This year’s teams represent the very beginning of the journey—young horses, early steps, and the kind of foundation work that everything else is built on.
Meet the 2026 Rising Star teams:
Aspen Lyons & yearling Luke
Haily Chitwood & yearling Padme
Haylee Nichols & 2-year-old BLM Mustang Blake
Tina Javers & yearling Wren
Each of these horses is starting from a different place, but they all have one thing in common: they’re at the beginning. Over the next few months, these trainers will be building trust, introducing handling, and helping each horse take those first steps toward a future as a partner.
It’s not always the most visible work—but it’s some of the most important.
All four horses will be available for adoption at the Dakota Showdown Finale on August 23, giving them the opportunity to step into their next chapter with a solid foundation in place.
Follow along as these teams develop throughout the summer.