Shannon Blanchard, "Lady Shannon"  is the Red and Black Knight, her war horse is Prince.  Shannon is the owner/ manager of Mounted Fury and Cedar Springs Equestrian Center in Farmington, Arkansas. She is originally from Texas where she graduated from Sul Ross State University with a 4 year degree in Equine Science.

Upon moving to NW Arkansas, she started her horse facility where she offers boarding, lessons, and training. Working with a variety of horse breeds, she and her many students have shown successfully in Dressage, Hunter Jumper, and Open classes.

Shannon formed Mounted Fury with her advanced riding students in 2004 and it has evolved into into the current medieval re-enactment  group (with lots of help!) performing at Renaissance Faires and Educational Demonstrations,  and Festivals in Arkansas and Missouri.

When not working with the horse program, Shannon enjoys many activities with her husband and 4 children including snake collecting, karate, hiking, and artwork.

Katie Sabo, "Lady Katharine", is Mounted Fury's Green Knight and her jousting mount is Khalil. She is originally from Fayetteville and is a current student at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Anthropology and French.

A student of Shannon's for 14 years, Katie trains and competes occasionally in Dressage and Hunter/Jumper classes. She is now an assistant riding instructor at Cedar Springs Equestrian Center.

Katie started learning skill and accuracy games, such as rings and spear throwing, in 2004 when Mounted Fury began training for their debut performance. She especially likes unmounted sword combat and is interested in learning to use various weapons and techniques.

Aside from jousting with the group and riding her own horse, Katie also enjoys recreational and competitive figure skating.

Jackie Harris, “Lady Jacqueline”, is the Red and Yellow Knight riding war horse Lacey. She is from Dallas, Texas where she showed Palominos throughout her youth. She began learning Dressage and Jousting three years ago when she came to ride at Cedar Springs Equestrian Center while attending the University of Arkansas.

Jackie also rides and trains her own horse, a 4-year-old quarter horse gelding, in Dressage and Reining.

Jackie has an artistic mind and a knack for costume designing which is very helpful to the group. She also enjoys competitive figure skating.

Leslie Rose, "Lady Elizabeth" has been an active member of Mounted Fury since late 2005, but has been affiliated with Cedar Springs since 2001 when she volunteered to work for Shannon while going to college. Leslie is originally from California, but was raised in Uniontown, Arkansas.

Leslie and her husband Josh Greb own and operate Whispering Winds Arabians located Short, Oklahoma. Their herd consists of both Egyptian related and Crabbet lines. With their herd complete, they are striving to produce sensible, quality Arabian Sport Horses that possess both athletic ability and the Classic Arabian type. More information on their farm can be found at WWW.WhisperingWindsArabians.com

In 2003, Leslie graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a B.A. in Poultry Science. Leslie is presently working with Simmons Prepared Foods in Van Buren, Arkansas and is also working toward a B.A. degree in both Business and Accounting at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith. 

Some of Leslie’s hobbies are training her horses, drawing horses and spending time with her husband and family.
 

Natasha Raezer, “Lady Anna” is the Blue and Yellow Knight and has been a page and squire in the Mounted Fury act since 2006. She has been riding at Cedar Springs since she was a six year old. She is mounted on her war horse Lacey.

Natasha aspires to compete more seriously in Dressage in the future and would also like to compete in Hunter/Jumper. She’s been a junior camp counselor at Cedar Spring’s summer camp and would love to continue
instructing in the future.

Natasha is a rising 8th grader at Ramay Junior High School and is taking several AP courses.

Kellie Cantu, "Lady Calleigh" Knight in Training. Kellie has been in this area for most of her life, having graduated from Springdale High School and Northwest Arkansas Community College with an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies. She recently joined the Northwest Arkansas Dressage club, and is also involved in the Washington County Young Riders 4-H Club with her daughter who also loves horses!

Currently Kellie works in Customer Service and hopes to enter the Paralegal field when finished with school. She is enjoying exercising some creative skills coming up with costumes for her new role as Knight in Training. Her War Horse in Training is Later, Gator. Wish them well in their quest for Knighthood!

Honorable Past Troup Members

Laura DePooter portrays the Blue Knight for Mounted Fury. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2006 with a computer science major. She has been working with horses and riding since eighth grade, and is one of the troupe's Founding Knights.

Laura has been training horses almost as long as she has been riding, and has also instructed students for almost four years. Her primary riding focus has been dressage and jumping, as well as all-around manners.

Laura currently works in an IT department, but enjoys the free time she gets to spend with the horses. She owns two Arabians, including her jousting mount Fire Mage ("Magelet").

Favorite song for jousting: Theme from "Robin Hood Prince of Thieves", Shield: Hawk with crossed swords over quartered blue/black, Favorite role in show: Tie between "Death" in "The Chosen One" and "Future Squire" in the 2007 University Horse Festival.  The favorite snacks of Laura's noble steed are peppermints and apples.