Without the bond between a horse and rider, trick riding wouldn’t be possible.
Kelsey Gascon and Shelby Epperson, Trixie Chicks star performers, raise and train each of the horses you see performing at our shows.
Our horses are truly a part of our family, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their dedication and hard work.
Not only are they our teammates, but our trick riding horses are equine athletes themselves. They’re fast, smooth, dependable, and well-trained.
Not every horse can be a trick riding horse, so we look for very special individuals with unique qualities:
solid foundation of riding
experiences in an arena setting
sound, athletic, and healthy
calm demeanor
Ability to control their own fears
Can disregard stressful stimuli
Intelligent to sense pattern
Will learn new concepts quickly
Steady on their feet
Able to hold a rider in precarious positions while rating at a gallop
Above all, trustworthy
To trick ride, we must relinquish control to let our horses run while we perform on their backs.
We rely on our horses to do a consistent job in a stressful environment regardless of unfamiliar sights, noises, and smells.
To trick ride, we must relinquish control to let our horses run while we perform on their backs.
We rely on our horses to do a consistent job in a stressful environment regardless of unfamiliar sights, noises, and smells.
Our Amazing Teammates
CODY
2013 (Quarter Horse)
KING
2001 (APHA & 2018 Breyer Horse)
COOKIE
2005 (Quarter Horse)
LIGHTNING
2004 (Quarter Horse)
BENJAMIN
2019 (Quarter Horse)
BART
2012 (Quarter Horse)
TARZAN
2015 (Mustang)
We have a celebrity horse!
We were ecstatic to have King honored as a 2018 Breyer Portrait Model
In Memory
these horses are gone but never forgotten
Count (2001 - 2020)
Count was Shelby Epperson's trick riding equine teammate and all-around heart horse, who left this earth too soon in April 2020.
Words cannot explain what this horse meant to Shelby, our team, and so many trick riders that he gave the opportunity to trick ride safely on. He had been by Shelby's side for almost 18 years and she did all of his training from the very beginning.
Count was a rockstar drill team horse, all-around anything horse, and the best kid's/husband horse you could ask for. His debut trick riding performance was the World Equestrian Games in 2010 and he went on to have an outstanding performance career as a trick riding horse for 10 years after this.
He is irreplaceable and will always hold a special place in our hearts!
Smokey (2005 - 2013)
Smokey was Ashlee Hearod's trick riding equine teammate, who left this earth too soon in December 2013.
During Ashlee's 2012-2013 military deployment, Smokey patiently awaited her return. His presence back home kept her spirits high, as other Trixie Chicks team members cared for him during Ashlee's absence.
Upon her return from deployment, Ashlee and Smokey enjoyed carrying the American flag together in rodeos, to honor all U.S. military servicemen and women. He was an outstanding trick riding horse and would willingly carry Ashlee in any trick. He was also well-known for his incredibly calm demeanor and ability to smile on command.
Smokey was loved and adored by everyone on the team, and he will be greatly missed