MEET THE TRAINERS
Rachael Bouziden
I fell in love with horses at a young age, and quickly developed my love for challenging problem horses and training. I researched about the mustang horses and adopted my own when I was 13. Maverick and I completed in high-school rodeo from barrels to roping and all events in between. I then developed a real passion for learning theory and understanding how the horse learns, and this flows into my philosophy as a professional trainer. I look forward to the opportunity to work and develop another young mustang.
Krystal cates
Born and raised in Texas, spent 18 years down in Mexico, running a nonprofit horse rescue. Recently moved back to Texas, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting involved helping train Mustang.
Mandy duncan
Mandy lives in Cleburne, TX on Waymaker Ranch with her husband Clint and her two teen boys. Most of her life has been working with difficult horses and starting colts. Mandy trained her first mustang in the 90’s and started competing in Extreme Mustang Makeovers in 2013. Mandy also became a fire fighter and paramedic later in life and rides in honor of our country’s veterans, active duty military, and first responders. Mandy’s biggest loves in life are God, her family, good coffee and good horses.
amber espinoza
Amber is a lifelong horsewoman who developed a passion for mustangs when she adopted her first mustang in 2009. She is a US Army Veteran, a Registered Nurse, a mother and wife. Amber was a Top Ten Finalist at the 2023 Mustang Magic, 2020 California Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion and Reserve Freestyle Champion, Top Ten at the 2021 Extreme Cowboy Race World Championships, just to name a few of her accomplishments with mustangs. She hosts the Sacramento and Las Vegas Wild Showdown Mustang Challenges with her husband, renowned mustang trainer Isidro Espinoza. Together they run Isidro Espinoza Horsemanship out of their two facilities, Dos Lomas Ranch in Snowflake, AZ and Yankee Folly Equestrian Center in New Paltz, NY.
Caitlin Finney
Starting by competing in her first Mustang challenge in 2022, Caitlin has since found her passion for training mustangs at her facility Wild Skye Ranch in Lansing, Michigan. She focuses on colt starting, liberty, and tricks through relationship-based training. Caitlin has competed in two TIP challenges, placing reserve champion both times, and one Extreme Mustang Makeover placing first in Handling/Conditioning. Her goal is to help people better understand and connect with their horses.
Sydney Frost
My name is Sydney Frost and I’ve been riding since I was ten years old. I got my start in the hunter/jumper world and was gifted my first OTTB at the age of 13. He was a very hot, hard to ride horse that I put countless hours of rides and energy into and ultimately turned him into a really nice children’s hunter horse. He became an amazingly reliable, well-broke mount and is currently giving up-down lessons to kiddos at 23 years old. I always helped fellow boarders with their OTTBs and various problems under saddle, I was always volunteering to ride the difficult ones! It wasn’t until college, where I completed the horse psychology and training program at the University of Florida, that I became completely enthralled with colt starting. Since then, I have started my own colt starting program in Florida
and really enjoy putting strong foundations on horses.
Brandon Hood
Hi, I’m Brandon! My trainer journey started when I was young, about 13 in a Tennessee Walker barn. I learned a lot about horses and just how majestic they are. I started the process of learning the ins and outs of the horse world. I have worked as a member of our military in the Army as a combat engineer with an expertise with dog handling
and training. Growing up understanding there is a different language to the animals than what we as humans understand helped me to train dogs too. Horses are a different kind of creature, they pick up on every aspect of what we bring to them and I strive to learn their unspoken language. I make connections with them on their level, and develop a way to understand them as they learn to understand me. I don’t break horses, I train them.
Gavin Huffman
Gavin is an 20-year old from Akron, Ohio whose love for horses started at just 3 years old. Gavin participated in 4H for many years, rode on a western riding team, and competed at Quarter Horse Congress. He has taken lessons in
western pleasure, reining, contesting, and some English. Five years ago, Gavin was introduced to the world of wild mustangs and has found a true passion in working with them. He has competed in multiple mustang makeovers as well as TIP Challenges.
