The 2024 Dakota Showdown Horse & Trainer Teams

Jade Thompson & Hazel

#showdownteamhazel

Hazel will be working with Jade Thompson, who has a passion for horses and a four-year-old daughter who shares her love for them. Having been around horses her whole life, Jade has honed her skills by training several horses, ranging from weanlings to advancing green broke horses. She holds a degree in equine management and equine science from Ellsworth Community College, and she's eager to put her education to the test by taking on the challenge of training one of the rescue horses.

Annika Greaney & Terra

#showdownteamterra

We're excited to welcome Annika Greaney to the Showdown. She'll be working with returning horse Terra to give her a second chance of finding a great home!

Annika lives in Fargo, ND, and the driving force behind Red Line Equestrian. Specializing in retraining Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), Annika's expertise extends to working with horses across various disciplines. Drawing from her classical dressage background in Europe and blending it with insights from the western equestrian community, she has crafted her own distinctive training approach. Annika expresses deep gratitude for being chosen to participate in this year's event, considering it a significant honor.

Tim Van Dyke & Albert

#showdownteamalbert

Meet Tim Van Dyke of Hidewood Horses near Clear Lake, South Dakota. He'll be working with Albert and we can't wait to see what they accomplish together!

Tim specializes in starting horses and putting a solid, confident foundation on them. Having been around horses since childhood, he transitioned to pursuing his passion full-time after serving 13 years in the army.

Albert
13-yr-old Quarter Horse gelding
14.3 hands
Registered Name: Spearmint Chick

Albert is a kind, friendly, easy to be around horse. Albert has the core groundwork in place and has accepted a saddle but not yet had a rider. He spent a summer being a pet at a local company doing a feed trial with his friend Walter and missed last year's Showdown due to a pending adoption that fell through at the very last minute. Albert is simply too nice of a horse to live at rescue and with training should make someone a very good partner.

Stetsen Fedders & Luna

#showdownteamluna

Though one of our younger competitors this year, Stetsen Fedders has a natural talent, coachable attitude and a supportive family. We think he's perfect for Luna, who had to leave the Showdown last year when her trainer was injured. Luna is a quiet and willing girl, and we can't wait to see all the fun they have!

Luna
9-yr-old Mustang mare
13.3-14 hands

Luna is a petite but solid girl, who is also back for her second year in the Dakota Showdown. Last year, shortly after getting Luna under saddle, her trainer was injured and had to withdraw. There was some concern with Luna's hind end as well, however we have now x-rayed her stifles and hocks with no issues and have accepted that Luna is a little post-legged and her movement, as a mustang, is just a little more stiff than your average Quarter Horse. Luna still likes to play hard to catch if not caught regularly, but once caught has solid ground manners. She does tend to test people with catching and farrier, which developed after being adopted for over a year, but we continue to work on that. While small, she's also strong and stocky, but any potential trainers should keep in mind that she will require a smaller rider.

Bryan Roselles & Horace

#showdownteamhorace

Horace will be working with Bryan Roselles for the 2024 Dakota Showdown. Bryan also plays college baseball so Horace will get to travel all the way to Montana until the season is over, when they will return to Rapid City for the summer.

Hailing from Rapid City, SD, he's currently balancing college life in Miles City, MT, where he's immersed in both playing college baseball and pursuing an Equine Studies program. His expertise lies in starting colts and training Californio style bridle horses. Eager to dive into the Showdown, he's thrilled at the prospect of working with more young horse

Foundation trainers work with a horse that presents a significant challenge and need to focus on gentling and basic foundational skills. These challenges include being older (horses up to 18 are eligible for this division), difficult to catch and distrustful, may be difficult/unable to trim, may struggle with loading, and will likely have minimal handling. Some may have previous or unknown training but all will have a challenge of some sort. The teams will be judged strongly on basic Foundation skills such as catching, leading, grooming, tying, acceptance of farrier and veterinary work, trailer loading, introduction to tack, and confidence building. They may be lightly started under saddle at the end of their 100 days but it is not expected.

