Billings, MT--The connection between horse and rider is displayed at the NILE Ranching Heritage Challenge Oct. 14, 2015.

In 2014, the NILE's Ranching Heritage Challenge was the largest of the six events across the nation. This year's NILE will again be the last of six challenges across the nation.

The AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge is a contest that demonstrates the versatility, soundness and willing attitude of American Quarter Horse, specifically that are born and raised on the ranch.

This program limits entries to horses that have been registered by ranchers that breed and raise horses to be a cowboy's partner. To date, 236 breeders have been recognized as AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders, meaning the ranch is a member of AQHA and has been breeding American Quarter Horses for at least 10 years. The ranch must have at least five mares that it uses to produce horses that are used on a cow-calf ranching operation.

Ranching Heritage Breeders are located in 29 states, including Montana, and four provinces, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and France. This program began in 2011.