Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge

23/06/2024

Thank you to Barbara Chopek of Realty One Group Experience for joining us again for the 2024 Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge as a Trophy Winner level sponsor.

You can learn more about Barbara and Realty One Group Experience at https://map.realtyonegroup.com/real-estate-agent/7663/barbara-chopek

You can join Barbara as a sponsor at http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/sponsors - we cannot put this event on without our sponsors, and this year we're at 50% of our sponsorship goal with just 3 1/2 months to go. Sponsorships start at $25 and include varying benefits - plus, you'll be helping horses!

22/06/2024

Thank you to Carla Meier and Poplollies Beads for their Rosette Level Sponsorship of the Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

This is Poplollies Beads' first year sponsoring the Expo & Challenge, and we're so glad to have them! Carla's daughter will also be competing in the in hand division of the Challenge this year and they recently adopted Matthew (pictured).

Please visit https://www.poplolliesboutique.com/ to learn more about Poplollies Beads and be sure to visit them in the vendors' area during the Bluebonnet Horse Expo on October 5th in Taylor, Texas.

Huge selection of bubblegum beads, jewelry findings and pendants at great prices. Individual beads and bulk beads.

22/06/2024

Please welcome Kat Donahoo to the Non Pro Under Saddle division of the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. Kat's been a member of Bluebonnet since 2016 and has adopted Diablo, fostered, and volunteered in many ways. She wasn't able to show her 2023 Training Challenge partner, Parker, but she sent him to the Expo to find an adopter - and he did!

This year, she has Bonham for the Challenge.

Kat competed in show jumping and 3-day eventing, up through prelimary leve, when she was younger. Now she focuses on trail riding and rehabilitating horses.

She says, "I decided to do the training challenge because I need to spend more time with horses and, well, because it’s awesome."

22/06/2024

Welcome Keela Ochoa to her first Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. She'll be competing in the Non Pro Under Saddle division.

Keela grew up living a horse girl's dream: she had two very talented grandfathers who fostered her love of horses. Her mom’s father was an extremely talented roper and ranch manager for all of his years of life. Keela would see him when she was competing at youth rodeos and the local fair rodeos. Her dad’s father was a pro roper until just a couple of years before his death of age 83.

Her very first rodeo horse was gifted to her by her grandfather at an early age and she's still at it at age 50, competing at barrel races all over Texas and occasionally out of state barrel races as well.

She says, "I met up with an old cowboy, Cutter, when my daughter, at age 2, showed interest in riding and running barrels and I started working c**ts with him in my spare time. He taught me so much about reading and getting to know a horses mind. He has since passed away but I use all his skills that he taught me. I have trained a few c**ts on my own for personal use and have been very happy with myself and progress. Cutter was like my own private Chris Cox. I miss him dearly."

Keela goes on to say, "About 10 yrs ago, I was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure and was fitted with a pacemaker/ defibrillator. My horses helped pull me out of the slump that that kind of news can put you in. After having wonderful Results of appropriate meds and heart pacing I began barrel racing again. This competition is the first time for me to be on a c**t since having found out my heart problem. I look forward to the challenge."

21/06/2024

Thank you to Carla Gibson for being our first Rosette Sponsor of the 2024 Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge. Carla is a lifetime member of Bluebonnet who has been an Expo sponsor in previous years, and we're so grateful for her help and support.

We cannot put on this awesome event without our great sponsors. The Expo not only brings affordable equine education to folks across Texas, but it also accounts for about half of our annual adoptions! And our sponsors, like Carla, make all of this happen.

21/06/2024

Please welcome Trina Church to her first Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. She'll be working with Mr. Wrangler in the Non Pro Under Saddle division.

Trina and her husband own four horses of their own, and she's tried several disciplines over the years including dressage, polo, playdays, and some low-level endurance among others.

Trina says, "My philosophy is that there's always more to learn, especially with equines. I attend various clinics each year, and feel that I will never complete my education as a horsewoman. I retrained my thoroughbred off the track, retrained my Arabian for endurance, have rehabilitated several horses my husband Daniel and I rescued, weaned a couple of friends’ c**ts here at our place and have just generally enjoyed the company of probably hundreds of horses in my lifetime. "

Trina has been attending the Expo for years and decided this was the year to join the Bluebonnet Rescue HOrse Training Challenge. She adds, "My sincere hope is that the right person will follow Mr. Wrangler's progress and fall in love with him! He is a handsome, quiet, honest horse who deserves to be loved in a permanent home."

