Professional Division
Professionals compete with horses who have not been started under saddle prior to June 15th or who have had severe behavioral problems when they began the Challenge.
ALAYNA FULLER
After training for BEHS as a non-pro under saddle trainer a few times, Alayna has moved up into the professional division. She enjoys barrel racing, as seen above, with her adopted BEHS horse, Phoenix Fire.
Alayna’s Training Challenge partner is Star. Star is 15.1, 12 year-old stock-type mare with a beautiful pinto pattern and roan face. You can learn more about Star on her page.
Follow Alayna and Star’s training at their Training Challenge Page –
ANNA REINKE
Anna is a professional trainer, originally from Poland. You may recognize her as one of our judges from the 2018 Training Challenge. Her Training Challenge partner is Ms. Ginger. Ms. Ginger is a 5 year-old Arabian grade mare that stands at 14 hands. You can learn more about Ms. Ginger here:
http://www.bluebonnetequine.org/index.php/horses/about/behs-1011-ms-ginger
You can follow them on Facebook here
BENJAMIN ARREGUIN
Ben is a regular trainer for Bluebonnet. His training business is at https://www.facebook.com/J40BARHORSES
His training partner this time is Boomer. Boomer is a handsome 10 year-old APHA registered Quarter Horse type bay gelding. You can read more about Boomer on his page.
Follow Boomer and Ben on their Facebook page.
COLLEEN CRAWFORTH
Colleen is a professional trainer, new to Bluebonnet this year. Her training business is Prismatic Horsepower.
Her Training Challenge partner is Maybelle. Maybelle is a 13 year-old Quarter Horse type mare that stands 14.1 hands. You can read more about her on her page. 
Follow Colleen and Maybelle on their Facebook page.
DARRELL GARDNER
Darrell is a regular trainer with Bluebonnet and this year, he has TWO Training Challenge horses, Azure Rey and Pocahontas.
Darrell’s Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DarrellGardnersHorsemanship/
Azure Rey is a 5 year-old bay grade gelding. You can learn more about him on his page. Follow Darrell and Azure Rey on their Facebook page.
Pocahontas is a 3 year-old Tenessee Walking Horse mare (or perhaps a TWH cross) You can read more about her on her page.
Follow Darrell and Pocahontas on their Facebook page.
DESTINY WILSON
Destiny is a new-to-Bluebonnet pro trainer this year and her partner is Doc Holiday (Ward of the Court). Destiny’s training business is D Wilson Performance Horses. He’s a 7 year-old 15.2 Quarter horse type gelding. Read more about him on his page.
Follow Destiny and Doc’s Facebook page.
JENS RUDIBAUGH
Jens is another new-to-Bluebonnet pro trainer. His training business is Rudibaugh Horses Training. His Training Challenge partner is Amanda. Amanda is a a 7 year-old mare that stands at 14.1 hands. You can read more about her on her page. You can follow Jens and Amanda on their Facebook page.
KELLY LAZO
Kelly Lazo is a long-time trainer for Bluebonnet. You may recognize her as the winner of the Professional Division in 2018 with Apollo. She one of two mother/daughter training teams this year.
Kelly’s Training Challenge partner is Autumn. Autumn is a 7 year-old grade mare that stands 15 hands. You can read more about her on her webpage.
Follow Kelly and Autumn on their Facebook page.
KRISTI BREICKLER
Kristi is a returning trainer for Bluebonnet – she and Panama Jack won 1st place in the professional division at our May Training Challenge. She works training horses at Vandoozer Farms. Her Training Challenge partner is Arrow. Arrow is a 3 year-old grey gelding and you can read more about him on his page.
Follow Kristi and Arrow on their Facebook page.
LAUREN HERR
Professional trainer, Lauren Herr, has teamed up with Caledonia for the October Training Challenge. Caledonia is a 16 year-old mare that stands at 15 hands. You can read more about her on her page.
Follow Lauren and Caledonia on their Facebook page.
MADDISON AMASON
Pro trainer, Maddison Amason, from Twisted M Stables is working with Shiloh for the October Training Challenge. Shiloh is a 20 year old pinto mare and you can read more about her on her page.
Follow Maddison and Shiloh on their Facebook page.
PATTY NUERNBERG
Oklahoma professional trainer, Patty Nuernberg, is excited to be teamed with Elvis for the October Training Challenge. Elvis is a 13 year-old Tennessee Walking Horse who stands just under 17 hands. You can read more about him on his page.
Follow Colleen and Elvis on their Facebook page.
RIVA ENGLAND
Pro trainer, Riva England, is a regular trainer for Bluebonnet and she is our other mother/daughter trainers for this Training Challenge. Riva is traning Lucera for October. Lucera is a 12 year-old bay mare standing at 14.1 hands. You can read more about her on her page.
