Union City, Calif. – March 9, 2015 -Ariat International, the leader in innovative Western and English footwear, apparel and accessories, has announced the sponsorship of Professional Bull Rider (PBR) athlete, Luke Collins. Collins represents Ariat’s western footwear and apparel lines.

Luke Collins is a North Carolina native where he has worked on his family-owned ranch for the majority of his life. Collins’ true passion lies in the sport of bull riding where he has made a career weekend after weekend across the country competing in the PBR’s Built For Tough Series. Collins has trained from a young age with his late father on their mechanical bull and travels miles to each competition. In a historic and career-defining move, Collins attempted to ride PBR World Champion bull contender, Rango, nearly costing him everything. Although Collins has had some setbacks, injuries and delays, he continued to return to the sport and perform well.

"Luke Collins is the definition of a true PBR champion and we can only imagine where his talent will take him," said PBR Chief Operating Officer Sean Gleason.  "Fellow North Carolina native and PBR supporter Nicholas Sparks was the first to discover and hone the raw talent into a champion for the ages.  We are forever grateful he is a part of our sport.'

“Ariat is proud of how far Luke has come in his PBR career. He is now a champion PBR bull rider, a status that is not easy to obtain,” says Susan Alcala, vice president of partnership marketing.  “Ariat helps athletes perform at their best, Luke has been able to reach his goals without ever worrying about his clothes and boots. Luke is one of a kind, his work ethic, never-give-up attitude and honest personality has helped him reach the top.”

Collins can be seen in the Twentieth Century Fox Movie “The Longest Ride,” played by actor Scott Eastwood.

About Ariat International, Inc.
Ariat International, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of innovative performance equestrian footwear and apparel. Featuring a patented technology designed to deliver stability, durability and comfort, Ariat pioneered the application of advanced athletic shoe technology into English riding boots and authentic Western boots. Ariat products are sold in a network of retail outlets throughout the world.

For more information about Ariat products or for the Ariat retailer nearest you, contact Ariat at 800.899.8141 or visit www.ariat.com, https://www.facebook.com/AriatInternational and https://twitter.com/Ariat

*Luke Collins is a fictional character in The Longest Ride, a novel by Nicholas Sparks and a movie produced by Twentieth Century Fox. This is not a true endorsement nor does Luke ride for the PBR.

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