20/06/2024

Please welcome Katie Kirk to her first "official" Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge - last year she was there as support staff for her mom, Linda, who has been competing for years and helped her show off her Challenge horse. And this year, she's jumped in to compete with her own Challenge horse. Her mom, Linda, is also competing and we love seeing families get involved!

Since Katie's mom also loves horses, she was one of the lucky kids who grew up with horses. She had lessons on horsemanship, western riding and barrel racing.

She says, "I loved to help my mom Linda Kirk with her Bluebonnet Foster horses. I mostly helped with the “firsts”, first rides, first trail rides and first loping under saddle. I have since been promoted from crash dummy to primary trainer for my own foster training challenge Flynn!

I am doing the Bluebonnet Training Challenge to rehab and rehome a horse that was not given a fair chance. I hope to give Flynn confidence and skills required for his forever home, expand my horsemanship skills, and develop relationships with other trainers!"

Katie will be competing in the Non Pro Under Saddle Division with her Flynn - we'll be introducing him soon as well!

19/06/2024

Welcome Amber Kurkowski back to the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge!

I've lost track of how many Training Challenges Amber has participated in - she's been a steady part of the event for several years. Her daughters have also competed, and she organized the Challenge for several years - including when we held two Challenges per year. She's also a foster home, adopter, and former Board member of Bluebonnet.

Amber grew up in northern Nevada where she started riding at the age of 8. She spent summers working on a neighboring cattle ranch helping move cattle and competing in local rodeo and 4-H events. After graduating high school, she attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where she rode for four years in the IHSA on the Army Equestrian team in the Novice and Intermediate Hunter/Jumper divisions and served as the Equestrian Team Captain her senior year.

After graduation, Amber served five years in the Army, did 2 deployments to Iraq and completed hwe service in 2012 as a Captain. In 2011, she rescued my first horse, Lulu an OTTB, that was badly starved and abused. Through Lulu's rehabilitation and retraining, Amber says she found a passion in saving neglected horses.

When she's not rescuing horses, Amber is the co-owner of K & W Engineering Solutions. She also owns Kilwins Georgetown and The Palomino Restaurant in Georgetown.

Amber says, "The reason I am doing the training challenge is because I enjoy helping the BEHS horses find their forever homes and I absolutely love getting updates on them with their adopters. I love being a part of their journeys in teaching them new things and giving them new experiences and in helping them get a 2nd chance in finding the perfect partner. I have been blessed in watching the majority of my previous challenge horses go on to be amazing horses for their adopters and I love helping people find their heart horse."

19/06/2024

Today we're sending out a big thank you to our Blue Ribbon Level sponsors of the 2024 Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge: Louise Derusseau and Carol Sue Hagood. We're so glad they've decided to become Bluebonnet Horse Expo sponsors and partners. Why do I say partners? Because they're partnering with us to make this awesome event happen - which means many horses will get adopted and other horses will get the rescue and care they need.

It takes a lot of sponsor partners to make this event happen, so if you are willing to help us help horses can spare even a small amount, you can join Louise and Carol Sue as sponsors at http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/sponsors

We're looking forward to another amazing Expo & Challenge this year!

19/06/2024

Who is ready to meet some Champions?!

The biggest goal of the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge is to get the horses who participate adopted. So, any horse who gets adopted "wins" the Challenge and is a champion, in my book.

Today, we add three more Champions to the 2024 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

Skyler came to us last year from a neglect case - although you would never believe that to look at her now. I got to foster her and then she went to trainer Jennifer Skinner to be started under saddle. We paired her with youth rider Isabella for Isabella's first Training Challenge. And apparently that was a match made in heaven! Isabella just adopted Skyler and plans on taking her to college with her next year to compete in college rodeos.

Flynn Ryder came to us as a yearling in 2017 from a neglect case. He was rehabilitated and attended the Bluebonnet Horse Expo where he was adopted (I can still remember talking to his adopter about how adoption worked). They enjoyed him for several years but returned him earlier this year when they were cutting back. He was a wee bit spoiled and pushy, so he ended up with trainer Jennfier Skinner for some refreshing of his training. Then Amber came along for her first Training Challenge and we thought Flynn Ryder might be a good match for her. And, we were right! She fell in love and adopted him. AND she's staying with the Challenge, but instead of competing she'll be there helping our Stacy as one of the Challenge assistants. Thank you, Amber!

