Curt Fuller

Farm Owner, Trainer

Note: This is taken from an internview with Curt when he was nominated for Appaloosa Trainer of The Year(2003)

1. HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE APPALOOSA INDUSTRY?

Parents are a dominant part of anyone's life and I would say that is where the initial spark had to begin with horses. My mom encouraged the sophistication of showing and my dad, old schooled rancher, helped develop me to sit and ride. In my early teens we purchased a 2 coming 3 year old unbroken stallion named Honey's Ric-a-tic for $350.00. He was gelded, broke, and then became my training partner through my youth career in open shows and ApHC shows. Now at 32 he roams the pastures on our farm always reminding me of the trial and errors he and I endured. And now in 2004 my children are the 4th generation Appaloosa owners and compete alongside myself.

2. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY?

I remember my dad saying horses were for serious working, meaning ranch work. Working 100 head of cattle on our farm is where it all began. Later as a teen I began competing in open shows and then on to Appaloosa competitions. At the ending of my youth career the amateur classes were accepted in the ApHC, now called non pro, I showed as a non professional for a couple of years. I began competing there only to realize I had the addiction of being "horse crazy" and starting training and showing in the open classes. I also was invited @ age 16, the youngest rider, to join the Twin Falls County Mounted Sheriffs Posse. This all men's group was not only a parade and drill team but did search and rescue for the local community. I went on to college to earn the 1st Associates in Equine Studies form the College of Southern Idaho. I now own my own training facility built on pasture ground once owned by my family. In the last 6 years I have coached the first College of Southern Idaho intercollegiate horse show team. This team has been in the top ten placing in the western team division and once earning a reserve title [at Intercollegiate Horse Show Associations Nationals].

3. WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR CAREER AS A HORSE TRAINER?

My favorite part of a competition, strange as it may seem, is not the show pen itself but the warm up arenas have been the most interesting and educational to me. There has never been one perticular person or method that has been strictly followed in my program. My method is a combination of the great trainers past and present with the classroom being the warm up pens from local open shows to Nationals and World competitions. The "who" is a long list of trainers, officials, judges, breeders and owners through a life time of Appaloosa involvement. I've had the opportunity to watch and discuss the language and talent used by horse people like: Danny Lopez, Jim Jirkowsdy, Grant and Penny Gibbs, Tony Kautzman, Lew Ekland, Al Anderson, Ward Fenton, Jeanne Donnelly, and George Minic, just to name a few. I am basically self-taught, a harder road to tread, but the people, horses and Appaloosa insdustry have been a determining influence upon me.

4. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR STRONGEST AREAS OF EXPERTISE IN REGARDS TO THE APPALOOSA INDUSTRY?

The versatility of the Appaloosa has always beena strong area in the sales, and promotion of the breed. In my youth career the all around awards were my driving force. In the beginning I remember even entering a saddle seat class in my hunt seat attire, not knowing there was a difference in each riding discipline. Competing in a variety of events creates a well rounded way of riding.

My stables has worked with a lot of young horses over the years from start to finish. Finding a horse’s talent and specialty is a unique challenge. As the horses develop their specialty class, I then begin to add more riding disciplines to them over time. It keeps these versatile horses interested and happy. Most owners can’t afford a horse for each event so molding a horse to an owner’s ability and interest has gotten the best results for the long term.

5. WHAT TRAITS DO YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE HORSES YOU TRAIN? IS THERE A PARTICULAR LINE OF APPALOOSAS THAT YOU ENJOY OR ARE MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH?

The traits I look for in a horse are probably quite similar to most trainers. I like to see a gentle and kind attitude that will be willing for a youth or non pro rider. Correct structure plays a big role because these horses have to be long lasting and durable due to the attachment to families that are formed for a lifetime. There has to be natural talent to mold into a champion so bloodlines then play a great role in the selection of the right horse. My family began and still has a few horses left with the old lines of Navajo Britches and Simco Snowy Rock and as the Appaloosa has evolved so has the bloodlines. Being from the west and Northwest I’ve had the opportunity to train horses by the Executive raised by the well known Lew Eklund. And now we work with some of the most popular lines of Zipp’n to Paradise, Zippos Mr. Misty, Top Sail Cody, The Hunter, Dreamfinder and many more outstanding lines. I stared with a “backyard horse” that went in to win classes at the well known shows like the Sagebrush Circuit. Sometimes there are just great individual out there just waiting for their talent to be molded.

6. IN JUST A FEW SENTANCES, DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY.

Being basically self-taught, I have had to learn to be a keen observer. What I have done is take the best part of each trainer, as a person and horse and incorporated what I feel will work for me, the horses, and the rider that I teach. There is more than riding skills and training horses that are a part of a successful program. A real partnership between horse and handler must exist for true success. When one is confident in oneself one will find success. My goal is to help riders and horse gain that confidence through practice, positive feed-back and challenges in the right proportions. What it really comes down to is a positive attitude, without it exhibitors and horses fall apart. I would have to say that my success comes from my ability to make learning fun without wavering from the pursuit of excellence.
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.

7. WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU THINK A TRAINER MUST POSSESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL? ARE THESE QUALITIES YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOUSELF?

I would say there a two qualities that are a must; endurance and loyalty. Being from the state of Idaho, where the state horse in the appaloosa, many factors affect the local horse industry. I say endurance because of many reasons such as the weather making it difficult to prepare horses for the World show or even early spring shows. The location that I am in makes traveling to shows difficult, at times traveling 8-12 hours. Enduring and lasting the changes of training techniques, show styles, equipment and fashion changes, and the economy puts any trainer to a test. Next, I would say that it takes a great deal of loyalty to the breed, to the horses, and to the owners. To be successful you must be willing to put the program ahead of most everything. A successful trainer will set a program for each student or horse and following through with the program. Loyalty holds a person responsible to the well being of the horses, and the owners.

8. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

I think just surviving as a trainer for the past 20 years and life is a huge accomplishment in these times. I take pride in teaching riding skills along with life skills to youth so they can be successful adults. I like working with adults and helping them accomplish childhood dreams. I feel accomplishment when a young horse comes in training only to see those horses 10 years later still doing a great job. World, National, and International titles are a wonderful accomplishment for anyone; maybe the icing on the cake. But, I think being able to live the dream and passion in life, which I have, is a very satisfying accomplishment.