Hard 9 Equine

Why the name?

The name Hard 9 Equine came to me unexpectedly around 2020. At the time, I wasn’t sure how or when I would use it, but the inspiration eventually fell into place. The number nine has a special significance for us—it represents September, a month that tested us in ways we could never have anticipated. Twice, September became one of the hardest months of our lives. In 2014, I lost my father, Mike Cox, and in 2017, Greg lost his grandfather, Loyd Pyle.

These two remarkable men were a cornerstone in our lives, sharing their love for the land and horses with us from a young age. My dad would take me to performance horse shows all across the Texas Panhandle, while Loyd introduced Greg to the performance events in East Texas. Their passion shaped who we are today.

Greg and I met while attending Tarleton State University. Greg was studying equine breeding, and I majored in agribusiness. After graduating, we moved back to East Texas, hoping to continue working with horses on Loyd's ranch. But life, as it often does, had other plans. We found ourselves needing to pursue careers outside of the horse world to make ends meet.

We raised two wonderful boys who developed a love for baseball, and before we knew it, we were travel baseball parents, dedicating ourselves fully to supporting their passion. Now they’re grown, happily married, and we’re about to welcome our first grandchild in December 2024!

With our nest now empty, we found our dream of returning to horses rekindled. In September 2021, we purchased Spots Heff and started building our breeding program around him. I quickly fell in love with all things horse breeding, and when the time came to name our facility, I knew Hard 9 Equine was the perfect fit.

This name honors the two men who would be so proud of the journey we’ve taken—back to our roots, back to the world of horses that shaped our youth. Mike Cox and Loyd Pyle will have the best seats in the house, watching over us from above as we turn Hard 9 Equine into a thriving reality.