Notable Non Pro: Kelsey Fulmer

NOTABLE NON PRO

Kelsey Delaplaine Fulmer followed her dreams to Texas and into the reined cow horse show pen.

By Kristin Pitzer

COURTESY OF KELSEY DELAPLAINE FULMER

She may have started her equestrian career in an English saddle, but Fulmer has found her groove in cow horse.

With a plethora of hunter-jumper farms and shows nearby, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, might seem like an unlikely sort of place to produce a competitive reined cow horse rider, but it’s where Kelsey Delaplaine Fulmer called home for many years. Fulmer grew up in an English saddle, competing at various hunter-jumper events all over the eastern United States, but one fateful day in college piqued her interest in Western riding and eventually led to a successful cow horse career.

Despite her English background, Fulmer grew up familiar with the Western lifestyle on her family’s 125acre ranch. The Delaplaines farmed crops, like corn and hay, and Fulmer and her brother showed Limousin cattle in 4-H and the National Junior Limousin Association. Although Fulmer loved cattle, her passion was always her horses.

After high school, Fulmer signed on to ride for the University of Georgia’s National Collegiate Equestrian Association hunt seat team in 2009. During practice one day, the English and Western teams decided to try something different.

“We had a switch day where the English girls got to ride Western and vice versa, and I rode a reining horse,” Fulmer recalled. “I was like, yep, I’m trading in my English stuff; I’m a reiner now.”

Fulmer continued riding for the hunt seat team until she transferred to West Virginia University. While there, she qualified for the national show as the regional high point rider for both the school’s Western and English teams. Then, at the 2013 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championship Horse Show, she claimed the all-around high point rider award.

During her time on the collegiate equestrian team, Fulmer found her “home away from home.” During a school trip one summer, she traveled to Texas and was immediately smitten with the state.

“I knew this is where I want to live,” Fulmer said.

It would be a few years before she could make it happen, but from that point on, moving to the Lone Star State became one of her biggest goals.

GOING WEST(ERN)

Fulmer graduated from WVU in December of 2013 with dual majors in Agribusiness Management and Animal and Nutritional Sciences, and a minor in Equine Management. She put away her English saddle and continued reining. Then, a month after graduating, and years of crossing paths with him at cattle shows but never actually meeting, she was introduced to her future husband, Brett Fulmer. Shortly into their relationship, Fulmer brought up her dream of moving to Texas and was thrilled to find Brett felt the same way. She found a job that took her to Cleburne, Texas, in 2015, with Brett following along.

“That’s all she wrote,” Fulmer said. “Now, it’s home, and I’m never going back.”

Fulmer continued reining until 2019, a few months after she had to put down her stallion, Boom Sail Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Cheeky Boom x Smart Chic Olena). Burned out in the reining pen, she switched to ranch versatility and bought a horse specifically for Stock Horse of Texas events. She soon realized that of the four disciplines involved in the sport, she really only enjoyed two.

“I found the reining and cow work classes to be my favorite, and I didn’t really care for the pleasure or the trail,” Fulmer said. “I decided I wanted to focus more on the cow side, so I ended up selling that horse and bought Starlight Driver.”

She and the gelding by Hydrive Cat and out of Starlights Lynn by Grays Starlight had a rough start, but with Brett’s encouragement, Fulmer made it through the challenges.

“I didn’t think it was going to work out, but he was [supportive and said,] ‘You’re not getting another horse— you’re going to figure him out,’ ” Fulmer said, with a laugh. “I’m so thankful we did, because ‘Driver’ and I have such a strong bond, and the relationship we’ve built, the confidence he’s given me, the rider he’s made me … That horse is very special to me.”

Since she purchased Driver in mid2019, Fulmer and the horse have had great achievements together. The pair won the National Reined Cow Horse Association $5,000 Non Pro Limited and $1,000 Non Pro Limited National Standings in 2020. The next year, they were the $1,000 Non Pro Limited World Champions and the $5,000 Non Pro Limited Reserve World Champions. For her first solid year showing in the reined cow horse, Fulmer was pleased with how far they had come—so much so that she purchased the gelding’s dam, Starlights Lynn, to begin her own breeding program.

