3 COLTS, 3 TRAINERS, 3 DAYS
Colt Starting Competition
The Horseman's Mission is a colt-starting competition dedicated to showcasing horsemanship and training talent from multiple trainers! Our unique event pits three colts, three trainers, and three days of competition against each other to test horsemanship and finished performance. Each trainer has 1.5 hours per day to work with their colt, and the results are judged by a panel of judges. If you're looking to expand your knowledge, The Horseman's Mission is the event for you.
2026 Colt Starting Competition
2026 is a Championship round. Winners of 2023, 2024, and 2025 are competing to win a Beautiful 3 Horse Aluminum Horse Trailer
My name is Daniel Chavez with Chavez Horsemanship and words can't explain how excited I am to be invited back again to compete at the Horseman's Mission. I was in my first year of training when I first competed back in 2023 and truly believe God was the reason I was able to be brought into this competition so early on. I was so early on that I wasn't completely sure how I stacked up against other horsemen. This event helped show me that I was right on track. When they had mentioned that the champions would have the opportunity to meet up 3 years later; I didn't even know whether I would still be training horses then. Here we are 3 years later and happy to say that I am still training horses.
My business is currently based in Saint Charles, MN where I provide colt starting, restarting, and education services. I also start and sell young performance prospects. I have continued to learn and hone my craft over the years, and it is slowly evolving into an education based business that targets the people. My goal is to equip my clients with the tools and skills necessary for building real partnerships with their horses and a deeper understanding of how our equine friends operate. My clients quickly find that the awareness they develop goes beyond their relationship with their horse. Feel free to check out my social media pages to get connected!
I am Robert Mast along with my wife and pen wrangler Mary Esther. We would like to start out by saying a big thank you to everyone involved in the Horseman's Mission for putting on such a great event and giving us the opportunity to compete once again at the colt starting competition.
A little bit about us and what we do, we are the owners of Leading Rein Horses and Mules where our main focus is quality over quantity. We both have started riding ponies at a young age and aspired to become horse trainers. Robert has been training horses for numerous training programs and making a living horseback for the past 10 years and in 2023 decided to establish his own training program. Robert spent a few years working for ranchers in Montana and Wyoming. And working for an outfitter in Colorado which is what sparked his interest to start training mules. Mary Esther also spent a number of years ranching in Montana and working for several different training programs in Ohio. In 2024 we got married and now share our passion together.
Here at Leading Rein Horses and Mules we take in horses and mules for training and also buy and sell a few of our own each year. We have a few mares that we raise foals with each year and are looking forward to offering our home raised horses and mules in the near future.
We are excited and looking forward for the 2026 Horseman's Mission Colt Starting Competition.
What started out as hobby and passion soon turned into a fulltime career in 2017 for Leon Raber. Since childhood Leon has had a passion for mules and loved the process of helping them achieve in life. Through his journey and experience working with a variety of equine and wisdom gained from accomplished horseman and muleman, Leon shaped his approach to training where he emphasized the importance of calm, quiet and willing mindsets in horses and mules alike and that it doesn’t matter whether you are a trailing riding, showing, or starting a young colt or restating a “problem” mule. They all need a solid foundation.
Leon Raber along with his wife Mary, own and operate Lost Mule Company a full-service training facility where they train mules, teach private lessons and clinics and also sell top quality mules. They are passionate about showcasing the versatility of mules and promoting their capabilities in various disciplines as well as being dedicated in helping mules and their owners build safer more successful partnerships.
Meet the Judges
Day time tickets for the Colt Starting Competition and Clinics will be sold at the door ONLY
Adult/Day Pass......$20
Four Day Pass.....$70
Children 12 and under free