Colt Starting Competition 

Hi! My name is Kaylie Eaves; I am 29 years old. 

I didn’t grow up with horses, but I grew up on a family farm in Michigan that raised our meat animals. I got my horse fix through my grandparent's American Curly horse breeding farm, neighbors, and friends. I started in English lessons when I was an early teenager and then started to visit my great aunt's farm over spring breaks, where I was introduced to my now mentor of 13 years, Phil Oakes. 

When I was 18, I got my first horse, an unstarted 10-year-old saddlebred mare who was the deciding factor in turning my passion into a career. After working under many trainers in different disciplines and lifestyles, plus a couple of equine vets, I decided to start my horse training business at the end of 2021 and, a short year later, moved my business to Ohio. 

This year, I am competing in the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off for the first time, and I am now here at The Horsemans Mission! I am so excited for these opportunities to grow in my Horsemanship

    Hello everyone, my name is Robert Mast along with my wife and pen wrangler Mary Esther                                                                      First off I would look like to thank the Horseman's Mission team for giving me a 2nd chance to complete in the Colt starting as I was entered for last year's competition and was dealing with some health issues and couldn't complete.                                         I've been very blessed to be able to work with some very talented horseman over the past 10 years that were willing to to teach me everything I know today and I still have lots more to learn. I've been to Montana working on a cattle ranch where we started a few colts and calfed out about 1200 head of cows. From there I went to Wyoming and worked a cow camp for Ken Mcnabb. Then I was to Colorado working for an outfitter where we packed hunters and there gear in and out of the mountains on mules. And now I am currently working on establishing my own training program called (Leading Rein Horses and Mules) where we train horses and mules for anyone that needs a solid all around horse or mule. We also buy, train and sell a few horses and mules every year.   I am excited and looking forward to meeting the other trainers and see what we can accomplish with our colts.

Hi, I’m Maddie Hofmeister! I am a 22 year old from Indiana.
I wasn’t born in a barn, but I got there as fast as I could!
Since we lived in the big city, my first “horse” was my family’s
dog, yet even as a little girl, I “knew” that I was going to be a
cowgirl when I grew up!
Over the last decade, I’ve worked hard to grow in my
horsemanship. As a youth, I competed successfully in AQHA
events, the 4H and local open circuit, Horse Judging and
Hippology. I’ve enjoyed working with OTTB’s, donkeys,
liberty, driving, trick training, and lower level Eventing.
Currently, I am trying to learn the art of Dressage. I’ve
competed in several Extreme Mustang Makeovers, and was
forced to develop my own method, to slow down and learn to
work with, not against the horse. Working with wild horses
also helped me see my faith more clearly, in the way that
God pursues us and leads us, similar to the way we try to
lead our horses. Through all of it, I’ve developed a great
deal of respect for the time and work that is put into each
discipline, and I strive to start solid horses and riders,
equipping them with good foundations so that they may
succeed as a team no matter which direction they go.
I have built my business “Maddies Mustang Mission”
working early mornings, late nights, and weekends,
while holding down a full time day job in the horse
industry. My program focuses on problem horses and
colt starting, with a huge emphasis on riding lessons
and performance coaching.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with each
horse I meet. I feel blessed to participate in this years
Horseman’s Mission, and hope that I can bring out the
best in my colt.