Daybreak
Colt Starting Challenge
Presented by COWGIRL Magazine
At Daybreak Everything Feels Possible.
The newest signature event at Art of the Cowgirl 2026 celebrates that spirit of new beginnings — where raw potential meets patience, and partnership is built one quiet moment at a time.
Over the course of three days, The Daybreak Colt Starting Challenge will showcase three of the West’s most talented horsewomen as they each take an unhandled 3-year-old colt and guide it through the first steps of its journey under saddle. In front of a live audience, fans will witness the heart, skill, and intuition that define true horsemanship.
BEHIND THE NAME
Daybreak symbolizes new beginnings — that quiet, powerful moment when light touches the horizon and everything feels possible. It mirrors the essence of colt starting: the first steps of partnership, patience, and trust between horse and rider. Just as cowgirls rise with the sun to put in the work before the world wakes, The Daybreak Colt Starting Challenge honors that spirit of grit, grace, and hope. It marks both the beginning of each young horse’s journey and a new chapter in the Art of the Cowgirl legacy — where emerging horsewomen step into the light to showcase the art of true horsemanship.
THE CONTESTANTS
Coming Soon!