Follow Riva and Lucera on their Facebook page.
SABINE LAZO
Sabine has trained for Bluebonnet for several years and this year, she decided to go to the Professional division with her partner, Hugo. Her mom, Kelly Lazo, will be competing against her! Hugo is a 10 year-old buckskin/pinto gelding. You can read more about him on his page.
Follow Hugo and Sabine on their Facebook Page.
SARAH SALTER
Pro trainer Sarah Salter is also new to Bluebonnet this year. Her training partner is VooDoo. VooDoo is an 8 year-old grade mare and you can read more about her on her page.
Follow Sarah and VooDoo on their Facebook page.
SHANNON LUCAS
Another new-to-Bluebonnet pro trainer, Shannon Lucas, drew Starlight as her Training Challenge partner. Starlight is a 13 year-old grey Quarter Horse mare that stands at 14.3 hands. You can read more about her on her page.
Follow Shannon and Starlight on their Facebook page.
Non-Pro Under Saddle
The horses in this division were trained to ride prior to the Challenge and did not have any known behavior problems. Novice/non-pro trainers are putting additional rides and refining skills to help them become more adoptable.
AMBER KURKOWSKI
Amber is a foster, adopter, board member, transporter, inspector, donor, volunteer AND a trainer for Bluebonnet! She has teamed up with Prairie Rose for October’s Training Challenge. Prairie Rose a 6 year-old sorrel mare and you can read more about her on her page. Follow Amber and Prairie Rose on their Facebook page.
CODY DICKSON
Cody is a new-to-Bluebonnet non-pro trainer and we’re SO glad to have him! He’s doing great with his Training Challenge partner, Rajaleel (RJ). Rajaleel is a 12 year-old, 15 hand Arab/Quarter Horse cross gelding. Read more about him on his page. Follow Cody and RJ on their Facebook page, too.
COLLEEN CONNOLLY
We’re are truly grateful for all the new trainers who have committed their time and resources to train our rescue horses. Collen Connolly is no exception. Her training partner is Classy. You can read more about her on her page. Follow Colleen and Classy on their Facebook page.
ELIZABETH RICHARDSON
Elizabeth is another non-pro trainer who is new to Bluebonnet. She is partnered with Red for this Training Challenge. Red is a 15 year-old gelding that stands at about 14 hands. You can read more about him on his page. Make sure you follow Elizabeth and Red’s Facebook page.
ELYSSE FULLER
Elysse is from a family of trainers for Bluebonnet but this is her first time to train! She and her partner, Sienna, are making a great team this year. Sienna is a 19 year-old, 15.3 hand, grade mare. Read more about her on her page. Follow Elysse and Sienna on their Facebook page.
ERIKA FORSTROM
Erika is a long-time Bluebonnet member, trainer, volunteer, foster, adopter, transporter – and more! She and her Training Challenge partner, Lynx, make a stunning pair. Lynx is a beautiful grey mare who was recently donated to Bluebonnet from another rescue. Follow Erika and Lynx on Facebook.
GABRIELLE LANZA
Gabrielle is a new-to-Bluebonnet non-pro trainer who has teamed-up with Nadia for her Training Partner. Nadia is a beautiful, gaited, 12 year-old grade mare and you can read more about her on her page. Follow Gabrielle and Nadia on their Facebook page.
GABRIELLE WILLIAMS
Another Gabrielle who is new-to-Bluebonnet non pro trainer! This Gabrielle has Thor as her Training Challenge partner. Thor is an 8 year-old Quarter-horse type gelding. You can read more about him on his page. Follow Thor and Gabrielle on their Facebook page.
HAZEL LAMPTON
Hazel is an experienced non-pro trainer with Bluebonnet, a member, foster home, inspector, and orchestrated our Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. She placed 1st in the non-pro division in Showmanship at Halter in Sanger on her Challenge horse, Mika. Her Training Challenge partner is Maggie Mae. Maggie Mae is a 15 year-old bay pinto mare that stands at 15.2 hands. Read more about her on her page. Follow Hazel and Maggie Mae on their Facebook page.
KATELYN CHAPMAN
Katelyn is a returning trainer for Bluebonnet and is from a family of volunteers, members, transporters, and adopters. Katelyn’s Training Challenge partner is Brown Betty. Betty is a 12 year-old grade mare that stands at 13.3 hands. You can learn more about her on her page. Follow Katelyn and Betty on their Facebook page.
MAEZI ALFORD
Maezi has teamed-up with Barnaby for the October Training Challenge. Barnaby is a 14.1 hand bay gelding – read more about him on his page. Make sure to follow them on Facebook, too.
