Approved Riders for Rider Wars
Riders:
For the In-person portion: Apprentice (lower level) and Journeyman (upper level) compete together. Virtual Division is Youth only this year.
Riders gather points from the start of the competition. Final scoring from Judges during the ATFO, either in person or virtually, is August (22nd for in-person portion. Virtual will likely finalize the week prior).
Winners will receive an award package and all riders receive a portion off adoption fees (winners receive a higher discount) of adoptable horses at Heart of Phoenix and other participating rescues (will be announced through the 100-day process or prior).
Journeymen meet with 3 different mentors during the event. Apprentice riders must meet the same MENTOR (unless schedule conflicts prevent it) at least once every 35 days. Virtual and Journeyman Division will have flexibility to meet with MENTORS via online lessons, if a trip to the mentors isn’t possible. RIDERS cover their costs and the lesson fees. MENTOR fees will be uniform across all of those taking part and shared before the event starts. Riders do not have to own a horse, but they must be able to take lessons at least twice a month with a lesson provider they find locally.
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2025 RIDERS
1. Kelsie Kessick – Apprentice *
2. Casey White – Journeyman
3. Deanna Gibson- Apprentice *
4. Niki Miller- Apprentice *
5. Elizabeth Kopras- Journeyman *
6. Amariah Tuttle- Apprentice *
7. Paytton Burke- Journeyman *
8. Sydney Webster- Apprentice *
9. Michelle Strader- Journeyman *
10. Honey May – Apprentice *
11. Rachel Robins- Apprentice *
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Virtual Youth Riders
1. Molly Hopperton
2. Maddie Hopperton
3. Lila Hopperton
Riders
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1) This event is about Horsemanship and improving it, and in order to ride well, you must understand saddle fit, feet, body, ground work and presence, as well as a horse’s varying emotional compass. The person is always the issue. If this aren’t going well with the horse – look in the mirror.
2) You MUST continue in your current lesson program (you must be in a lesson program, we must verify lessons at the end of the event, at least twice a month, and the lesson provider cannot be your mentor).
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3) You have signed this code of conduct and signed the waiver
https://form.jotform.com/251266141857055
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4) You must compensate your mentor, unless they opt to do this as a volunteer or reduce the rate, at the rate of $75 per session (3 session minimum for the whole event). You select only One mentor if you're a novice, but you can select up to Three, if you're a journeyman.
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5) You must make at least 5 posts, ideally with video or a paragraph or more of what you’re working on, struggling with or excelling at, per segment (there are 3 segments). Your main video is DUE the last week of each segment.
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6) The segments are as followed: May 1-Junt 7 June 8 through July 12 July 13 August 17th
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7) A 5-10-minute riding un-edited video is required the LAST week of each block. This is what coaches review. You need to focus on what the mentors and coaches advised when you film the 2 and 3rd videos. You cannot film and share TOO many videos. The more you post, the more valuable feedback you get.
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8) 50% of your BASE score will be from your in-person competition score
9) Full points information below this information.
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10) Regarding Bonus Points, which are for attending extra clinics, online educational opportunities and extra mentor sessions:
Bonus Points (Scaled & Conditional)
• Requirement: All pre-event tasks (posting goals, mentor visits, online testing, lessons, and quality of postings) must be completed before bonus points can be counted towards the total.
• Bonus Scaling: Bonus points cannot exceed 30% of the base score (maximum of 30 points).
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11) You will meet lesson horses the evening or morning of that we have sourced from known lesson programs locally and be assigned two horses to select from. If you feel uncomfortable with these horses, this will be a no questions asked forfeit from the competition, as becoming capable and confident is the goal.
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12) When you attend an online or in person training clinic, submit this form https://form.jotform.com/251264588034055
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13) You will not know the coaches specifically giving you feedback. You will know the pool of coaches, but not who is reviewing your data, and this is to encourage full, honest feedback from them.
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14) If you do not meet deadlines, you CANNOT, no matter the reason, receive points. If you miss ANY video submissions, you cannot take part in the in person competition.
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15) You agree to abide by all HOP decisions on which events, clinics and clinicians we approve for scoring.
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16) Riders must be 20% of the horses’ body weight with tack for all videos and the competition
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