Riding for the Brand

Qualifying Tests October 7-11, 2026
TOP 5 Championships: October 7-11, 2026

Gia Gamma

My passion for horses began at a young age when I attended my first horse show at three years old, competing in the Leadline Division with an Arabian named Gifted. At age four, I got my first Welsh pony and competed on the Welsh Pony circuit for nine years.

At 13, I acquired my first Quarter Horse, LENAS FRST BU RIBBON, also known as Archer. He was green broke when we started, and together we built a strong partnership while working our way up through the levels. I am a D3 member of the United States Pony Clubs and compete in various disciplines, including ranch events, Pony Club, Western Dressage, Cowboy Dressage, jumping, cross-country, and obstacle events.

Last year, I purchased Archer’s four-month-old brother, Chromed Out Jackson, also known as Jax. I plan on training Jax similarly and eventually competing with him in AQHA events.

Outside of equestrian sports, I am passionate about photography. Whether I am riding, training, competing, or behind the camera, I am dedicated to learning new skills and continuing to grow.

Jenna Rankin & Oso Fe

My Cowboy Dressage journey began when I was 13 years old—nearly 30 years ago. I’ve had the privilege of learning, growing, riding, and eventually teaching within this discipline for most of my life. Cowboy Dressage has shaped the horsewoman and clinician I’ve become and what I believe good horsemanship should be.

Oso Fe has been part of that journey since the day he was born at Little Bear Creek Ranch over 12 years ago. He is my mom Kelley’s heart horse, but to me, he’s always been a little more like my little brother. He is everything I love about a Morgan—presence, power, heart, attitude, and an enormous personality.

Earlier this year, we nearly lost Oso to a serious illness. His recovery gave me a new appreciation for him and changed our partnership. Today, he is healthy, strong, and going better than ever.

I Ride for the Brand because I believe in what it represents. It challenges our horsemanship, versatility, trust, and partnership in a way no other competition does. Oso and I have ridden for the Brand twice before, earning Top Five finishes both times.

As Cowboy Dressage celebrates its 15th year at the Cowboy Dressage World Finals, I can’t think of a more meaningful way to celebrate a discipline that has been part of my life for nearly 30 years, honor this very special horse, and celebrate how far we’ve come together than to Ride for the Brand one more time.

Denise Crane is 52 Duke is 10

I was honored ro purchase Duke as a 4 year old and we’ve been a team for 6 years now. We were the bridle-less champions at the National Indoor Mountain Trail competition in 2022. We do a lil cutting and trail rides and compete in Cowboy Dressage too, I feel we always come back to the foundation of partnership, soft feel and harmony which is the Cowboy Dressage way of riding. You only get a horse like this once maybe twice in your lifetime and I try not to take it for granted that I’ve been blessed beyond words to have such a wonderful partner!

Thank you!! Denise

Hi! My name is Alex, and this is my special boy, “Eddie,” aka Spedward.

He has been a part of our family since the day he was born, and he has been the horse who has inspired me to continually better my horsemanship, humbled me along the way, and turned my “horse girl” dreams into a reality.

Throughout our training journey, we discovered Cowboy Dressage, and we quickly fell in love with not only the discipline itself, but the meaning behind it and the incredible community that comes with it. Cowboy Dressage has taught me that true horsemanship is about so much more than what happens in the saddle—it’s about communication, connection, trust, softness, and creating a willing partnership with your horse.

I’m so grateful for this journey with Eddie and excited to continue learning and for the opportunity to be apart of “Riding for the Brand”.

Jesseca Hutchings

Jesseca is one of Cowboy Dressage World’s Directors, She works hard and believes strongly in this equine discipline. She is from Norco, in Southern California where she runs J Hutchings Performance Horses, and has competed in everything from Dressage to Cutting horses, Trail trials to Hunter-Jumpers, Arabians, Friesians, you name it! Growing up riding Hunter-Jumpers and expanding into Cutting horses, as well as dabbling in anything that peaked her interest in between, she was a coach and trainer early on in her life. She holds many National and World Titles in many breeds and disciplines. However, such wins do not come without great horses to go with them. Having had a hand in developing all of her winning mounts from a young age, it has been very rewarding to excel with them to such heights. Though she has had great success as a rider and horse trainer, she really has a passion for teaching. Having a great aptitude for making it make sense! Loving the end game of making a horse and rider a pair, and to being a guiding light wherever possible, to achieving mutual understanding between horse and rider be it on the trail or in the arena. She feels it is such an honor to be able to do a job that she is so passionate about and has found being a Cowboy Dressage World Director to be the perfect marriage of horsemanship and comradery with a touch of healthy competition.