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Fuller Training Stables News and Happenings.
News Stories
 FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
The Appaloosa Horse Club, Inc.
Contact: Krystina McCoy, Public Relations Coordinator
(208) 882-5578 ext. 229 :: (208) 882-8150 FAX
publicrelations@appaloosa.com
See Appaloosa news page
here
July 19, 2006
Curt Fuller Named 2005 Trainer of the Year by Appaloosa Horse Club
Moscow, Idaho – Curt Fuller, of Twin Falls, Idaho was named Trainer
of the Year by the Appaloosa Horse Club at its 2005 Year-End Awards Banquet
in Oklahoma City on July 2, 2006. Curt has had a very successful career,
which has been woven into the fiber of Appaloosa history. Curt began in
his early teens with a horse named Honey’s Ric-a-Tic that he purchased
for $350.00. This unbroken stallion became a lifetime training partner
through Curt’s youth show career and to this day resides in his
pasture while his son and daughter, both 4th generation Appaloosa owners,
compete with Curt and cheer him on.
Curt began his riding career by starting with the Twin Falls County Mounted
Sheriffs Posse, and later joined a group of horse enthusiasts to become
the Idaho State Horse Show association. Later Curt went on to college
and earned the first associates degree in Equine studies from the college
of Southern Idaho. He went on to coach the first College of Southern Idaho
intercollegiate horse show team earning the team a reserve title.
According to Curt, “my favorite part of competition is not the
show pen but the warm up arenas.” The warm up pen has been one of
Curt’s most educational classrooms. Curt has taken this knowledge
and education and applied it to promoting the versatility of the Appaloosa
breed by training all-around horses. Curt states, “I train horses
because I have a passion for maximizing the potential of every horse I
train.”
Curt’s philosophy for training and teaching is to have fun, work
hard, raise the bar, challenge ones self, and understand that we all impact
one another. Curt takes the best part of each trainer, as a person and
horseman, and incorporates what he feels will work for him the horses
and the riders that he teaches. His goal is to help riders and horses
gain confidence through practice, positive feedback and challenges in
the right proportions. Curt shares with us, “It is awesome to have
an addiction for horses; it is one of the best ways I know to build meaningful
character in all of us.” The Appaloosa Horse Club warmly congratulates
Curt on this very deserving honor.
The Appaloosa Horse Club is the international breed registry for Appaloosa
horses and is located in Moscow, Idaho. Since 1938, the ApHC has been
dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the breed. Agile, intelligent
and distinctively colorful, Appaloosas excel in a variety of events and
are beloved around the world for their even temperaments and reliability.
Photo available. Contact: Krystina McCoy, ApHC Public Relations Coordinator
at (208) 882-5578 ext. 229 or publicrelations@appaloosa.com
or Curt Fuller at (208) 734-8148.
Appaloosa Exhibitors raise the bar at 57th National Appaloosa
Show and World Championship Youth Show
Sarah Skaar
Horse Sports
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Youth exhibitors
from across the northwest led the pace at the 57th World Championship
Youth Show in Oklahoma City, June 28-July 10. The two-week event - which
originated in Lewiston, Idaho in 1948 - included more than 4,016 exhibitors,
1,200 Appaloosas and 15,000 spectators from around the world. Leading
the charge among the youth stars was ApHC 2004 All-Around Youth Champion,
George Lawrence, Seattle, Washington, the 18 year old son of Chris
and Mary Lawrence.
No stranger to the pressures of the big
leagues, George received a Featherlite aluminun trailer for one year's
use compliments of Featherlite, Inc; a Silver Mesa trophy saddle
donated by Sergeant's Western World and a custom-designed sterling silver
belt buckle compliments of Gist Silversmiths.
George also earned Reserve High Point
16-18, behind Megan Caliendo of Lake Oswego, Oregon.
"I got started showing about 11 years
ago," says the three-time ApHC Youth All-Around Champion. "I
tried it and got hooked. I've been doing it ever since."
His main partner in the show pen is Whats My
Pleasure (Skip's Reward x Zippoette Bar) a horse George describes as,
"Amazing."
He explains, "We can't actually shoot
for all-around, so we focus on classes that he's athletically made to
do: showmanship, bare-back, western equitation, western riding, trail.
Those are the ones we focus on, but we've done others too."
Characterizing his bay as "mischievous,"
George said he bought the horse as a six-year-old, but his new mount
was far from finished. After briefly showing at halter and western pleasure
as a youngster, the gelding had been turned out for three years. Working
with Sue Cummings and Sarah Aaron of Deerfield Farms, George put lots
of time and world-show polish on the performer, now 11.
His fifth time to show at World, George says
this year a little different.
"The classes were bigger this year," he
observes. "There were about 300 new entries, which meant a lot of
fresh competition. And it was definitely harder to win the All-Around
without English events. I've shown English, but it's not really my horse's
I niche.
George partners with another horse - Ima Frosty Lena
Jr (Ima Frosty Lena x Chance II Express) in reining competition, a class
he won at World for the second time.
"Reining has a higher level of intensity
and degree of difficulty than some of my other classes," he remarks.
"There's nothing cooler than a great sliding stop and all that athletic
ability. I like the challenges of western pleasure, but reining is just
so fun, and fast, and hard, it's pretty hard to beat."
Not surprisingly this versatile all-around rider
is also interested in learning more about working cow horse, adding, "I
haven't done much yet, but what I liked most about the cattle is how much
my horse likes it." He hopes to add the class to his list in the
future.
The high school senior plans on college at Southern
Methodist University in Texas, so he can train with Terry Thompson and
focus more on his reining. Youth exhibitors haven't seen the last of him
though, since he has the World Show in his sights again for next year.
