My career up to this point has been built on training the everyday horse for everyday things. Trail riding, trouble shooting, obstacles etc… I have competed extensively in the cowboy racing world and loved it! But last year, I finally had a team to help me run the barn, Bob and Susan Brennan Owners, Dusty LaBeth Manager/business director, Beth Olson Trainer. These individuals made it possible for me to spend more time improving myself and showing.
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With this added help, I stuck my toe in the cowhorse and ranch versatility worlds. I had a couple of nice client horses to show. I felt very confident in my ability to train and show in Ranch Riding and Trail, which I proved to be successful at on the local QH circuit. But the learning curve for training for the reined work and the cattle classes was STEEP.
I was fortunate enough to have access to one of the best horseman in the reined cowhorse industry: Brad Lund. He continues to be an enormous help to me as I continue to build my skills both in the reining and the cattle work.
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It became pretty clear mid way into the show season in 2018 that my personal quarter horse, Jesse was becoming a superstar cowboy racing horse, and was going to be quite challenging to retrain into the versatility world. Being a trainer that believes in allowing horses to play to their strengths, I decided to sell him and start over. Knowing literally nothing about cowhorses, bloodlines, breeders etc… I went to Brad for help. He picked out a very cute long yearling filly off of the Stuart Ranch in southern Oklahoma. I picked her up on the way home from the 2018 EXCA world finals, where Jesse had made top 10 in a very tough Open division.
It was definitely a tough decision to make considering I had also had Jesse from a long-yearling. But sometimes, I think it is important to recognize what our horses are good at and what they aren’t and let them continue in a job they feel successful in, even if that has to be with another person. For me it was a critical career decision that would feed my desire to improve myself beyond my current level of riding and step up to a higher caliber horse.
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To the left is a copy of Sedona’s papers. Her sire Smart Boons, had a LTE of over $190,000 in the National Reined Cowhorse Association. On her dam’s side her grandsire Real Gun showed grit and talent in both the NRCHA and as a rope horse in AQHA. Winning the 2004 AQHA Superhorse which is awarded to the horse that earns the most points in three or more Level 3 events in three categories during the show, Real Gun made a name for himself as a stud at the Stuart Ranch.
None of this guarantees Sedona will be a success in the cowhorse or versatility worlds, but it sets her up to be a great prospect. I am looking forward to the journey with Sedona and will be blogging updates along the way!
- Ashley Purdin
That is quite an amazing bloodline. Sedona will be in good hands
Nice mare. I have no doubt you’ll be successful Ashley. You are fortunate to have Brad so close by. Good luck!