Nov 267 min read

Sierra’s Journey: Breaking Ground At The First-Ever All-English Mustang Show (Part 3)

Updated: Nov 30

It finally happened— the first-ever all-English mustang show, and Sierra was right there making history.

Heading into the event, no one knew how she and Dazzle would fare against some of the top trainers in the country, but now we do: Sierra finished 10th overall, a remarkable achievement in such a competitive field. The top 10 competitors were asked to perform a freestyle routine to showcase their mustangs’ versatility and talent, and Sierra’s performance was nothing short of thrilling.

The road to Lexington, Kentucky, was an adventure in itself. Sierra and her family traveled over 2,000 miles, making stops every 360 miles to ensure Dazzle’s comfort. Her grandpa took charge of planning the route, finding accommodations on HorseHotel.com that included arenas, trails, and a chance for the horses to stretch their legs. Sierra’s sister, Marissa, agreed that one of their favorite stops was in Iowa, where they “found a perfect mix of open space to ride Dazzle and Stardust and friendly hosts”. Stardust is a beautiful white mustang from Warm Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) trained by Marissa for the 2019 Mustang Yearling Washington Youth 100 day Tip Challenge. Once the family and horses reached Kentucky, they were treated to some seriously luxurious horse accommodations at Valkyrie’s Haven.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Sierra and her family for a couple of hours in Sequim after they returned from Kentucky. They were still riding the high from the competition, but with their move to Stonewater Ranch looming, there were a few last-minute items left to pack. Dazzle, sleek from the show and the long journey across the country in hot 100-degree weather, was with them. In contrast, Sequim’s fall air had cooled down to the 60s, offering a much-needed break for both horse and rider.

It was the perfect day for a casual photoshoot. Sierra and Dazzle were shimmering—not just from their glossy coats, but from the excitement still buzzing from the competition. There was also a palpable sense of accomplishment and being on the other side of a great adventure where one gets to soak up all the wonderful moments.

The show was behind them, and while they were proud of their accomplishments, it was clear they were happy to be back home, recharging and preparing for the next chapter at Stonewater Ranch and traveling back to Hines, OR to pick up the next Mustang Champions.

In October 2023, Sierra and her sister Marissa embarked on a new chapter with the Oregon BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, picking up three mustangs for the Mustang Champions' first all-English mustang horse show. Sierra brought home two mares—Dazzle, a chestnut pinto, and Moondance, a black and white pinto—while Marissa selected a black gelding named Talenti. All three mustangs originated from the South Steens Herd Management Area. (Read more about these horses in Article 2.)

To qualify for the Mustang Champions show, competitors had to be 18 or older, and the mustangs needed to be trained and showed on before the competition. The horses also had to be between 3 and 7 years old and adopted from a BLM facility between October 2023 and May 2024.

Sierra and her family hit the road from Washington on Labor Day weekend, headed toward Kentucky for the Mustang Champions show. As they embarked on their cross-country journey, the Teens and Oregon Mustang Challenge was in full swing back home. I was photographing the event while keeping an eye on social media for updates from the Steffens, watching their adventure unfold as they posted about their stops along the way.

For the past three years, the Steffen sisters—Sierra, Marissa, and their youngest sister Eliza—have all participated in the Oregon challenge. As they made their way across state lines, Sierra shared that the family was following the challenge closely, wishing they could compete. However, the logistics of driving across the country meant they had to make the tough decision earlier in the year not to participate this time around, a decision their mom, Erika, said was far from easy.

The Oregon Mustang Challenge always ends with an auction, where horses find new homes, and trainers prepare for their next mustang competition. This year, I decided to step away from the camera for a moment and do something unexpected—I bought a horse. After winning the auction, my phone buzzed with messages, and one of them was from Sierra. “Did you buy Simba????” she asked. My response? “I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Sierra and her family were in Montana at the time, en route to Kentucky, and I couldn’t help but ask how their trip was going. I had noticed that Stardust seemed to be Dazzle’s favorite traveling partner, and when I inquired about Moondance, Sierra explained that she wasn’t quite ready for the Lexington competition.

Fast forward twelve days to September 12th, and Sierra and Dazzle were stepping into the Rolex Arena, ready for their first event—Dressage. The rain poured down, but they were unfazed, making their debut in true Pacific NorthWest style.