And finally, Ceraxes! He just came to us just a month or so ago when his owner, a long time Bluebonnet supporter, was cutting back. She knew we would find him a great home, and we thought he would be a great match for new Training Challenge Non-pro Chamberlyn. Neither of us knew just how fast he would find a home or how good a match we made. Chamberlyn was asking about adopting before she even got home from picking him up,and yesterday she made it official. She's going to stick around Bluebonnet as a volunteer (if I ever have enough time to help her find her niche, anyway!)

These adoptions, thanks to the Training Challenge, have made three horses and their humans so happy. They've put rescue horses in the hands of people who can show off just and they've helped recruit new volunteers for Bluebonnet. It couldn't get much better than that!

19/06/2024

Thank you to our newest Winner level sponsors of the Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge: Carolyn Barnes, Lisa Matthews, and Sheila Meeks. All three are returning sponsors and have been part of Bluebonnet for several years!

Our Expo & Challenge sponsors make sure we can put this great event on, help horses, and raise funds to keep on helping horses. DId you know that this event raises a bit over 1/5 of our annual budget and is responsible for half of our adoptions every year? Its success is vital to our ability to keep on helping horses!

If you would like to help horses and be a part of this one-of-a-kind event, please visit our website at http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/sponsors and become a sponsor. They start at just $25 and include varying benefits, including the knowledge that you're part of a team helping formerly abused, neglected, and abandoned horses.

Right now, we're just half way to our goal and have less than four months to go until the event! Your support is appreciated more than we can say.

19/06/2024

Welcome Birttany Harley back to our Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge! This will be her third Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training! She competed in the Spring Challenge in 2021 with Reta’s Bailey, and then started last year’s challenge with Toby but had to withdraw last year due to an ACL tear in her knee (ouch!).

Brittany says, "This Humane Society and Training Challenge hold a special place in my heart, as I am a firm believer every horse has the ability to thrive and is deserving of a loving home where they are cherished and able to reach their full potential, despite their past situations. This is the driving force behind my participation in this challenge, so I can dedicate some of my time to better myself and the horses assigned to me in the hopes that they have a higher chance of finding their forever home!"

We're so excited to have Brittany with us again, and we are grateful for everyone like Brittany who wants to give horses another chance.

18/06/2024

Thank you to Claudia Grimnes for your Trophy Winner level sponsorship of the Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

Claudia is a returning sponsor this year, and she adopted her horse Boomerang, now Phoenix, as part of a previous Training Challenge. Thank you, Claudia!

You can join Claudia as a sponsor and help make this event happen by visiting http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/sponsors

17/06/2024

Please welcome Melanie Kessler to her first Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

Melanie has been riding horse since she was 12, and she says that winning the NARC World Finals in 1994 has been her biggest accomplishment - so far. She's also won other titles including New Mexico Rodeo Association Finals Champion and WPRA Divisional Tour Top 4. She enjoys riding and training horses and has competed in the Mustang Makeover in the past. She enjoyed that experience, so she decided to give the Challenge a try with the goal of helping a horse be the best they can be and find their forever home.

You can learn more about Melanie and the programs she offers at https://www.weststables.com/

17/06/2024

Aretha was one of our previous Training Challenge horses. She was adopted by YMCA Camp Cullen for their equine program, and she's found her niche!

The camp's Equestrian Director says that Aretha "has been a rockstar being a beginner trail horse her first two weeks of summer camp. Every kid that has gotten on her has loved her so much and she’s been so gentle with them. We love her so much and we’re so happy she’s a part of our program!"

15/06/2024

Please welcome Melissa Morales to her first Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

Melissa began her journey with horses when she was a child on her father’s ranch in El Salvador. She took every opportunity to be with her dad’s prized Peruvian Paso horses, riding ba****ck, feeding and grooming. In August 2021, Melissa started working with T is for Texas Land and Cattle as a Ranch Hand, caring for all the critters, including KuneKune pigs, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, miniature cattle, chickens, and emus. Most importantly, she was fully responsible for the array of equines, including Miniature Horses and Donkeys, registered American Quarter Horses and best of all, rescue horses. Because of her natural talent with the animals, especially the horses, the Ranch invested heavily in Melissa’s formal education and training in Horsemanship and riding. She has three solid years of strong training in Clinton Anderson’s Horsemanship Method as well as Western and English riding. She worked with great professional trainers including Clinton Anderson Certified Ambassador Katie Votaw of Gold Standard Horsemanship, Maddison Amason of Twisted M Stables, and Shelly Billy of 2B Performance Horses. In 2021, the Ranch promoted Melissa to Ranch Manager and horse trainer. As a professional horse trainer, Melissa works exclusively for the Ranch which fully supports Melissa fostering and training Robbie, her assigned Challenge Horse.

