KNOW THE PRO

Veronica Swales’ multidisciplinary expertise has given her an edge in reined cow horse.

BY JADE CURRID

Veronica Swales’ destiny to become an accomplished all-around horsewoman was written in the stars. Before she could even walk, the Canadian native’s passionate, multi-disciplined horse trainer parents, Peter and Judy Swales, entered her in her first horse show in a lead-line pleasure class.

“Both my parents were horse trainers,” Swales said. “I swear they groomed us to be horse trainers—that was their goal for us. It was a full circle for all of us. I have two brothers, and they are both horse trainers as well.”

While growing up in the rolling hills of Longview, Alberta, Swales and her two brothers—John and Clint—inherited a love for horses, cattle and the land, and gleaned invaluable knowledge from their parents, who trained hunter/jumpers, pleasure horses and Arabians, as well as had cattle. Swales and her brothers all received their horsemanship foundation while riding and working with hunter/jumpers, resulting in her development of an early affinity for the discipline. Then Swales made her debut in the cutting pen at age 6.

“I showed cutters and jumpers until I was about 13, and that’s when I showed my first cow horse,” Swales said. “And then after a while of showing cutters, cow horses and hunter jumpers, and still dabbling in the pleasure horses, my parents finally, said, ‘OK, you have to make a choice of what you want to do.’ I chose the Western world. My dad was a huge roper, so I roped a lot when I was younger as well. I team roped and breakway roped all through high school rodeo.”

Swales ventured into showing working cow horses at age 13, which eventually became her focus. While competing in reined cow horse events, she also embarked upon a successful stint of training barrel horses.

“I had a friend come up to me and ask me if could train a barrel horse,” Swales said. “And so, I gave it a whirl and trained my first barrel horse and won my very first barrel race that I ever went to, a futurity. And then after that kind of took off, I got into the barrel horse world and trained futurity derby horses for multiple years.”

Under the tutelage of her older brother and mentor, John Swales, Swales continuously developed her knowledge, skills and personal training technique, before evolving into a successful Non Pro around 2000 and turning professional in 2011.

“Probably my greatest memory showing in a National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity® was when I had a horse that my brother, John, actually trained,” she said. “It was my very first cow horse event back when I was 13, and he let me show him at the Snaffle Bit Futurity, and I won it when I was 13 for the Non-Pro, and that was what really got me hooked.”

With lifetime earnings of $139,511, Swales has won 10 major events over the past couple of years, alone. Notably, the 2021 DT Horses Western Derby Limited Open Derby and the 2021 NRCHA Stallion Stakes Limited Open Derby aboard Desires Sweet Pepto (Sweet Lil Pepto x Desires Lil Scoot x Scootin Boon) owned by Robin Lynn Morrison.

Swales’ extensive reined cow horse résumé includes serving as an NRCHA accredited 1A judge. She and her husband, Clay Volmer, who is also an NRCHA professional, and their two sons, Boyd Wilson and Clayton Volmer, are currently based in Brock, Texas. As it truly takes a village, Swales’ family works as a tightknit team to make their equine dreams a reality.

Reined Cow Horse News: What have you brought with you from other disciplines you have ridden and competed in to reined cow horse events?

Veronica Swales: I feel like growing up showing the hunter/jumpers helped me a lot with showmanship. My parents really instilled in us proper posture, and I feel like that’s really helped me be able to look prettier when I ride. Cutting helped me learn how to read cattle and cut cattle pretty good and help me feel pretty confident in that side of it.

I think it always helps a person to not really fear very much, so that’s helped quite a bit because we can’t really fear anything when we go down the fence. Riding barrel horses taught me probably the most valuable lesson: patience. You can’t train on the running-bred horses like you can the cow horses, so it taught me to be patient and also look outside the box if one is not getting something and really treat every horse as an individual rather than all the same.

I absolutely love it, but it takes kind of a special horse to be able to do all of it, between the reining and cow events. You have to put in the time, and you have to put in the effort to be able to do it. It takes kind of a special horse and the work ethic to be able to do it.

RCHN: How do you determine if a horse is cut out for reined cow horse events, and what qualities do you look for in a top reined cow horse prospect?

VS: One big thing is if they can lope. That’s a huge part of it, and if they naturally want to stop. Those would probably be the first things, and then if they have a pretty look to them; if they’re eye-catching. That would be something too for getting drawn to them.

I always think a horse has its place, whether it’s in our discipline or not, and I feel that if a horse gets a little bit better each day where I’m going to reach my end goal, he’s going to get there. I just kind of feel like that as long as they give us a little bit, then we’re good to go.

RCHN: What is your go-to piece of gear?

VS: I have a Dave Elliot snaffle that I’ve had for years. It’s a copper twist snaffle, and I love it. It is pretty much the first I reach for to use on any of my horses. I’ll use it on absolutely anything.

RCHN: What cow horse would you like to throw a leg over, living or dead?

VS: There are so many nice ones! A horse that I absolutely loved for so long was Olena Oak (a two-time World’s Greatest Horseman Champion with Ron Emmons). I thought he was so cool.

RCHN: Is there anything else that you would like to add for other competitors or readers?

VS: A big thing is to never give up. Always go after your goals. Never think that there is next year. Like if you want to do it, then don’t wait.