. After two successful years,
new opportunities for growth in the competitive cow
horse industry gave Mark and his family reasons to
consider a move. In 2004, Mark, his wife Shari and young
daughter LaRae purchased land and once again built a
training facility. They chose the rolling hills and wide
open spaces of Paso Robles, California, where their
business would be in closer proximity to numerous
prestigious events.

Currently, Mark starts, trains and shows horses
competitively in events organized by the National Reined
Cow Horse Association, the National Stock Horse
Association, the American Quarter Horse Association and
the American Morgan Horse Association as well as the
National Versatility Ranch horse Association. He is a
knowledgeable cattle man, adept at ranching, branding
and roping. He is a practical and patient trainer of
horses in the hackamore, snaffle bit and bridle.
Not being one for self-promotion, praise for Mark's
skills is more likely to come from his long-term
relationships related to his training career. Mark
manages a long list of committed Non Pro and Amateur
competitors who have achieved great successes. His
students have accomplishments in a wide range of classes
and divisions in multiple performance associations.
These competitors range in ages from the very young to
"prime time" competitors. Included in this list are two
recent NRCHA World Champion title earners. Mark's
versatility in reined cow horse, cutting, roping,
reining, and ranching provides his students with
opportunities to refine and expand their skills on young
horses as well as their seasoned show horses.
Mark appreciates the support of his entire family; his
father-in-law, Chuck Doss, is a partner in the entire
operation. Chuck purchased Mark's first futurity horse,
Forrest Acre Chex, and partnered with Mark again on a
colt purchased at the 2002 Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale. A
dramatic fence run on that SBF Sale colt, Playdox Taco
Peppa, helped Mark over take the competition to become
the 2003 Cow Horse Classic Limited Open Futurity
Champion, Mark's first win at a major event. Mark's wife
Shari, an accomplished general contractor, contributes
her guidance and managerial skills to the business as
well. Daughter LaRae, sons Brad and Adam and Adam's wife
Cassie all contribute to a strong family unit.
Some of
Mark's Accomplishments Include:
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4 time World's Greatest
Horseman Steer Stopping Champion
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4 time Magnificent 7
Steer Stopping Champion
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6 time Santa Barbara
Fiesta Stock Horse Open Champion
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2 time Ranchero
Vistadore One-Man-One-Horse Champion
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Winner of the
prestigious Irving D. Osburn All-Around
Cowboy Award a record 8 times
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Cow Horse Classic
Limited Open Futurity Champion
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2 time Morgan Medallion
Open Reining Champion
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2 time Finalist World's
Greatest Horseman
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Finalist NRCHA Snaffle
Bit Futurity
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Finalist Magnificent 7
Stock Horse Competition
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Finalist NRCHA Hackamore
Classic
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Finalist Stallion Stakes
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Finalist World Show
Derby
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