Fulton, MO – Once again, student competitors from the William Woods University (WWU) Equestrian Studies (EQS) program put their skills on the line at one of the most prestigious horse shows in the industry – and more than rose to the occasion.
EQS Associate Professor Liz Haben took 13 horses and 10 riders to the Color Breed Congress, the annual National Horse Show for the Pinto Horse Association that draws entries from across the United States and Canada, held in Tulsa, Oklahoma from October 30-November 9. Despite extreme weather conditions that included several tornado warnings, WWU Western Equestrians showed strong.
“It is such a privilege to see the culmination of countless hours and hard work the students have put in on these horses throughout the semester,” said Dr. Erin Cardea, Dean of the School of Equestrian Studies at William Woods. “William Woods has been attending the Color Breed Congress for the last two decades, and Liz Haben has taken students and horses to compete every year since she became the Western Instructor in 2012. We are grateful to the horse donors for entrusting William Woods with these amazing equines. I love that our students gain experiences like these as part of their education in preparation to becoming professionals in the equine industry.”
Winners from William Woods included:
Abby Burkhalter ’26 (Ballwin, Mo.) with Only Good Til Midnight: Champion Novice Amateur Equitation; Reserve Champion Amateur Ideal Hunter; 4th Amateur Hunter Under Saddle; 3rd Amateur Equitation
With Huntin For Daisys: 8th Amateur Bareback Horsemanship Solid; 10th Amateur Horsemanship Solid; 10th Amateur Western Pleasure Solid
Brynna Beutke ’26 (Long Point, Ill.) with C Fives Reign: Highpoint Champion in the Pinto Amateur Ranch Horse W/T Division; Champion Ranch Trail W/T; Champion Ideal W/T; Championship Ranch Showmanship W/T; 3rd Tobiano Color: 7th Amateur Ranch Conformation
With Heza Cool Clue: 6th Amateur Senior Geldings; 6th Amateur English Showmanship; 10th Amateur Western Showmanship
Hannah White ’26 (Rich Hill, Mo.) with Jazzy San Prep: Champion Ranch Reining Solid; Reserve Champion Ranch Horsemanship Solid (with a score of 87 – the highest score William Woods has ever received in horsemanship); Reserve Champion Ranch Siding Solid; 5th Ranch Ideal Solid
With Promise I Will Be Good: Reserve Champion Amateur Equitation Solid; 7th Amateur Ideal Hunter Solid; 8th Amateur English Discipline Rail Solid
Taylor Thompson ’25 (Belton, Mo.) with HotChic At The Party: 4th Equitation Solid W/T; 5th Open Performance Halter Mares Solid; 6th Equitation Solid Hunter Under Saddle W/T
Dylan Hasset ’26 (Doniphan, Neb.) with personal horse PR Dippin Dots: Reserve Champion Amateur Western Pleasure; 4th Amateur English Showmanship
With Living Without Color: 8th Amateur Ideal Hunter Solid; 10th Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Solid
Miranda Vancil ’26 (St. Louis, Mo.) with Only Invite A Good Time: 6th Western Showmanship Solid W/T; 7th English Showmanship Solid W/T; 10th Performance Halter Gelding Solid
Elena Serrano ’28 (Lexington, Okla.) with Jazzy San Prep: 4th Youth Ranch Riding Solid; 4th Youth Ranch Pleasure Solid; 8th Youth Ranch Trial Solid
Lily Bracho ’25 (Apple Valley, Minn.) with personal horse Lucys Best Invitation: 5th Open Yearling Mare; 6th Open Yearling In Hand Trail; 7th Amateur Longe Line Solid; 8th Open Longe Line Solid
Montana Long ’25 (Kennett, Mo.) with personal horse Genuine Ruby Lena: 10th All Breed Ranch Riding
Grace Barnett graduate assistant (Russellville, Mo.) with Get Your Sparkle On: Reserve Champion Amateur Palomino Gelding Halter; 3rd Amateur Palomino Color
