Scheer Performance Horses

THE GRIND NEVER STOPS

BY JESSIE SHOOK

TC and Brandi Scheer are chasing the dream (and cattle) with their business, Scheer Performance Horses. Located in Altoona, Alabama, the couple, along with their son BA (8), start, train and show cutting horses.

TC and Brandi originally met in their home state of Idaho where they both competed in high school rodeo. They went on their own adventures after high school, each getting extensive experience with horses. They reconnected in 2002 while TC was working at Haythorn Land and Cattle in Nebraska and Brandi at Santa Fe Reiners in New Mexico.

After they married in 2004, the two winding roads they were on eventually led them to starting Scheer Performance Horses in 2008 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with TC as the trainer and Brandi as the loper/office manager/everything else. “It has taken a lot to get where we are now,” Brandi said. “We had a lot of times in our lives where it was time to move on. We’ve taken a lot of leaps of faith but have had a lot of God-meant-to-be opportunities.”

While the Scheers have a very diverse equine background, their sole focus now is on cutting horses, and they offer a full list of services around this discipline. "I still start 2-year-olds, while also training nonpro and amateur horses," TC added. “We also offer lessons and help with sales.”

TC, Brandi and BA.

TC explained how training these performance horses is a long, slow process. Every horse is different. They are started under saddle, trained to be soft and supple, and then the cow is introduced slowly. “I let the cow tell them where to go,” he said. “The end goal for us as cutters is to let the horse take over and do it on their own. They read the cow; they do what the cow does. It’s a very long, time-consuming process but a fun one. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Cutting originated hundreds of years ago on big ranches as the cowboys sorted cattle to ship to markets. Cowboys eventually made a sport out of it. “One cowboy said to another, ‘My horse is better than yours’ and from there it became a competition,” Brandi said.

The technical aspects of cutting may be different these days, but the need remains the same. “We’re the last tie to the West,” Brandi added. “Cattle is the reason we do this. If you go off the main road, cattle are everywhere and there are still modern-day cowboys working these cattle every day. Most of the world lives entirely different from that but I think people like the thought of the western cowboy still having a place in our society. It’s something that people crave.”

Brandi reiterated how cutting continues to make horses a valuable commodity in today’s society. “Cutting is more than just a tangible good. It’s not just a ceramic you put in your house to look at,” she said. “Cutting is important because it continues to create a connection between people and horses.”

TC and Brandi’s son, BA, is an integral part of their business. He helps his dad by turning back cattle while TC is working the cutting horses. He also will help Brandi lope horses at shows to get them ready for TC to show. (Photo Credit: Erin Johnson, Snapshot Ranch)

Cutting is a sport that has a place for all levels of experience. The Scheers mostly have client horses. Some of the owners will show their own horses, while others are shown by TC. Cutting has classes based on the horse’s age and rider's amateur, non-professional status. “It’s equal for the horse and rider,” Brandi added.

TC explained how important their clients are and how it takes people who get excited about this sport to allow them to do what they do. “Cutting is a hobby, it’s no different than a boat,” he said. “There’s no reason anyone would have to show cutting horses, the customers we have enjoy the horses and the sport.”

The Scheers travel to 25 to 30 shows a year; about half the weekends out of the year. Some of these shows are weeklong shows. It’s hard work without much time off. Brandi explained that it takes someone with a certain personality. “A lot of horse trainers get credited for being really dry, not overly friendly and ‘better with animals,’” she said. “It’s drive – you have to have your head down, going after it all the time.” TC added, “You hear that saying ‘It’s Monday, back to the grind’ – we never stop grinding here. That’s what has made us successful, it’s the reputation that we work.”

The Scheers have built their own facility on their land that includes a 20-stall barn, 100’x100’ indoor arena, mechanical flag, 125’ round outdoor arena, cattle pens and horse turnouts, with plans for more additions in the future. Blount County Co-op, located in Oneonta, Alabama, has been there every step of the way to help the Scheers with their building needs, while also supplying TC with ropes for weekend events.

Brandi in action. (Photo Credit: Seth Petit)

From the perspective of TC and Brandi, this lifestyle comes with many ups and downs. “It seems like you’re always chasing something,” Brandi said. “The industry has really progressed, the quality of horses and level of competition just keeps going up – there’s definitely that sense of ‘you’ve never arrived.’”

With that, the Scheers want to continue to grow their name in a positive way that represents the industry well. “I feel like we’re in a really good place right now, but we can always do better,” Brandi said. “When we started doing this, I had an exact picture of what I wanted to achieve in my mind, and I didn’t think we would be successful until we reached it. I realized that there’s a lot of different levels of success – we will always want to go and win more.” TC added, “Even with that, if all this business has done is just paid for our house and land, and let us have a comfortable lifestyle and have fun doing it – it's all been worth it. We’ve been really blessed. As long as it keeps taking care of us, and we can help keep this sport alive, I'm happy."

For more information on Scheer Performance Horses visit their website www.scheerpreformancehorses.com.

BA helping his dad by turning back.