Shannan Usiak of Corrales, N.M., has been selected as the grand-prize winner of Horse & Rider magazine’s 2009 Day with Al Dunning Sweepstakes.

Usiak won a day of personalized instruction from top Western trainer Al Dunning at his Almosta Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. While there, she will try her hand at cutting and reining on one of Dunning’s horses. She plans to spend her day with him in March.

Usiak said she was shocked and surprised when she found out she’d won.

“It took a little bit to sink in. I was a bit emotional as well,” she said. “My mom passed away last December, and she was my biggest supporter and cheerleader when I showed horses in my youth. I know she is cheering for me now as well.”

Usiak rides and shows both Western and English on double-registered Pinto/Paint horses.

“My daughter and I enjoy showing at our local Pinto club shows and the Pinto World Championship Show and Pinto Congress each year as time and finances allow,” she said. “I trail ride as well as a mental break for both myself and the horses.”

Another winner of the sweepstakes, Holly Berdin of Kingman, Ariz., received a custom cowboy hat from J.W. Brooks, and said she ran down to her barn when she found out, shouting, “I won! I won!”

“I think I even scared my horses,” she said. “My husband had no idea what I was talking about, so I ran back up to the house and grabbed my Horse & Rider magazine to show him the sweepstakes.”

Sara Welsh of Glenshaw, Pa., won a Professional’s Choice prize package consisting of an SMx H.D. Air Ride Western show pad, an SMB Elite 4-pack, Ballistic Overreach boots and an SMx Comfort-Stretch Western cinch.

“I was going to have to purchase a new pad as my old Professional’s Choice pad was more than five years old. Although it doesn’t look too bad, I thought I should probably replace it,” said Welsh. “A few days later, I received the call from Horse & Rider.”

In addition, Karri Webb of Evansville, Wyo., won a one-gallon, eight-month supply of LubriSyn joint supplement.

Visit EquiSearch.com http://equisearch.com/about/giveaways to enter current sweepstakes for your chance to win riding vacations in Wyoming or Ireland!

Horse & Rider, published by Source Interlink Media’s Equine Network, provides horse owners with the expert advice they seek through how-to articles from Team Horse & Rider-12 renowned experts in the Western arena, including Clinton Anderson, Bob Avila, Sherry Cervi, Charlie Cole, Al Dunning, Robin Gollehon, Julie Goodnight, Carol Metcalf, Lynn Palm, Gordon Potts, Andrea Simons and Stacy Westfall-and from other top trainers, veterinarians and horse behaviorists. The magazine’s mission is to create a positive difference in the lives of goal-oriented horse owners who strive for excellence in riding, training and caring for their animals.