REINED COWGIRLS Meet four ladies who are blazing their own trails

WHITNEY WATSON-WILSON

Salmon Arm, BC

Primo Morales

Whitney got her start in horses via the time-tested gold standard of 4H. Her first taste of reined cow horse came in the practicum of her western horsemanship program through Olds College, where Watson-Wilson acquired the position of assistant trainer at Clay Webster Performance Horses. She apprenticed under Webster’s careful tutelage for four years until the mountains of British Columbia and her family called her back. She now operates her program out of beautiful Salmon Arm, BC.

Watson-Wilson’s favourite thing about the industry is the people. “Coming to shows and getting to see everybody makes the 10 to 12-hour drive worth it,” she says.

Watson-Wilson is no stranger to the road. Hauling for help is usually a weekend ordeal or longer, and has become an every day part of her business. She will call other veteran trainers in both the reining and cow horse industries, and strives to take bits from everyone back home. She is quick to credit Webster for his feedback both at the shows, and from afar

Whitney Watson-Wilson believes that some female trainers may be underestimated because of their small stature, but finds it easier to exceed expectations as a woman in the profession.

at home. She found it difficult after first striking out on her own, but has learned the secret to success and happiness is the gift of time to build both herself as a trainer, and improve her facility.

Family is very important to maintaining a work/life balance for Watson-Wilson. She makes a point to spend her weekends with her family as much as possible, finding it recharges her emotional and physical battery.

“It is very easy to push too hard, and when I do, I get depressed. I have learned to put ME first when I need to,” she states.

When asked about the biggest mental struggle she faces, she points out that believing in herself, both in the arena and in life in general, are the hardest things. She feels some female trainers may be underestimated because of their small stature, but finds it easier to exceed expectations. Her biggest piece of advice is to see the positives.

“You can’t control everything, so make sure you enjoy the experience and are proud of how you did.”

TRESSIE SMITH

Minburn, AB

It is okay to have a messy house. It is okay to have a babysitter. It is okay to have dreams and goals. It is okay to be ‘selfish,’ meaning put yourself first. Your kid won’t hold it against you.

Some realize early on that post-secondary is not a good fit. Smith moved to California, bought a stack of horse magazines and started cold-calling trainers looking for a riding position. Her first experience down the fence was on a horse professional trainer Lyn Anderson (Madera, CA) trained, and according to Smith, the leg wraps came unraveled during the fence work and she jumped off. Even after a harrowing start, she quickly fell in love with the versatility of cow horses.

In 2018, Smith’s long-time goal of a shot at the World Show on Lenas Smokin Jac, her best buddy of four years, was looking like a realistic possibility. One week before the last show of the year however, she found out that she was pregnant. Two days later, there were complications and the doctors ordered bedrest.

“There were so many mixed emotions, excited, nervous and disappointment that one goal that was so close, but was slipping away.”

Thankfully she was cleared to ride eventually, however, “…I was too fat once I WAS able to ride,” laughs Smith.

A slight shift in plans lead to Shayne, Tressie’s husband, taking the reins with Tressie to accompany as support and they hit the road to Fort Worth, TX. Looking back, it was a great experience, and increased the Smith’s drive for more.

Tressie says the key to balancing the roles of motherhood, coach, and trainer is to have a good support team behind you.

“Time is precious, don’t rush it,” she advises. She feels females tend to be compassionate, but in doing so, may blame themselves and take things that happen more personally than their male counterparts. And then there’s being a mom. So what’s her best piece of advice for other mothers out there?

“It is okay to have a messy house. It is okay to have a babysitter. It is okay to have dreams and goals. It is okay to be ‘selfish,’ meaning put yourself first. Your kid won’t hold it against you.”

MARCHA DUVENAGE

Neilburg, SK

Jeff Kirkbride Photography

Duvenage’s family immigrated from South Africa when she was just six-years-old. Her dad bought her a horse very shortly after, and she spent the majority of her early riding career helping the neighbors in the ranching community of Vermilion, AB, while starting colts and climbing the 4H ranks. Her parents instilled the need for schooling, so Duvenage completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Business while working at a Lammle’s store and connected with the Grams Horsemanship Center to get her equine fix in the evenings and on weekends.

Duvenage is coming off large wins at both the Arizona Sun Circuit Smart Boons Fence Challenge and the Idaho Reined Cowhorse Association Limited Open Bridle recently. She had the opportunity to rub shoulders with many of her heroes.

“They treated me like family. Everyone was friendly, I got to connect with so many great people. The camaraderie was

Hiring a sports psychologist has helped Marcha Duvenage find success in the show ring.

my favourite part of it all,” she says.

The young trainer prepared herself by hiring a sports psychologist to help her through her struggle with nerves and feelings of self-doubt. That decision was her key to confidence in the pen.

Duvenage says it was daunting to enter such large events, especially for ‘a girl from rural Saskatchewan,’ but admits a person can’t let that get in one’s head.

“Women in general are too quick to sell ourselves short,” she states. She feels it’s very important to be a positive and friendly, yet brave role model for young girls today. She has a reputation of encouraging young ladies, and feels the pressures that social media place on young females today can send the wrong message. Therefore, the best way Duvenage combats that notion is by being an example of a fun, fearless female who overcomes expectations and succeeds with a smile on her face.

SARAH WOLFS

Strathmore, AB

Originally drawn to jumping, Sarah Wolfs has now made the switch to cow horse and is an assistant trainer to professional Cody McArthur.

HD2 Sports

Wolfs is the newest kid on the block. Hailing from Rosebud, AB, Wolfs was drawn to jumping in her teens. However, she has made the switch to riding in a western saddle and she works now as an assistant to professional cow horse trainer, Cody McArthur.

Wolfs hit the scene earlier this year and quickly showed her ambition. She was leading the reined work at the Alberta Snaffle Bit Futurity held this past September 3-6 in Claresholm, AB, when disaster struck in the herd. Her second cow ran her over and to throw salt in the wound, kicked her on the way by. This resulted in a badly broken ankle, requiring surgery and a plate and pins to aid in the repair. Still, Wolfs managed to find a silver lining.

“The community is so great. Tyler Darroch stepped in to catch ride my horse for me. It’s so different from the jumpers, everyone was cheering for me – it feels like such a community,” she notes.

Being the newest face in the pen caused Wolfs to battle her nerves, prior to that first show.

“I was so nervous, I lost sleep for two nights. Then right before I was going in, my boss’s wife Farrah (MacArthur) said I was white! I did the reined work and was petrified, but I drew a good cow, and it went well. That was a huge vote of confi dence.”

Walking into a show and feeling comfortable, especially being one of a few female riders in the warm-up pen was daunting for Wolfs, as it can be for any rider. Getting past the feelings of uncertainty was a hurdle, but when people were genuinely excited for her, that doubt transformed into assurance.

GLASS CEILING

Is there such a thing as a glass ceiling in the reined cow horse industry, especially in Canada? If the corporate world struggles with it, wouldn’t this full-contact sport follow suit? The ladies seem to disagree. While the typical female role is that of main support, the biggest factor to their success is determination. That is part of the criteria in the discipline of cow horse – no matter the gender. All agree that a smaller stature has zero bearing on ability and each of them mentioned the importance of positivity. Chasing your dreams means taking chances. Like most cowgirls, the ladies interviewed here were modest and humble, making them prime examples for future generations. The future of reined cow horse looks bright.