Of showing Appaloosas, George concludes,
"I definitely prefer Appaloosas after having been around them
for several years. They definitely have a very unique personality. All
(the Appaloosas) I've gotten to know have wanted to try really hard.
And you can't help but like the color!"
Chelsea Retmier, Twin Falls, agrees, piloting
her five-year-old mare, Wilma Weedo (DZ Weedo x Zippin Cowgirl) to a Reserve
Championship in Western Pleasure 12 & Under. Retmier also placed third
in Western Riding, fourth in Showmanship, fifth in Hunter under Saddle
and tenth in Western Equitation for the 12 & under age group.
Her second year to show at Youth World, Chelsea
says, "This year really helped my career in the horse show world.
It was fun and I was really pleased with how my horse worked. There were
a lot more entries in the show, so I was very excited to see those numbers."
Next year Chelsea moves up into the 13-15
division.
"It's a really tough group and I'll be
going in as an underdog, since I'll be the youngest, but I'm ready
to try it," she says.
Chelsea was introduced to Appaloosas by a neighbor,
who recommended the horsecrazy youth take a few lessons from Curt
Fuller.
"Horses are my first love," she declares.
"I have to balance my riding with my other sports of volleyball and
basketball. I have to give up extra things and am very willing to do that
because horses are my main priority. "
The 8th grade daughter of Candy and Jim Retmeir
adds, "I'm giving Wilma the winter off, then we'll start riding to
get ready for the 13-15 events. I'm going to work hard and be pleased
with how we do, regardless."
She says she tries to emulate the positive attitude of her trainer and
coach, Curt Fuller, Twin Falls.
"He's my inspiration. I've watched him
train and coach since I was eight, and he always has a great attitude.
If he had an awesome class but didn't place, he still comes out excited
and pleased and proud of the horse. And if he knows you tried and rode
well, he's excited for you. That great attitude makes it a lot more
fun!"
Additional northwestern riders turning in stellar
performances at the ApHC World Championship Youth Show include Caitlyn
Fuller of Twin falls, who placed fourth in the Leadline class riding Scotch
and Clancy (Zippos Scotch Bar x Totally Clancy).
Brett O'Rear, Albion, was a finalist in Hunter
under Saddle 13-15 with Hunting in the Dark (The Hunter x Tarot) and Western
Pleasure 13-15 with Scotch and Clancy.
Michelle Bobbitt, Bellvue, showed Mr Glo Getter (Mr Glo Jangles x Highdollar
Callgirl) to seventh in Novice Non Pro Showmanship and ninth in Three-year-old
Geldings.
Twin Falls, Idaho- based trainer, Curt Fuller,
rode three different horses to top ten placings: Wilma Weedo, owned by
Chelsea Retmier to ninth in Junior Horse Western Riding; Alias Hunter
(The Hunter x Alias Jo-Lena S), owned by Kristy Staker of Phoenix,
Ariz., and Lori Jackson, Twin Falls, to sixth in Three-year-old Hunter
Under Saddle; and Hunting in the Dark, owned by Betty Hill of Albion,
to seventh in Hunter In Hand Mares.
High Point 18 & under Equitation Rider was
Brittany Billow of Bellevue, Washington. Reserve High Point Novice
18 & Under was Tiffany Hayward of Olympia, Washjngton.
Fuller, who operates Fuller Training Stables
with his wife, Denise, received national recognition for his nomination
for 2003 Appaloosa Horse Club Trainer of the Year. Nominated by his clients,
Fuller was then chosen by the national selection committee as one
of only three finalists for the prestigious award.
M.V. riders compete at National Appaloosa Horse Show
Local Trainer wins Trainer of the Year nomination
From Ag Weekly
TWIN FALLS -- Several riders representing Fuller Training Stables of
Twin Falls recently competed at the 57th National Appaloosa Horse Show
and Youth World Show in Oklahoma City, Okla. More than 4,000 exhibitor,
and 1,200 Appaloosas competed in this show.
Michelle Bobbitt of Bellevue with her horse Mr. Glo Getter, finished in
seventh place in Novice Non-Pro Showmanship and ninth place in Three Year
Old Halter Geldings.
Caitlyn Fuller of Twin Falls placed fourth place in the Lead line class
riding Scotch and Clancy.
Brett O'Rear of Albion was a finalist in Hunter Under Saddle 13-15 with
Hunting in the Dark and Western Pleasure 13-15 with Scotch and Clancy.
Chelsea Retmier of Twin Falls riding Wilma Weedo won a Reserve Championship
in Western Pleasure 12 and under. Retmier also placed third in Western
Riding 13 and under, fourth in Showmanship 12 and under, fifth in Hunter
Under Saddle 12 and under and 10th in Western Equitation 12 and under.
Trainer Curt Fuller rode Wilma Weedo, owned by Retmier to ninth place
in Jr. Horse Western Riding and Alias Hinter, owned by Kristy Stecher
of Phoenix, Arizona to sixth place in Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle.
Fuller also showed Hunting the the Dark, owned by Betty Hill of Albion
to a seventh-place finish in Hunter in Hand Mares.
Fuller, trainer and operator of Fuller Training Stables not only showed
horses to top-10 finishes, but also was nominated for Appaloosa Horse
Club 2003 Trainer of the year. Trainers from across the world that make
the primary earnings by training and promoting the Appaloosa can be recommended
by their clients for the title. The national club then picks the top three
and presents them as nominees to the committee, who then chooses the Trainer
of the Year. Fuller was named as one the nominees and presented with a
plaque.
Photo: Chelsea Retmier on Wilma Weedo, left; her mother, Candy Retmier;
assistant coach Hannah Bitzenburg; and trainer Curt Fuller collect awards
at the 57th National Appaloosa Horse Show and Youth World Show in Oklahoma
City, Okla.
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