Dakota Showdown Horse Trainer Challenge

Dakota Showdown Horse Trainer Challenge A yearly competition where horse trainers in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and

Seven of this year's Showdown horses have found homes!Dove, Vincent, Forrest and Dice from the Showcase Division were ad...
08/28/2026

Seven of this year's Showdown horses have found homes!

Dove, Vincent, Forrest and Dice from the Showcase Division were adopted, along with Charlie from the Foundation Division and our donkey girls, Maysilee & Merrilee, who found their home together.

There were a lot of emotions wrapped up in saying goodbye this weekend. These trainers spent months getting to know their horses, working through challenges, celebrating milestones and becoming pretty attached along the way. Handing that lead rope to someone new isn't always easy, even when it's exactly the outcome everyone hoped for.

But watching them head home with people who are excited to make them part of their family makes the hard goodbyes a whole lot easier. We're especially happy that Maysilee & Merrilee will stay together as they head into their next adventure, and we're so grateful to all of the adopters who chose to make room in their lives for one of our horses.

Congratulations to Dove, Vincent, Forrest, Dice, Charlie, Maysilee & Merrilee and their new families. And stay tuned ... there may be some more announcements coming soon :)

2026 DAKOTA SHOWDOWN RESULTSThe ribbons have been handed out, the buckles awarded, and the horses are settling into what...
08/25/2026

2026 DAKOTA SHOWDOWN RESULTS

The ribbons have been handed out, the buckles awarded, and the horses are settling into whatever comes next. It's time to officially celebrate our 2026 Dakota Showdown teams!

GRAND CHAMPION
Morgan Renslow & Charlie — 4-year-old BLM Mustang mare

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION
Bryan Roselles & Twister — 4-year-old BLM Mustang gelding

SHOWCASE DIVISION

1st — Bryan Roselles & Twister, 4-year-old BLM Mustang gelding
2nd — Marlee Stortroen & Vincent, 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding
3rd — Arryanna Schnetzer & Dove, 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare
4th — Nina Ring & Forrest (with Aspen Lyons), 4-year-old BLM Mustang gelding
5th — Randy Andren & Lucy, 14-year-old Quarter Horse mare
6th — Carter Nesland & Dice, 13-year-old gelding

FOUNDATION DIVISION

1st — Morgan Renslow & Charlie, 4-year-old BLM Mustang mare
2nd — Sarah Carlson & Alex, 3-year-old BLM Mustang gelding
3rd — Beth Stahlecker & Frannie, 3-year-old BLM Mustang mare
4th — Nina Ring & Kelvin, 4-year-old BLM Mustang gelding
5th — Aspen Lyons & Haily Chitwood with Maysilee & Merrilee, 6–7-year-old donkey jennies

Carter Nesland & Thunder, a 4-year-old BLM Mustang gelding, attended the Finale but did not compete.

RISING STAR TEAMS
Our Rising Stars aren't ranked, but their accomplishments deserve every bit as much recognition.

Aspen Lyons & Luke — yearling Quarter Horse gelding
Haily Chitwood & Padme — yearling filly
Haylee Nichols & Blake — 2-year-old BLM Mustang gelding
Tina Javers & Wren — yearling filly

And here's the thing about a list of results: it doesn't tell the whole story.

It doesn't show you where each horse started. It doesn't show the first touch, the first halter, the first quiet ride, or the hundred little breakthroughs that came before it. It doesn't show the problems that had to be worked through, the plans that had to change, or the moments when simply walking into that arena was an accomplishment.

It can't measure patience, persistence, horsemanship, trust, or heart.

For months, these trainers gave their time, knowledge, and energy to horses who needed them. They hauled them places, introduced them to new experiences, worked through challenges, celebrated breakthroughs, and showed up again the next day.

Thank you to every trainer, assistant, parent, and family member who gave so much to these horses over the past several months. Thank you for believing in what we're trying to build, for supporting one another, and most of all, for giving these horses the opportunity to become more than anyone knew they could be.

The rankings tell us what happened in the arena. The horses tell us what really happened.

Congratulations, 2026 Dakota Showdown teams.

We can't wait to see what happens at the 2027 Dakota Showdown!

While there are more photos celebrating their successes on Still Waters Horse Co.'s page, I think it's important to read...
08/25/2026

While there are more photos celebrating their successes on Still Waters Horse Co.'s page, I think it's important to read Randy's heartfelt and honest thoughts. Randy by far put his heart and soul at giving Lucy the best chance and I'm sad for him that Lucy had some anxiety rear its head. But if you've followed him, you know that five minutes in the arena - which were still FANTASTIC, mind you, just not quite as calm and easy as we all know Lucy is capable of - do not define this team who had people following her from all over the country and had a record number of fan favorite supporters, having at least 36 known supporters - over 4 times the amount of any other competitor. Everyone LOVES LUCY thanks to Randy.

Lucy unfortunately did not find a home this weekend, so she's still looking. There's interest, and one way or another, we're confident she'll be where she belongs very, very soon. Just not sure which direction that trailer will be heading yet.

*** I PROMISE updates are coming :) For now, though, I'm going to share all of the amazing "last posts" from our teams. So, grab your tissues, and stay awhile, it's worth it.

And results/photos of both the placements and adoptions coming soon. I SWEAR.

Foundation Division THIRD PLACE Team Frannie! This 3-yr-old BLM mustang mare and three-time Showdown trainer Beth Stahle...
08/25/2026

Foundation Division THIRD PLACE Team Frannie! This 3-yr-old BLM mustang mare and three-time Showdown trainer Beth Stahlecker did so well! Frannie is still looking for a home, so reach out if you are interested!

*** I PROMISE updates are coming :) For now, though, I'm going to share all of the amazing "last posts" from our teams. So, grab your tissues, and stay awhile, it's worth it.

And results/photos of both the placements and adoptions coming soon. I SWEAR.

*** I PROMISE updates are coming :) For now, though, I'm going to share all of the amazing "last posts" from our teams. So, grab your tissues, and stay awhile, it's worth it.

And results/photos of both the placements and adoptions coming soon. I SWEAR.

Rising Star Team Padme had a rollercoaster of a summer, but both have come out changed - definitely for the good! The gr...
08/25/2026

Rising Star Team Padme had a rollercoaster of a summer, but both have come out changed - definitely for the good! The growth that yearling filly Padme and youth trainer Haily Chitwood have shown is impressive and I'm so dang proud of both of them.

*** I PROMISE updates are coming :) For now, though, I'm going to share all of the amazing "last posts" from our teams. So, grab your tissues, and stay awhile, it's worth it.

And results/photos of both the placements and adoptions coming soon. I SWEAR.

08/25/2026

I PROMISE updates are coming :) For now, though, I'm going to share all of the amazing "last posts" from our teams. So, grab your tissues, and stay awhile, it's worth it.

And results/photos of both the placements and adoptions coming soon. I SWEAR.

08/23/2026

We are running about 30 minutes behind so Freestyles will start at 3:00!

08/22/2026

Check out who's at the Lennox arena already! Are you coming to the Finale?

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Scotland, SD
57059

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