LONDON, OH, April 7, 2023 — The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is in exactly 1 week! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by introducing you to the final five riders in this spring’s competition. On April 14, the VHRC will begin at 1:30 pm in the US Equestrian Arena in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Twenty-five pre-selected horse and rider pairs will race the clock to tackle a series of challenging obstacles in their pursuit of $5,500 in cash and other prizes. In this post, meet the final five members of the spring 2023 class of VHRC competitors. (If you missed the rest of the posts in the series, click here!)

Tammy Burgard

Horse: Nada Snow, 5 year old American Quarter Horse gelding

Tammy and “Maverick” have been together for about a year. In that short amount of time, he has excelled in ranch horse versatility competitions, winning multiple championships which culminated in earning the year end reserve high point championship for Oklahoma. He also won the overall high point championship for the 3-5 year division at the Nebraska State Fair, competing with over 700 entries. Tammy says, “He is good minded, big hearted and always does his best. It has been my pleasure to be his partner this year.”

Dawn Chambers

Horse: MT Rowdy Coal, black American Quarter Horse gelding.

Dawn says, “We started Coal in our program as an unstarted colt and are so proud of the horse he has become with our guidance! Coal loves a job!” Dawn and Coal work as a team all around the ranch. from gathering and sorting cattle to riding out on the trails. Coal is a fun horse with lots of personality who works hard and always tries his best. They’re excited to try their hand at the VHRC!

Franny Galvin-Hynes

Horse: Super Nova, 7 year old Fjord-Quarter Horse mare

In 2017, Franny Galvin-Hynes made her first trip from her Canadian home to Equine Affaire in Ohio and, although she was only 15 at the time, she immediately determined she just had to compete in the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition one day. An 18 year old Franny was first accepted to compete in 2020, but like many others, she had to wait out the pandemic. She eventually got to compete for the first time in Ohio in 2022, where she and Super Nova were thrilled to finish in 6th place. Franny was very excited to be welcomed back to Equine Affaire last fall in MA, to meet up with her VHRC friends again, and then cap it off with her dream-come-true of taking home the VHRC 1st place ribbon with Super Nova.

Super Nova was a somewhat scruffy looking yearling when Franny first saw her, but she felt a connection, saw her potential, brought her home – and they’ve been a dynamic duo ever since. They’ve spent endless hours training together and competing as a team in extreme cowboy racing, team penning, ranch roping and western games, as well as enjoying long trail rides or local parades with their barn buddies. Sometimes they throw on their English tack for some hunter/jumper classes and fun on the local eventing courses, or leave the tack in the locker and practise their liberty work together.

Franny says, “Nova is a one in a million horse for me, I’ve never had a horse like her before. She’s always willing to try anything I ask, no matter what it is; we trust each other completely.”

Raymie Shoop

Horse: Sweet Hollywood Star, 7 year old American Paint Horse mare

Raymie and “Spencer” have been together approximately three years. They enjoy competing in ranch horse classes in local circuit and open shows, and have earned many local and state ranch horse wins.

Robin Ball

Horse: Bentley, 9 year old Appaloosa gelding

Robin and Bentley are from Buckhannon, West Virginia, and have been together for seven years. Although Robin’s mother bought Bentley when he was just a weanling, Robin says Bentley was made for her! He is often the focal point of her artwork. When she’s not drawing and painting Bentley, she loves trail riding, camping, and riding in parades with him. “We love to challenge ourselves and push the limits to see what we can accomplish,” Robin says. “We love working as a team and besting my brothers and their horses!” Robin last attended Equine Affaire several years ago with her Poppi, and their favorite entertainment was watching the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. Although her Poppi has since passed away, she hopes to honor him by competing in this year’s competition.

Are you excited for this year’s Versatile Horse and Rider Competition yet? Plan to attend Equine Affaire on Friday, April 14, and watch the competition unfold in the coliseum, starting at 1:30 pm Eastern Time. Learn more about the competitors for this exciting event by following along on our social media channels leading up to the event, and stay tuned after the event for results!