MEET THE TEAM
2024 COMPETITORS
Jessica Chambless
Jessica is a proud mother to an intelligent and beautiful 12 yo daughter. She currently serves in the army NG, as a Forward Observer with the 48th IBCT 3rd ID 121st regiment. She has been riding horses her whole life and finds them to be home. Riding both English and Western, her passion is with the mustangs. She has competed in numerous Extreme Mustang Makovers and has gentled over 20 mustangs, placing them in loving forever homes. She is also an avid fox hunter. This is her second year competing in the event, and she would like to thank everyone for the spectacular event and opportunity to ride some amazing and talented equines.
Devon Pilarowski
Devon recently was medically retired after almost 21 years of service in the Army. Devon was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2022 which resulted in having my right kidney removed in December 2022. Devon is here competing with her daughter Aiden, so this will truly be a family affair!
Aiden Pilarowski
Aiden is an 'Army brat' - both of her parents served in the Army and her mom Devon, also here competing with her today, was recently medically retired after 21 years in service due to kidney cancer. Aiden is excited to compete alongside her mom in the 2024 Heroes Horsemanship Challenge!
Kendall Wolford
Kendall served in the Army for 7.5 years as an all-source intelligence analyst serving in 160th Special Operational Aviation Regiment, INSCOM, and SOCOM. She ETS'ed in summer 2023 and still works as a military contractor. She competed in local shows as a kid with her Quarter Horse Earl. Kendall states that leaving the Army has allowed her time to start riding again and being around horses, which she says has been so good for her health physically and mentally. She would like to thank Josh Faulkner and Jamie Knittle for helping her get back in the arena and helping her get right back into AQHA.
Sean Darney
Sean came to the area from Ft Drum, and is an active duty in the armor branch currently at Ft Benning. Sean joined us for last year's event and had so much fun that he and his wife Bree, competing alongside him again this year, ended up getting some horses of our own! Their horses are named Max & Ranger. We are excited to have Sean and Bree back for a second year!
Bree Darney
Bree moved to Ft Benning due to her dad being military from Seoul, Korea. Her husband is now stationed here as well. Bree is competing alongside her husband Sean for their second year. They had ponies growing up, but now they are relearning with our horses we recently just got after having so much fun last year at the Heroes Horsemanship Challenge!
Kendal Mitchell
Kendal is the daughter of army veterans, and has had a love for horses since the day she was born. She grew up riding horses in Kansas. Kendal found her soulmate in an active duty soldier and PCS'd to Georgia with him last year. Kendal is competing alongside her husband Adam in this year's event for their first time at the Heroes Horsemanship Challenge!
Adam Mitchell
Adam joined the army after being a high school band director for 10 years. Literally 3 months prior to his 35th birthday Adam enlisted in the military as a bandsman and his entire life changed for the better. He loves his career, is in the best shape of his life and during his first PCS to the middle of nowhere Kansas found the love of his life. He is proud to service his country and is happy to be back in his home state of Georgia.
Violet Biza
Violet is 9 years old and her Dad has been in the Army her whole life. He is a sniper instructor at Fort Moore. Violet competes in barrel racing, and horses are her most favorite thing in the world. She spends all day every day caring for 26 of them with her Mom.
Ben Carroll
Ben joins us as a veteran having served four years including deployment to Iraq. He is currently a farrier, and a co-facilitator for an equine facilitated learning program for veterans using only groundwork.
Pattie Hall
Pattie is a retired dedicated servant who worked for 34 years for Lucas County Government in Ohio. She is a caring and loving mother to three boys, a wonderful and loving grandmother to five grandchildren, and a dog mom to Kizzy. Pattie Was involved in the horse world in the past thru open shows, AQHA, and 4H with her youngest son.
Christina Lane
Christina is a volunteer at the Warrior Outreach program, assisting veterans, service members, and their families with the joy of riding horses. She is the spouse of an Infantryman who has been serving for 12 years.
Lindsey McGovern
Lindsey is the wife of a retired Lt. Col. and has been married for 20 years on July 31st of this year. They have 4 wonderful kids ages 17-10. She was a stay at home mom for most of her husband's career to support their family through 6 deployments and multiple PCS moves. She recently went back to school to become a Registered Nurse and will finish her program at the end of July.
Wendy Weaver
Wendy is a 20 year veteran who served as an Knowledge Operations Manager in the United States Air Force. She joined the military in 1992 during Operation Desert Storm and retired in 2012 right after she returned from Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn. After retiring, Wendy decided to take on a first responder role as the only Criminal Analyst for the City of Sumter in South Carolina. After working for the police department for more than seven years, Wendy took on a Governemnt Civilian role supporting her Air Force family once again. She now works for the 20 Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base supporting the #1 Air Force in the world!
Kaylee McKee
Kaylee McKee is a proud wife to Verlon McKee and mother to Raiden McKee. After Verlon medically retired from the Army after 6.5 years of service as a medic at Ft. Campbell KY. They decided that the military still had more to offer their family, so Kaylee joined the Army Reserves in 2021. Currently assigned to the 332nd Medical Brigade out of Nashville TN, Kaylee serves as the Bridage Medical Logistics NCO and Budget Resource Manager. Horses have always been a part of Kaylee's life. She showed in 4H, judged horses in FFA, is president of the Appaloosa Horse Club Of Tennessee, and enjoys showing her mare at local and regional levels. Her Appaloosa horses provide a way to relax, decompress, and spend time with family.
Michael Suzuki
Michael is a 25 year retired Chief Navy Diver. Michael is currently a civilian employee working at the US Navy Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City Beach Florida. Michael is the only sibling to join the Navy of a family of Army veterans. This is his THIRD year to join us for the Heroes Horsemanship Challenge.
Georgia Gau
Georgia's husband has been active duty army for almost 4 years. His first post was Fort Hood, and second was Fort Moore (Benning). They have two rowdy little ones. Before being an army wife, she was a CNA and a barrel racer for 4 years as a teenager.
Patty Littlefield
Patty served in the Army for three years, and pursued law before and afterwards. Patty is married to an Active Duty Army Soldier with two kids.
Breena Adams
Breena is the daughter of an Active duty Army soldier. Born in Louisiana, she has moved 6 times in the last 13 years and has gone through 3 deployments. She enjoys band and art and hanging out with her friends. She also helps with her two younger special need siblings.
Thomas C. Richardson
Born in June 1945, to a military family, His father saw combat in Germany as well as Korea. His father gave him the oath of enlistment into the Army National Guard on July 11, 1962, with the Rank of Private, E-1. He achieved the rank of Sergeant, attended Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1968. Rising thru the ranks, he was promoted to Full Colonel in June 1992. He retired from active duty in September 1994, with over 32 years of military service.
His Enlisted service assignments included Infantry and Armored units. Officer assignments included Infantry, Air Defense Artillery, Military Police and Finance/Comptroller duties. He deployed to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Tom served as a Staff Officer at various command levels to include the Army’s largest command and was the Director of Military Pay Operations for the Army Reserve when he retired in 1994, After retiring from the military, he was an Instructor for a Defense Contractor conducting training in over 20 finance and finance related courses.
In Federal Civil Service he was the Director of Internal Review for Headquarters, Forces Command here in Atlanta until he retired again in 2011. Tom has an Associates as well as a bachelor’s degree in financial management from St Leo University. His awards include the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, several Army Commendation medals, as well as the Civilian Superior Performance Medal. Married to Diane Richardson for 37 years. They have lived in Woodstock, GA since June of 2008.