Aysia Turner is a Senior and 4th year Natural Horsemanship student from Yamhill, Oregon. Aysia would like to eventually go to Nursing school while she trains horses and rides futurity and ProRodeo barrel and rope horses. When she’s not riding, Aysia enjoys riding dirt bikes and snowmobiles, hunting, playing volleyball, and traveling. At one point, she owned 6 bay horses so it’s safe to assume that bay is her favorite color. Aysia was paired with REBAS TOPAZ N GOLD donated by the Erb Ranch.
Ella Hoffman, another familiar face, is a 20-year-old Junior from Buckley, Washington. She is a Natural Horsemanship and Business major who is involved in the Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers and Ranchers. It is rare to ever see Ella without a big smile on her face. Ella loves riding in the mountains, baking, cow sorting, and skiing. Her time in sales prep has jump started a love for colt starting so she hopes to continue that as well as work for a trainer and teach lessons. This is Ella’s second year in sales prep, and she is riding WEAVERS TUF MR JUDGE.
Dylan Brenny is a 1st year student from Monticello, Minnesota. He is pursuing degrees in Natural Horsemanship and Business and is a member of the Horseman’s Club and Young Farmers & Ranchers. Dylan spends most of his time riding, showing ranch horses, and starting colts but can occasionallly be found duck hunting or fishing. Dylan has spent lots of time with Jacob Christenson and has won many ranch horse shows at OutWest. Dylan’s biggest goal is to be able to raise and sell ranch horses that he is proud to put his name behind. This year Dylan is riding GM APOLLO 21, donated by Jacob Christenson.
Ella Rice is a 19 year old sophomore from Warsaw, Wisconsin where she was homeschooled. She is pursuing degrees in Business and Natural Horsemanship. Ella was the 2019 AQHA Young Horse and Development National Champion. She hopes to have a career in equine marketing, sales, and consignments and spend a lifetime collecting knowledge and experience. She is heavily involved on campus as a Student Senator, campus activities coordinator, Horsemans Club Secretary, and a Fly Fishing Club officer. Ella loves all things outdoors; hiking, fishing, backpacking, and skiing. This is her first year in sales prep and she is riding GR BLUE DRIFTWOOD from the Garrison Ranch.
Everitt Mauler is a Junior from Stevensville, MT. He is majoring in both Business and Natural Horsemanship. Everitt is on the rodeo team for Western as well as serving as a student senator. Everitt is an avid roper and has spent the last two summers honing his skills as an intern for Mark Smith, dad of NFR ropers Clay and Jake Smith. He hopes to turn this into a career, riding and training elite rope horses. This is Everitt’s second year in sales prep and he rode the 2nd highest seller for the 2024 sale. This year Everitt is riding SACOS RED RIVER from the Holland Ranch and FROSTED BADGER IKE from the Hollenbeck Ranch.
Kat Hansen is from Ogden, Utah and is a Junior. She hopes to graduate with degrees in Modern History and Natural Horsemanship. Outside of horses, she enjoys running, reading, and swimming. Kat has been showing horses in the NRHA since she was 9 years old. She hopes to continue showing reining horses and coach Non-Pros in the NRHA. This is Kat’s first year in sales prep and she is riding RSR BET UR GUNS, a beautiful bay roan gelding donated by the Roaring Springs Ranch.
Keelyn Hall is a sophomore from Filer, Idaho. She is pursuing a degree in Natural Horsemanship with the science option. Keelyn loves painting, moving cows, and even showed cattle in high school. She is a member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Club at Western. Keelyn’s music choices range from Ian Tyson to Pink Floyd and is talented at singing her ABC’s backwards. She is still unsure of what she wants to do after graduation but knows its going to be something fun! Keelyn is riding RSR BROS BET donated by the Roaring Springs Ranch.
