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U.S. Nationals
Top Story
October 23, 2010
From a Park Class to a Reining Pattern
It's got the rush of the Park…with a slide," says Tracy Caruth of Caruth Arabians in Lone Oak, Texas. Yes, Caruth is doing what no other amateur is doing at U.S. Nationals-she's riding in two events usually very exclusive of one another-park and reining.
Caruth has loved Arabians and Half-Arabians since 1982. "If it doesn't have Arabian blood in it, then I won't lay a leg over it," says Caruth with a twinkle in her eye. And until last May she stuck mostly to saddle seat, side saddle, hunter and some western pleasure. But with the serendipity that seems to surround Caruth, a new husband and wife trainer team moved to Lone Oak in May and when they arrived in the wee hours of a Tuesday evening, Caruth got to work helping unload. A black gelding with two hind socks named Black Jack Jerry (Black Jack Olena x Sage Hill Karla) only had to blink his big eyes at Tracy as she unloaded him and she was quickly smitten. Caruth learned the gelding was for sale and only two days later, her new trainer rode right up to her and asked, "would you like to ride him?" Yes. Yes, she did want to ride him.
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Tracy riding CA Mini Mouse+ in Half-Arabian Park AAOTR
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The new trainer team to join Caruth Arabians in May was Sterling and Melissa Bradley-a perfect fit for Caruth Arabians according to Tracy. "Everyone would say to me, 'Do you really think you'll be able to find another husband/wife training team?' and I said, yes I do," says Caruth. Tracy seems genuinely honored to work with the Bradleys. Melissa Bradley is actually Melissa Barter Bradley, sister to the late Spike Barter. Spike imported *Napitok+ and rode the stallion to Scottsdale and National titles. Caruth has owned Napitok son, DA Napitov+/ since 1982. The stallion is very dear to Caruth and over the years she had developed a hefty respect for Spike Bradley's vision. About a year before Spike passed away, Caruth had the chance to talk to Spike at a show in Oklahoma City. "I got to tell him how much I respected him and loved what he did and he told me that he thought Napitov was Napitok's best foal. It still gives me chills," says Caruth.
Another thing Caruth appreciates about her new trainer team is Sterling's communication style for instruction. "When I first got on Jerry it was totally different than what I had ever done. I had a hard time understanding what Sterling was asking me to do. And instead of getting frustrated, he would try another approach. He'd explain it differently or show me, like this," says Caruth doing the human version of a small, slow circle. Calm, creative direction works perfectly for Caruth's learning style, retraining her to feel what it is to move through each maneuver of a reining pattern, rather than move through the calculated passes of a park class.
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Tracy getting some last minute instruction from Sterling before entering the ring.
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In fact, Sterling Bradley's direction worked so well that the first time Caruth rode in a reining class at the Spindletop Spring show in Katy, Tex., she and Jerry won. The second time, she went Top 5 at Region 9, won again at the Summer Spectacular, was reserve champion at Region 11 and missed Top 10 in Canada by, "a frog's hair," says Caruth. She has now landed at U.S. Nationals just five and half months after beginning her reining "career."
Go visit Caruth Arabians in the Quicktrip Center and you won't leave empty handed. Generosity is one of Tracy Caruth's strengths and before you know it, you're walking away with a bag full of office supplies, DVDs and a smile. Besides her Arabian show endeavors, Caruth helps support the mounted police squads in Dallas and Albuquerque and is raising money for a Texas Horse Park. "It'll be the best equestrian facility in the world," says Caruth with the same confidence and excitement I'm guessing she takes to her training sessions with Jerry.
Caruth is living proof that a certain amount of confidence and excitement can take you places, including from the park ring, to the reining ring and back again, all in one show. A little Texas charm doesn't hurt either. "Good luck to you," she says as a reining competitor heads to his horse, "smoke 'em!"
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