As I watched Sierra and Dazzle compete, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of pride and excitement. This was more than just a competition—it was the culmination of months of hard work, long hours of training, and a deep bond between her and Dazzle. The atmosphere at the show was electric, with a supportive crowd that cheered for every rider, but there was something special about seeing Sierra and Dazzle out there, representing Oregon.

The Mustang Champions event was televised, which meant that anyone could watch as Sierra and Dazzle took the stage. Over the weekend, the mustang community on the West Coast was buzzing with support. Between live broadcasts, social media updates, and an endless stream of text messages, everyone was cheering Sierra on.

During the Mustang Champions event, I happened to be at a clinic at Fox Bell Farm and Training, the very place where Sierra first started Dazzle and honed her jumping skills. Shelby Vaughn, the farm's owner, was thrilled as we received updates about Sierra’s performance. My phone lit up with messages from mustang friends sharing their excitement and even talking about competing in the show next year.

Meanwhile, social media was on fire, with positive comments and cheers for Sierra and Dazzle. It was amazing to see the outpouring of support for the duo from across the country.

Dazzle and Sierra competed in Stadium Jumping, Cross Country, and Dressage at the Mustang Champions show, scoring 3rd, 19th, and 5th respectively in each event. By the end of the competition, Sierra was in 6th place spot, which qualified her for a spot in the freestyle finals event. All scores were swiped clean once the top 10 competitors were announced. This meant that the final overall winner of the competition had to win freestyle.

A week before leaving Sequim, Sierra was still undecided about her freestyle performance. She had toyed with the idea of a pirate-themed routine, but wasn’t certain she’d even make the cut. Her grandfather, hearing her talk about it, took her idea to the next level. He built a frame that transformed their truck into a ship, giving her a prop that was both practical and creative. “Since the truck would already be there, it was an easy prop,” Sierra told me as she recounted the story of how her last-minute freestyle came together.

With her family pitching in to paint the "ship" and just a couple of practice runs under her belt, Sierra packed up and headed to the show. It was an ambitious but exciting leap, and you can watch her pirate-themed freestyle performance in the video below. Sierra and Dazzle shined in their freestyle, being the first team to compete on the final day.

Sierra and Dazzle walked away with an impressive 10th place in the nation, painting a vivid picture of the beauty and grace that mustangs can bring to English events. Their journey and performances not only showcased their hard work but also highlighted the incredible potential of these wild horses when given the opportunity to shine.

Click to watch the freestyle on Facebook

Sierra reflected on the experience with a smile, saying, “It was incredible to be a part of something like this, to show people what these mustangs can really do in a dressage ring. The support from the crowd and the other competitors made it even better.” The Steffen’s arrived back home on September 27th, and on October 9th they were in Hines to pick wild horses for the competitions in 2025.

To follow Sierra’s entire journey from WA to KY back to WA, Check out Steffen Stampede on Facebook or Instagram.

Kayce Faulkner, manager of the Oregon BLM Wild Horse and Burro Facility, couldn't hide her pride in Sierra for showcasing her Oregon Mustang at the show in Kentucky. Inspired by Sierra's dedication and success, Kayce organized a major adoption event for early October, aiming to help others find their mustangs and begin training for the 2025 competitions. She noted how impressive it was to see an Oregon mustang competing, especially with many of the entrants coming from Utah, Wyoming, and other centrally located Herd Management Areas.

Now that the show has concluded, everyone is eager to see what’s next for Sierra’s herd. Moondance, Dazzle, and Talenti have all proven themselves, but this is just the beginning. The Steffen sisters have ambitious plans for each of them. Dazzle has captured the heart of Eliza, who has been forming a strong bond with her. Early on, Eliza put a small braid in Dazzle’s mane, which remains untouched to this day—an adorable mark of Eliza’s claim on her.

Moondance is growing in confidence after overcoming a setback caused by an abscess in her back. Now healed, she's doing well at shows, and Sierra has mentioned she is available for sale, but only to the right home. Meanwhile, Talenti, who was 9 years old at the time of gathering, still carries many stallion-like tendencies despite being gelded. Marissa has been working diligently with him under saddle, developing his liberty and riding skills. He will stay with Marissa and become part of her dream liberty team, paving the way for his future.