Melissa is also attending Lone Star College, pursuing her Associates of Science in Veterinary Technology. She plans to use her degree to add value to her role as a professional trainer and horseman. As a life-long learner, Melissa spends much of her free time studying various horse training disciplines and horsemanship methods.

14/06/2024

Please welcome Saydea Bontke back to the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. Saydea has been part of several Challenges, starting out with one of our spring Training Challenges. After taking a year off, she's back!

When asked for her history, she had the best response, "What can I say, if it involves horses, ponies, or mules I am all in."

Saydea did not grow up in a horse family and was not raised around them. But like many girls who were bit with the horse bug, she always wanted to be with horses and found them as soon as she could. Saydea started riding as a teenager at a camp, and before long she was guiding trail rides and giving lessons. She says, "My favorite time was Summer Camp time where it was horses all day every day 24/7 and I got to see many kids blossom once horseback."

Because she started off riding camp and lesson horses, her focus has always been on the well rounded and "safe" horse above all else.

She's exercised Thoroughbreds at Lone Star Park, trained barrel horses, started American Saddlebreds under saddle, loped cutting horses, training draft horses, and done about everything in between.

Saydea says, "In my experience it is the confident horse, the willing horse, the friendly horse and the "do anything" type horse who is successful. Those are qualities I look to instill and nourish in any horse that comes to 2B Performance Horses."

Saydea trains out of her facility in Hillsboro, Texas where she gives riding lessons for adults and kids, puts on day camps, starts c**ts, gives training tune ups, provides trail experience, and does speed event training. She welcomes all breeds and sizes to her facility.

You can learn more about her at www.2bperformancehorses.com or
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028835935993&mibextid=ZbWKwL

12/06/2024

Please welcome Maddison Amason back for her fifth Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge!

Maddison is the owner of Twisted M Stables in Magnolia, TX. She says, "I join the challenge every year to help find an unwanted horse their forever home." She's been a riding instructor and horse trainer for almost 24 years and specializes in teaching riders the basics of western style riding to ages 4 and older. Her facility also offers horse and dog boarding ( long or short term) , c**t starting and tune-ups. She loves to compete in Ranch Riding, Western Pleasure, Western Dressage, and Trail.

Maddison offers horse and dog boarding, beginner to intermediate western style riding lessons, c**t starting, and training tune-ups.

One of Maddison's previous Training Challenge horses, Jo Jo, ended up being such a perfect fit that she adopted her and she's an amazing lesson horse for them, despite having only one eye! In fact, she's a great example of how adaptable and amazing horses are.

You can learn more about Maddison at www.twistedmstables.com.

11/06/2024

Please welcome Courtney Fain (pictured here with her 2022 Challenge partner Worf) back to the 2024 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge!

Courtney, of Walking J Land & Cattle in Ennis, Texas, has been riding since she was about 11 years old and started taking lessons with Maddison Amason, another Training Challenge competitor. She competed in halter, western pleasure, and barrel racing while taking lessons with Maddison and learned horsemanship, horse care and riding etiquette.

Courtney began learning about training horses in high school after she says she taught her first barrel horse some bad habits. She and her family put him in training with Gail Hillman and she taught Courtney to undo all of the habits she had accidentally taught him.

Courtney says, "I really loved Gail's approach to horse training as she would use Clinton Anderson based techniques paired with her own and ensure the horse had a solid foundation. She didn't use any 'bandaid' training solutions: she would start a horse back over and train them slow and correct. The end result is a versatile horse with a solid mind that can do just about anything! I still use the techniques I learned from her to train horses today, and am always looking for ways to improve my horsemanship and training techniques by continuing lessons in different disciplines."

Courtney and her family offer boarding, training, and beginner lessons at their facility in Ennis, Texas. You can learn more about Courtney at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083527590862

11/06/2024

We've got a nice crew of kids this year in our 12 and under in hand division of the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. This is the cutest group in the Challenge (sorry adults or older kids). ALL of these are my favorite! Please check out and follow their pages.