Julia Hunsberger
I came from a non-equestrian family, I quickly found my people and was raised doing eventing and hunter/jumpers. While training with Rollingwoods farm I discovered my true love was for helping horses and their owners. I decided
to run with my passion and have been working with challenging horses and everything in between ever since. I had always watched mustang trainers in awe, and last year I decided to enter my first makeover. Now almost a year since I picked up my makeover horse I’ve lived and breathed mustangs, I’m currently training for the Mustang Classic and don’t plan on stopping show just how life changing this breed is.
Michael Hurst
Mike is a five time top 10 Extreme Mustang Makeover veteran from Philippi West Virginia. Mike is a performer, clinician and trainer. Mike has been training horses for the public for over 25 years. Mike is known as the Pragmatic Horseman because of his simple and practical style of horsemanship. He is a proud husband, father and US Army Veteran.
Molly Kline
Molly graduated from the University of Findlay in 2012 with a Bachelors of Science in Equestrian Studies. She completed in her first Extreme Mustang Challenge in 2020. She gives lessons and shares her love and knowledge
about horses with others!
Kristine Main
Hi. I’m Kristi and I’m beyond excited to be here! My horse journey started as a child when I first started taking lessons. Needless to say I have been glued to their side since. As a critical care nurse for my “day job” I have learned they teamwork is by far one of the most important principles for just about every aspect of life, and this rolls into the horse world too. Everyone needs a ground, and I love showing a horse I can be that for them to help them grow!
Nicholas Mcdonald
My name is Nick McDonald from Fort Dodge, Iowa. I’m married to Susie McDonald and have two amazing little boys AJ 4-years-old and TW 2-years-old. I have been training horses full time at M&D Cattle Company for the past two years but raised, showed, and rodeos for 15 years. My show experience is mostly in the colt starting and showing in the Extreme Ranch Horse Extravaganza and Futurity and the Iowa Ranch Horse Futurity. My rodeo experience and favorite hobby is team roping. I am a veteran of the United States Army serving 10 years. Coming home from
multiple deployments I have found horse training is my therapy, passion, and now my career. I would love the challenge that a mustang makeover presents but also have always wanted to connect with a mustang to compete at the mustang makeover challenge.
Danielle Mitchell
Dani was first put on the back of a pony at 6 months old and riding has been a passion ever since. Following in her mother’s footsteps as a barrel racer, she grew up competing in rodeo and speed events. After working with horses of many different breeds, Dani got her first mustang, Cody, and fell in love with their spirited nature. She now
enjoys gentling mustangs with her close friend Emily as part of The Harbor Center Corporation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to providing a healing harbor for both people and horses.
allyssa Rennebu
Since my first mustang competition in 2014 I have since competed in 20 makeover competitions. I’m a ten time top ten finalist . Now, I actively show and compete on my personal mustang mare, Raven. Together we successfully show against seasoned show horses in saddleseat, huntseat, and western. Through showing off various tricks,
riding on a drill team, and showing, promoting the American Mustang has become a passion of mine.
Katelyn Rennebu
Katelyn has been training mustangs for the past four years and has competed in over seven mustang challenges during her time as a youth. Training these mustangs has taught her a lot over the years and she has enjoyed meeting all the different mustangs, each with their own unique personalities. This year will be her first time
competing as an adult competitor and she is excited to show what she was able to accomplish with her first ever adult mustang.
Liz Sawicki
I am a full time horse trainer based in Pendleton, Kentucky and specialize in starting young horses under saddle as well helping “problem” horses with behavioral issues. As the name of my business implies (Square One Horsemanship), I focus on giving my horses a solid foundation and educating them on the basics. I work with a wide
range of breeds and disciplines, as I believe all horses deserve to receive a solid education in the fundamentals before starting work in a specific arena. Some of the foundational skills I incorporate into my training are teaching horses how to think their way through different situations and environments, how to relax and de-escalate when
they become frightened or worried, how to understand pressure, and how to be both mentally and physically soft to the aids.
Kitra Wake
My name is Kitra. I am from Norton Ohio. I am also a wife and mom of 3 kids. I grew up on a farm and have been riding horses my whole life. I started breaking mustangs at 14 and never stopped. I love mustangs and showing others what this breed can do.