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MEET THE 2021 VHRC COMPETITORS, PART THREE

THE FACES OF THE 2021 VERSATILE HORSE AND RIDER COMPETITION

Ready to marvel at what’s possible when a horse and rider trust each other through it all? Check out the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition! Sponsored by Nutrena, this exciting, timed competition will take place on Friday, November 12, 2021, in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition during Equine Affaire in Massachusetts. Eighteen competitors and their mounts will compete for $5,500 in cash and other prizes as they race through a course of obstacles specially chosen to test their athletic prowess and the partnership between horse and rider. In this post, meet four more of the determined horse-and-rider pairs who will compete this fall. (And if you missed Parts 1 & 2, click here and here.)


 

Logan DeCourcey

Horse: Chandler Bing, 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding

Logan DeCourcey is excited to compete in this year’s VHRC with Chandler Bing, an off-the-track Thoroughbred who was rescued by her trainer in 2019. In just two short years, Chandler has transformed from a lame, malnourished horse who refused to get on a trailer into a capable, athletic mount who’s both brave and bombproof. Since 2020, Logan and Chandler Bing have competed in several A-rated shows, earned several year-end championships in local shows, and had wins at USEF and USHJA-rated shows.

Logan and Chandler


Sarah Morgan

Horse: Pat, 12-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding

Sarah and Pat are two-time National Barrel Horse Association division champions as well as the proud owners of blue ribbons in extreme trail challenges and team penning. Pat started out life as a ranch horse, then found his way east to become Sarah’s mount in a variety of disciplines, including barrel racing, working cow horse, trail, and hunt seat. Sarah says she worked hard to earn Pat’s trust by introducing the gelding to different obstacles; the more things she showed him that he’d never seen before, the more Pat learned to trust Sarah, and vice versa. Sarah hopes to take her partnership with Pat to new levels by competing in the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition.

Sarah and Pat


Geoff Goodson

Horse: Stella, 10-year-old Mustang mare

A certified journeyman farrier and the owner-operator of Geoff Goodson Horsemanship and Double G Farm, Geoff Goodson will bring not one, but two mounts to the 2021 VHRC: Taco and Stella. Stella is a 2010 BLM mustang mare from the Adobe Town Herd Management Area in Wyoming. Geoff and Stella’s partnership began by chance – literally – when the mare turned out to be Geoff’s random draw for the 2015 Extreme Mustang Makeover. After they finished in the top ten, Geoff purchased Stella. Today, Stella is a staple in Geoff’s program and they enjoy riding in versatility events, working cow classes, ranch classes, and trails.

 

Geoff and Stella


Kayla O’Leary

Horse: Wildfire, 11-year-old Mustang mare

Kayla says as soon as she sat on Wildfire for the first time, she knew they’d be partners for life. Six years into their journey together, Kayla and Wildfire are keen adventurers. From competing in local ranch pleasure shows to riding in Teddy Roosevelt Rough Rider reenactment demos, they’ve tried and loved it all. This year marks their third time to compete in the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition.

Kayla and Wildfire

Don’t miss the excitement! Admission to the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is included with every general admission ticket to Equine Affaire. The competition will be held in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 1:00-5:00pm EST. For more information, visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-versatile-horse-rider-competition/.

 

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