Fulmer’s success in the cow horse pen hasn’t been limited to Driver. With only a couple of years of reined cow horse competition under her belt, she piloted LookAtLittleSister (out of Smart Playing Chic x Smart Chic Olena), to the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Limited Non Pro win.

“She was such a blessing to be able to own and show, and she helped me accomplish my goal of winning my first Futurity,” Fulmer said. “I sold her to one of Erin Taormino’s customers in March, and Erin is now showing her. I am thankful I am getting an embryo out of her so that I can get one of her babies.”

COURTESY OF KELSEY DELAPLAINE FULMER

A few titles have put Fulmer at the top of her cow horse game, notably with Starlight Driver and also LookAtLittleSister. She rode the latter to the 2021 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity® Limited Non Pro title.

A GIVING HEART

say it had to do with going to the clinic. Inc., a business that distributes lawn With several world championships, “I was very blessed growing up with and garden, animal health and pest national standings berths and an the support of my family financially management supplies. The job not only NRCHA Futurity title to her credit, to be able to do the horse stuff,” she keeps her connected to the agriculture Fulmer has made big waves since enter- added. “My life revolves around horses industry but also allows for a flexible ing the cow horse field. But that’s not and always will, and I’m very thankful schedule so she can ride and show. the only way she’s immersed herself in I was able to grow up that way. I want On the side, Fulmer operates Twisted the association. to be able to pass that along to other K Designs, her photography, graphic

Fulmer’s family owns the Delaplaine kids, as well.” design and equine marketing company. Foundation, a private family founda- She is also mom to son Brice, who was tion based in Frederick, Maryland, born in August of 2022. “dedicated to the enrichment of “He’s already spent many times communities and families within in the stroller outside while we Maryland, nearby states and the work with the horses,” Fulmer District of Columbia by support- said. “I’m going to be really sad ing programs to strengthen the if he ends up not liking them, but arts and sciences, educational I think he kind of has no choice! I advancement, health, human ser- had a horse, Cinch, that I’d had for vices, historical preservation and 12 years that was supposed to be spiritual enlightenment,” accord- his horse, but I lost him unexpecting to its mission statement. The edly on August 11. Luckily, I’ve foundation focuses on giving back got lots of other ponies for him to to Frederick’s community, which choose from.” is home to her grandfather, World Even with everything else War II veteran George Delaplaine keeping her busy, Fulmer, 31, Jr., and his ancestors. still has many goals she’d like

It was through the Delaplaine to accomplish in the cow horse. Foundation that Fulmer was also They include winning the national able to give back to the NRCHA, standings for the Box Drive, along an association she’s grown to with a world title in that divilove the past few years she’s been sion; showing Driver’s half-sister involved. This year, the founda- at next year’s NRCHA Snaffle Bit tion made a grant to the NRCHA Futurity; going down the fence Foundation to support clinics in in 2024; and, one day, riding into each region through its Youth the show pen on one of her own Clinic Program, including the home-raised prospects. Southwest Reined Cow Horse In the meantime, she’s thankful Association’s Free Youth Clinic Fulmer and husband, Brett, married in 2021 and welcomed their son for the support of her husband in July. Brice this past August. Brett, and said none of it would be

“I wanted to help give kids possible without his help. opportunities that maybe they wouldn’t HUSTLIN’ FOR THE DREAM “He is a huge part of my success be able to have on their own,” Fulmer Balancing riding with the foundation, in the horse industry,” she said. “He said. “I would love nothing more than multiple jobs and her family requires does so much behind the scenes for a kid that our family helped to one day, work, but for Fulmer it’s all worth it. me and my horses. His world literally down the road, become a professional To sustain her hobby, she is a terri- revolves around me, and now our son, in the industry or win something and tory sales manager for BWI Companies too.”

COURTESY OF KELSEY DELAPLAINE FULMER