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a respected professional,” Tracy says as she gets extremely seri- ous. “Go to work for an older professional and do that for a LONG time!! Learn it all and don’t quit when it gets rough. Learn that relationships and commitments go hand in hand, walking out or quitting is not an option most of the time!! Being a successful Junior in no way makes one any kind of a professional.” Mike has his own opinion but they are very much on the
same page. “Know EVERYTHING you can first,” he says in a serious tone. “Anatomy, shoeing, vetting, business organization and client relations, loyalty and a strong commitment through the tough times. Learn how a horse thinks BUT mostly learn how a horse hurts! Riding and winning is the easy part.” Nodding her head in agreement, Tracy finishes the topic,
“Jimmy Williams always said it best: ‘It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.’ But the reality is…. It’s what you learn after you admit you DON’T know it all that really makes you a GREAT professional, why would anyone want to be in this industry and be less?? “We need to change the industry,” says Tracy. “In this sport
someone can simply hang out a sign and people will come. TCP of USHJA is certainly a great step in the right direction of Professionals having to have credentials just as they do in most high dollar industries. Safety for both horse and rider, and
10 11
protecting the business part of trainer-client relationship, can be lacking when someone just hangs out a sign or steps right to it out of the Junior ranks.” Mike adds to the discussion, “People should be able to come
into our sport and feel confident they are in WELL KNOWL- EDGED professional hands. Business men and women writ- ing the checks for their families should be able to feel secure that someone is protecting their interest too. Just hanging out a shingle should no longer be enough, but the older profession- als need to be sure that somewhere along the line that Junior’s hear this!!” Tracy has also fallen in love with the reining sport. A few
years ago Sharnie Thompson sent her a paint stallion, The Big Sensation, to get in the hunter ring. Sharnie also had reining horses and Tracey decided to buy one, Skeeto Kid, then an- other, Smart Cielo Lena. Keeping them with Todd Crawford in Blanchard, Oklahoma, Tracey takes any available time off and fly’s in to compete. “I don’t get to practice so I only go to a few shows. I show in the Rookie Professional and Limited Open divisions and have a GREAT time doing it. Reiner’s do it different than us, I do all the work from bathing to saddling up but I get to show and play with none of the business re- sponsibly. Now I really really know why amateurs have horses to compete, it’s just plain fun!!”
This Page: 6. Tracy and Best Man, Photo © Cathrin Cammett. 7. Tracy and The Big Sensation. 8. Tracy and Skeeto Kid, Photo © Baxstrom. 9. Tracy and barn amateurs, (left to right) Michelle Kerivan, Tracy, Maryann Roach, Shelley Jones & Renee Conrad. 10. Tracy and Rhymetyme, 1982. 11. Tracy and Smart Cielo Lena, Photo © Waltenberry.
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