Mackenzie Barnett & Dice

#showdownteamdice

Mackenzie Barnett of Barnett Horsemanship from our first year is back to compete and is working with Foundation Division Horse Dice!

Mackenzie, a resident of Edgemont, SD, serves as a training apprentice at Windance Farm in Custer, specializing in English and Western dressage. With a lifelong dedication to working with and training horses, Mackenzie's focus has been on nurturing calm confidence in equines, particularly to transform them into safe mounts for beginners. Although she participated as a trainer in the Showdown's inaugural year in 2022, Mackenzie had to step back from training last year due to the birth of her second daughter. Instead, she contributed her support behind the scenes, offering her couch potato services and assisting with various tasks, including managing booths during the event's finale.

Kaylee Peel & Lucy

#showdownteamlucy

Last year's grand champion Kaylee Peel of Lazy K Equine has joined us again and will be working with Foundation Division Horse Lucy! Kaylee will also be working with Kodi in a new division - the Long Haul Division, for horses in need of training without a timeline.

Meet Kaylee, the proud owner of Lazy K Equine & Livestock, hailing from Missouri and now 24 years old. Since 2022, she's been actively involved with the Rescue and the Dakota Showdown, relishing the opportunity to connect with diverse trainers and horses annually. The Showdown has played a pivotal role in expanding her client base in western South Dakota, providing a significant boost to her business. With anticipation, Kaylee looks forward to another year of the event, eager to lend a helping hand to yet another deserving horse.

Miranda Phillips & Smokey

#showdownteamsmokey

We're happy to welcome Miranda Phillips from Casper, Wyoming to the Dakota Showdown. She'll be working with sassy mustang gelding Smokey!

Miranda is a 24 year old trainer and Arabian enthusiast in central Wyoming. With a formal background in hunter/jumpers on the east coast, she has worked under a variety of professionals across English and Western disciplines. She has an overwhelming passion for horses in need - providing a safe place for horses with ’severe behavioral issues’ to build confidence, trust, and a training plan that fits their needs. She offers the same specialized services to clients, along with starting, restarting, and tune-ups. From racehorses to ranch horses, elite show horses to neglect cases, Miranda is committed to teaching the foundational importance of partnership and communication between horse and rider.

Beth Stahlecker & Jabberwocky

#showdownteamjabberwocky

Beth Stahlecker joins us this year for the Foundation Division. She'll be working with our fabulous Tennessee Walking horse, Jabberwocky!

Beth, originally from the East Coast but now residing in NW Iowa, is gearing up for her first Showdown. Although she considers herself an amateur, her passion for horses has been a lifelong affair, from her horse-crazy childhood days in the city to her adult years. Most of her horse experience has been gained in adulthood, with daily work at a camp/rescue, where she encountered a diverse range of equine personalities. Despite not specializing in any particular area, Beth eagerly anticipates contributing to the adoption process for a deserving horse, showcasing her versatile skills honed through her varied experiences.

Jay Westerbur & Cinna

#showdownteamcinna

Back for his second year, Jay Westerbur will be working with Foundation Division Horse Cinna this year! He'll be working at the rescue facility so watch and see - we may have a few more projects for him!

Jay, 20 years old, has been volunteering at GSH since late 2016, where he's gained most of his horse experience. Alongside a few years of riding lessons, he's adept in both western and English riding, blending techniques from both styles in his training approach. He enjoys working with unstarted and unhandled horses, finding fulfillment in helping them overcome their fears and enjoy human company. Notably, Jay participated in GSH's first official training challenge, focusing on young mustangs, and also competed in the 2023 Dakota Showdown with Nora. This year, he aims to build on his experiences and improve further.

Be a Sponsor / make a huge impact

The Dakota Showdown Horse Trainer Challenge would love to see your company as a sponsor or Vendor for this year! Whether donating products or funding, we need you to continue to grow this most valuable endeavor in the equine community.

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2024 Teams

SHOWCASE TEAMS / horses ready to start under saddle or in need of a refresher