2025 challenge judges
Cohn Livingston
Cohn Livingston has built a strong reputation in the equestrian world for rehabilitating horses that others have deemed “not fixable” and for educating horse owners to think outside the box. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a cowboy and owning horses, but at the time, that wasn’t in the cards for him. Instead, he started riding bulls and later transitioned to professional bullfighting. As a young adult, Cohn took a leap of faith and purchased a barn property in Pearl, MS, where he began fine-tuning his God-given ability to work with both horses and people.
Early in his training career, Cohn studied under some of the best horsemen in the world. In 2008, he competed in his first Extreme Mustang Makeover, placing in the Top 10. That event launched him into several years of mentoring and training young riders and trainers at his facility. During that time, he helped produce four champions in multiple categories within the Extreme Mustang Makeover organization. He and his apprentices were invited to perform at various events across the country to showcase the wild horse.
Cohn returned to the EMM competition arena in 2011, where he and his horse, Teddy, won the Legends Champion title—the professional horseman category. Their victory led to an invitation to represent the Mustang breed at Breyerfest in Lexington, KY, where they performed multiple demonstrations in front of packed crowds of more than 5,000 people.
Now, Cohn brings his years of expertise, passion, and deep understanding of horsemanship to the Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge as one of this year’s judges. His experience in both competition and mentorship makes him an invaluable part of the panel, where he will help evaluate and celebrate the incredible bond between horse and trainer.
William Yarbrough
William Yarbrough is no stranger to the world of horsemanship. A former apprentice of Cohn Livingston, he spent years working alongside him, breaking and training problem horses, as well as working with a variety of disciplines—including English, Western, and everyday trail horses. His expertise in colt starting led him to teach clinics across the U.S. and Canada, helping riders develop strong foundations with their horses.
Throughout his career, William has competed in and won multiple trainers’ challenges, showcasing his ability to bring out the best in a horse. In addition to training, he spent years showing both his own horses and those of his clients, with a particular passion for Western pleasure and reining horses.
Life led William away from horses for a time as he focused on building and raising his family, but his love for the industry never faded. Now, he is excited to step back into the arena as a judge for this year’s Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge. With his deep-rooted experience and sharp eye for quality horsemanship, William brings valuable insight to the judging panel—and he admits he nearly entered the competition himself!
Lauren Henny
Lauren Henny has been professionally training horses for 20 years and is the owner of L&C Horsemanship in Wilsonville, AL. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide range of breeds and disciplines, learning from top trainers across the country. Lauren’s passion extends beyond training—she is also dedicated to helping rescue horses find their forever homes, using her expertise to rehabilitate and place them with the right partners.
Over the years, Lauren has built an impressive resume in the equestrian world. She spent 12 years helping to run and compete in the Alabama Obstacle Challenge, placed in the Top 15 in the prestigious American Horsewomen’s Challenge alongside some of the best female trainers in the country, and has successfully competed in multiple Mustang Makeovers. Additionally, she took home 1st place in the professional trainer’s division of the Safe Horse Project Challenge with Mississippi Horses.
This year, Lauren returns to the arena in a new role—serving as a judge for the very event she once won. As a former champion, she brings a unique perspective to the panel, offering valuable insight from both sides of the competition. Her deep understanding of horsemanship and dedication to fostering strong horse-and-rider partnerships make her an essential part of this year’s event.