Raised in Louisiana, Daniel had a passion for horses from an early age. Not being born into a family with horses, he rode with a childhood friend’s family regularly before he finally earned and saved enough money to buy his own horse at the age of 16 without his parents knowing about it. Attending La Tech University, Daniel graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science in ’99. Daniel spent about 6 years, in total, apprenticing under 3 different Cutting Horse trainers and to date has started horses amassing winnings of well over $1 million in cutting including finalists in major aged events, and the only horse from Louisiana to ever make the NCHA World Championship Futurity Finals. Daniel passionately uses his knowledge and experience to help others become safer, smarter, and more comfortable and confident in their own horsemanship. He has worked with riders as young as 2 to those up into their 70’s. He’s also worked with many different breeds and riders of all disciplines, from beginners to college equine behavior and training classes, to world champs, and even continuing education for pros at large lesson barns. Daniel spent 3 years making a 5-and-a-half-hour video on bits and bitting. It has been very well reviewed and received and is even being used as a teaching tool in over 25 Equine Sciences/Studies programs in various US universities.

Jay and Gena (Willoughby) Henson specialize in all aspects of the versatile horse from training, sales and lessons to judging and clinics. They are very active in the NVRHA, AQHA, NRCHA, NRHA and NCHA. Both Jay and Gena have been serving as judges and clinicians for ranch horse competitions since before the NVRHA became a formal association. They currently serve on the professional board for the National Versatile Ranch Horse Association and do many clinics throughout the United States. Willoughby & Henson Training Stables is located in the southwest corner of Kansas outside of Hugoton and is sixty miles west of Dodge City. While the Hensons love helping individuals, they enjoy getting to know many and building relationships with the folks they meet at clinics and shows. They are always up for talking about horses!

Tik Maynard was in Pony Club from ages 6 to 21. He achieved his ‘A’ level in 2002. He was Canadian National Champion in Tetrathlon (2000). He was part of the National Champion Team in PPG (1997), and part of the Canadian Team that won gold in Kentucky in 1998. Tik received his Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of British Columbia in 2005. For much of his twenties Tik competed full time in the sport of Modern Pentathlon (running, swimming, shooting, fencing, show jumping). Tik was on the Canadian National Team and won the National Championships twice. He also competed at multiple World Cups, World Championships, and at the 2007 Pan-Am Games in Rio. Since 2008 Tik has been training horses full time. After spending three years as a working student he became the assistant trainer to Anne Kursinski, then the head trainer at Bow Brickhill Stables in New Jersey. After marrying Sinead, one of the top 3-day eventers in the world, Tik started his own business, then in 2016, after Tik and Sinead bought Copperline Farm in Citra (just north of Ocala), they merged their businesses into one. In 2024, Maynard won all three rounds of the World Championship of Colt Starting event, Road To The Horse, with his colt. The pair’s quiet and steady progress throughout kept all in awe as he easily moved through the different components of the event. He finished with a cumulative score of 1,023.5 and $90K. He will return to Road To The Horse 2025 just after EquiFest of KS!

Ty Evans, along with his wife, Skye, and daughters, Ellie and Swayzee, travel worldwide teaching Mulemanship clinics. These clinics are geared toward helping mule and rider build a connection that lasts and focuses on helping the human have a better experience with their mule, and for the mule to have a better experience with their human. Ty enjoys helping individuals establish a partnership with the mule to develop clearer communication between each other. The style of Mulemanship Ty teaches not only works great for mules, but is also very much applicable to horses and donkeys as well. At Ty's clinics, the main goal is to bring out the best in the mule, and by doing so it also brings out the best in the people.