Sierra Scott is a sophomore from Milan, Ohio. She is a Natural Horsemanship student and a member of the Horseman’s Club. She enjoys fly fishing, hiking, and camping. You can easily spot Sierra in her yellow hat that supports suicide prevention. Sierra hopes to be a horse trainer, a horse pack guide, and be involved in equine marketing. This is her first year in sales prep and she is riding WEAVERS POCO GUY.
Elise Brann is a familiar face around Montana Western’s Colt Challenge and Sale. She is a Junior from Orono, Minnesota and this is her 2nd year in sales prep. While she claims Minnesota as home, she was actually born in Russia. Elise is a Natural Horsemanship major with a minor in Instruction and is the current Vice President of Horseman’s Club and a member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Club. Elise started riding at an early age and began with show jumping, competing in the A Level Mid States Circuit in Minnesota. She still enjoys showing but has now added western disciplines, taking the opportunity to intern for Casey Deary Performance Horses this summer. Elise hopes to collect as much knowledge on horsemanship as possible while completing her degree and then train high level reiners and reined cowhorses. Elise is riding DOCS CHASEN ME from the Holland Ranch and MR KESHAWOOD from the Hollenbeck Ranch.
Jaylee McEwen is a Senior at Western from Fallon, Nevada. She began college having already completed an associated degree and is now working to complete her Bachelors in Natural Horsemanship. Jaylee is a member of Horsemans Club and participates in intramural basketball on campus. She loves roping, playing basketball, and hunting, but is scared of heights. Jaylee says that she’s still figuring out what she wants to do when she graduates this fall. This is her second year in sales prep and she is riding EASY MOVE TO BELMONT from the Hollenbeck ranch and XY ARROWHEAD DRIFTER from the Hirschy Ranch.
Sam McCracken is a Junior from John Day, Oregon and this is his 2nd year in sales prep. He is a Natural Horsemanship major with a management option. Sam is the current Horsemans Club President and a member of Young Farmers and Ranchers. Sam competed in the Collegiate Road to the Horse competition in 2024 where Montana Western came home with another championship. He is a 4-time National High School rodeo qualifier and enjoys starting colts, ranch roping, and working cattle. He hopes to make a living working cattle and riding horses. Sam is riding BUTTER CREEK COWGIRL from the Hirschy Quarter Horses.
Chayse Chism is a 3rd year student from Sun River, Montana. Chayse is part of the Chippewa and Cree tribe. He is pursuing a bachelor’s in Natural Horsemanship with a minor in Farm and Ranch Management. Chayse enjoys day working, ranch rodeos, and ranch broncs. He hopes to establish his own ranch and work under his brand making quality ranch horses. Chayse loves collecting vintage bridle bits and studying bridle horsemanship. This year he is riding DOCS CAN I SEE U donated by the Holland Ranch.
Isabelle Friesen is our resident foreigner, from La Crete, Alberta. Growing up in Canada, she started riding early as well as figure skating. She is a sophomore majoring in Natural Horsemanship. Isabelle enjoys barrel racing and training horses and hopes to have a career training and showing horses. This is Isabelle’s first year in sales prep and she is riding a nice sorrel gelding donated by the Harrington Ranch, LOUS BIG EASY.
Kaden Beetchenow is a Junior from Okanogan, Washington. This is his third year as a Natural Horsemanship student. Kaden is involved in Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Horseman’s Club and you can see him at rope nights almost every week. He loves training horses and playing basketball and hopes to eventually train colts and start a breeding program. This year Kaden is riding SLD BROS MTN LEO from the Roaring Springs Ranch.
Rhetta Haase is a Senior from San Ramon, California. She will graduate with a Bachelor’s of Natural Horsemanship with emphasis’ in Instruction and Science. She is a great student and graduated high school with high honors and has been on the Dean’s list every year in college. She enjoys cooking and baking, hiking, paddleboarding, and barrel racing. Rhetta hopes to continue starting colts and loves teaching riding lessons. This is Rhetta’s first year in sales prep and she is riding EASY DOCS LEGACY from Hirschy Quarter Horses.