Elaina Battenfield and Tina - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092979230471
Chloe Bowen and Marlee - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560033270810
Gabby Davis and Mayo Neighs - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093351984212
Pyper Davis and McEntire - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093718386041
Waverly Meier and Giovani - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559300733084
Seydi Padilla and Diva - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093390503937
Layna Schroeder and Skittles - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560306475078
Lillianna Villarreal and Checkers - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558396245375

11/06/2024

It has come to my attention that recently there were a series of comments on our of our Training Challenge horse's page criticizing the horse's Challenge partner and recommending multiple courses of treatment for the horse.

Please don't do that. If you have a concern about a horse in the Training Challenge - whether that be his/her health, training, condition, etc. or a concern about the trainer/participant, please email the rescue. Some of these particiapnts are kids. Some are doing this for their first time and are really nervous. And no one deserves public criticism or shaming - In the past, I've had to remove comments on participants' weight, looks, etc.

Let's be supportive, please. And let's let the vets diagnose diseases or lamenesses. I'm not asking you to ignore your concerns. I'm asking you to bring them to the rescue and let us investigate and deal with them.

I know most of you are awesome folks who are supportive and kind. But I don't want good people run out of the Challnege but those who need to critize. I really shouldn't have to say this, but here we are.

10/06/2024

It has been a Mondayish-Monday in Training Challenge land. Three of our professional trainers have had to drop out for various reasons, and that leaves us with three horses who really need to go back into the Challenge with someone new. So if you missed out on entering the Challenge, you are getting a second chance! If you are interested in one of these horses and are a professional trainer, please email Stacy Davis at [email protected].

If you were hoping to enter the in hand division but didn't get signed up, go ahead and email Stacy. If these horses don't find new pros, a couple of them could go in hand.

We have:
Ash - He's one of the many horses who came to us in September last year from a neglect case. The photo isn't long after intake, so he's in better shape/weight now. He didn't know much when he got to Bluebonnet, but he's now been trailered a few times and handled by two different foster homes. He would really benefit from some good ground work and then starting under saddle in a bit.

Hazel came in the same group as Ash. She's quite gorgeous but very nervous and scared. She's good to need a lot of ground work first, but once everything starts to click, she could still get started under saddle.

Maisy came to us a few years back from a neglect case. She was adopted by a dear friend of mine and then returned when that friend passed away. She was adopted again but returned now that those adopters moved. While I had her, I had no problems saddling or bridling her. She stood perfectly for me to climb on board but then wouldn't move off with me. I am no pro so I didn't really get after her. She's going to need someone who can work through that and get her going under saddle.

10/06/2024

The Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge is ON!

We have two pro horses whose trainers have had to drop out and need new trainers. I'll post those later. For now, here's the list of professionals in the Training Bluebonnet Horse Expo & Rescue Horse Training Challenge.

Does anyone have a favorite yet? I do... spoiler! It is all of them.

I am particularly fond of the ones who spent time at my house, though, and can't wait to see them again in October. And also all those Brazoria County horses who made us work so hard in the heat last September.

Maddison Amason and Spruce - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093490665022
Saydea Bontke and Rosie - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093690365911
Wendy Brixius and Ricco Suave - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559556154772
Caitlin Davison and Bailey's Prairie - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093705001323
Terri Deaton and Vincent Van Gough - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560109109921
Samuel Denman and Rock Star - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083320272451
Nicole Dial and Pecan - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093455388090
Kelly Dixon and London - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093340221852
Camryn Collier and Mitch - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559576374131
Barrett Ellis and Flame - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093256552046
Courtney Fain and Goose - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093607359930
Courtney Fain and Pollyanna - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094466464774
Megan Geissler and Rimmer - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560067562479
Brittany Harley and Ruby Red - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094179529072
Emily Hren and Marty McFly - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093348355621
Mattea Janssen and Maple - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093843151839
Abbey Karstetter and Snowball - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093798962331
Chrys Kempton and Jaxon Adiv - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093537704076
Melanie Kessler and Reagan's Whiskey - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093980283130
Brooklyn Lozano and Ash - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561063881120
Kelly Mazur and Bandera - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095554474406
Kayla Montes and Silver Slipper - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093692310571
Melissa Morales and Robbie - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093920071757
Hannah Pardy and Macchiato - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094032206767
Eric Rogers and Duncan - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560062971384
Cara Schroeder and Jerry Lee - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095194122498
Cara Schroeder and Jazzy Jade - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093995949539
Liza Wadsworth and Saffire - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093315468822
Makayla Wheeler and Marlo - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093262017127
Kalaiah Willis and Rigel - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093534648610
Joel Wilson and Festus - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560403660684