PEAK Training
Challenge
To rescue takes passion. To imagine a better world takes courage. We believe that it's up to us - all of us - to create new traditions honoring horses, humans, and the partnership we share.
Connecting Talent
With Potential
YOU’RE INVITED! SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2025 | 10AM – 3PM
B.W. Pickett Arena at the Colorado State University Equine Center
735 S. Overland Trail, Fort Collins, CO 80523
The Performance Equine Adoption Kickstart (PEAK) Training Challenge is an exciting demonstration and adoption event open to the public – free of charge! Enjoy a competitive training showcase with the opportunity to see some of CHR’s adoptable horses in action. Invite your friends, family, and fellow equine enthusiasts for a day of exciting showmanship by a group of experienced trainers and introductions to well-started, deserving horses ready to find their new home.
Colorado horse trainers are partnered with unstarted or lightly handled members of our herd in order to give both participants the opportunity to reach new heights. With a judging panel of respected equine professionals, an audience full of horse enthusiasts, and a $15,000 cash prize pool, this is an event you won’t want to miss!
2025 PEAK TRAINERS
ALEX PARSAYE
LEGENDS OF RANCHING AT CSU
TRAINING - SOCKS. Alex is married a large animal vet and has four-year-old twin boys and a three-year-old daughter. She teaches at Colorado State University and runs Parsaye Performance Horses, Parsaye Veterinary Services, & Pleasant Valley Market & Meats from home in LaPorte.
CAYLA STONE
MYTHOS EQUESTRIAN
TRAINING - DYNAMO. Cayla is a graduate of the CSU Equine Sciences program and the mother of a ten year old and two year old. She is originally from Hilton Head Island, SC and moved to CO in 2007. Outside of horses, she enjoys reading, writing, art, history and mythology.
MARGARET BLAHA
Bohemian Horsemanship | Harmony Equine Center
TRAINING - APRIL. Margaret first got started with horses in Westernaires (precision drill riding) and has built a career training, competing in mustang makeovers and colt challenges, teaching, volunteering for horse nonprofits, and managing barns and horse rescues. Outside of horses, she loves live music and traveling.
Tyler Hardin
Harmony Equine Center
TRAINIG - HONOR. California-born trainer Tyler Hardin grew up learning from her mom, a professional horse trainer. Focused on softness, relaxation, and clear communication, she’s competed in the hunter jumper show circuit since age seven and is excited to take on her first training challenge with Honor.
Thank you to our 2025 PEAK Sponsor!
Watch the PEAK horses progress!
2025 EVENT JUDGES
Dr. Bruce Connally, DVM, MS
Wyoming Equine
With 30+ years of clinical experience, Dr. Connally is a former assistant professor at CSU's College of Veterinary Medicine and currently practices with performance equines. He also competes with his own horses and therefore understands competitive environments and best practice for working with high-performing horses.
Jessica Dabkowski
Wild Idea Horsemanship
Jessica graduated from CSU in 2003 with a degree in Equine Science. She’s always had a passion for working with “project horses” and competed in her first Mustang Makeover competition in 2010. Since then, she’s competed in 15 mustang makeovers and teaches riding lessons and horsemanship in Livermore, CO.
David Gerrish
Caprock Equine LLC
David, a two-time PEAK Training Challenge champion, is from West Texas and holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas Tech University. He has a wonderful wife, Mia, a sweet rescue dog, Jessie, and a baby boy on the way! Outside of training horses, he enjoys camping, hiking, and going to the movies.
Are you up for
the challenge?
Showcase your training talents, leadership skills, and partnership as an equine advocate through this exciting, 100-day equine foster training challenge hosted by Colorado Horse Rescue at the CSU Equine Center in Fort Collins, CO. Gain exposure for your training business by sharing your expertise with one of our lightly handled horses in order to help them reach their peak!
For more information on training requirements and event incentives, see the 2025 PEAK Training Challenge Guide linked here! Further training or event-related questions can be directed to Grace Degnan at gdegnan@chr.org.
2025 applications are now closed