MARLIES CUMINGS
Marlies is a new-to-us non pro trainer with Wren as her Training Challenge partner. Wren is a pony-sized red roan mare. Make sure you follow Marlies and Wren at their Facebook page.
NICOLE WILLINGHAM
Nicole has teamed-up with beautiful Razzle Dazzle for the October Training Challenge. Razzle Dazzle is an 8 year-old, 15 hand, sorrel paint/pinto mare. Read more about Razzle on her page. Make sure to follow their Facebook page as well.
RAFAELA DE NARDI
Rafaela is an exchange student from Brazil being hosted by Amber Kurkowski. When we realized Rafaela’s experience matched what Snapple needed, we wasted no time signing her up! Snapple is an Arabian/Arab cross gelding who is is 7 years-old and an athletic 14.1 hands. Read more about him on his page and follow them on their Facebook page.
TRACY CANN
Tracy is a long-time member, rescuer, adopter, foster, inspector, (and many other things), and trainer for Bluebonnet. She usually ends up with our stallions while they recover enough to be gelded. That’s exactly how she ended up competing with and adopting her Challenge horse from last year, Jedao. This year, she’s tackling a new-gelded guy named Vegas. Vegas is a gaited American Saddlebred, and is a handsome 7 year-old that stands at 14.1 hands. Read more about him on his page. Follow them on their Facebook page, too!
TORI JACOBSON
Tori is a first-time trainer for Bluebonnet but her family is actively involved with Bluebonnet, serving as volunteers, fosters, adopters, inspectors, and much more. Sawyer is an eight year-old, 14.1 hand, gelding. You can read more about him on his page. Make sure you follow Tori and Sawyer on their Facebook page, too.
Non-Pro In-Hand Division – Handlers 12 and over
Horses in this hand have not been broke to ride. They have been worked with in hand by foster homes (novice/non-pro) handlers.
ANTHEA MIZE
Anthea has been paired with All That Jazz, a 3 year-old Arabian cross filly. Read more about her on her page. Anthea is working with her on ground manners and letting her get to know what a saddle looks like – but Jazz will be the perfect age to start under saddle after the Training Challenge. Follow Anthea and Jazz on their Facebook page.
CONCETTA SHACKETT
Concetta has teamed up with Believe in Miracles for the October Training Challenge. Miracle is a yearling sorrel overo paint filly who was born into the rescue. Read more about her on her page. Follow Concetta and Miracle on their Facebook page.
MAKAYLA CHAPMAN
Makayla is a returning trainer for Bluebonnet and this year, she’s teamed up with Angela’s Stormy. Stormy is a 20 year-old grade mare – read more about her on her page and follow Makayla and Stormy’s journey on their Facebook page.
PATRICIA HENRY
Patricia is training Smooth for October’s Training Challenge. Smooth is a 2 year-old paint gelding who stands at 15 hands. Read more about him on his page and follow Patricia and Smooth on Facebook.
STACY DAVIS
Stacy is training Phantom for this year’s challenge. Phantom is just a 2 year-old gelding and you can read more about him on his page. Make sure you follow their progress on their Facebook page.
Non-Pro In-Hand Division –
Handlers under 12 years of age
Horses in this hand have not been broke to ride. They have been worked with in hand by foster homes (novice/non-pro) handlers who are under 12 years of age.
CAMERON BIRKHOLZ
Cameron and her sister are new trainers for Bluebonnet. Cameron’s training partner is Ebi Totsiyaa. Ebi is a pony-sized bay gelding. – read more about him on his page. Follow them on Facebook, too.
HEATHER ENGLAND
Heather is a returning trainer for Bluebonnet. Her mother is also training this year! Heather is training Serendipity for this Training Challenge. Serendipity is a 13 year-old welsh mare. Read more about her on her page. Make sure you follow their progress on Facebook, too.
ISABELLE BIRKHOLZ
Isabelle is making her Training Challenge debut with partner Antonio. Antonio is a 6 year-old gelding who stands at 13.1 hands. Read more about Antonio on his page and follow them on Facebook, too.
MARIO DESANTIAGO
Mario is a new trainer for Bluebonnet. He’s teamed-up with Fizzy Pop for this Training Challenge. Fizzy is a 10 year-old Welsh pony – read more about her on her page and follow them on Facebook.
SAMANTHA BROWN
This is Samantha’s second Training Challenge, placing second in 2018. Her partner this time is Chico. Chico is an 11 year-old gelding, standing at 13.1 hands. Read more about him on his page and follow them on Facebook.
SURAYA FULLER
Suraya is a returning trainer for Bluebonnet, placing 1st in her division last year, and one of three sisters competing in this Training Challenge. Her Training Partner is Jigsaw this year. Jigsaw is a 6 year-old pony mare and you can read more about her on her page. Follow these two on Facebook as well.