Ruby Rose May Cowgirl of the Month

Ruby Rose Cowgirl Clothes May Cowgirl Of The Month Kathy Trute

Choosing our May Cowgirl of the Month was pretty easy for me once I met Kathy Trute.  This is one special woman who has taken on a pretty big task and that is bringing more barrel racing back to the Carson Valley—and Northern Nevada for that matter--with Rip N Tear Barrel Racing which is held twice a month at our very own Douglas County Fairgrounds. 

I really enjoyed talking with Kathy one afternoon.  As I have written more than once, the favorite part of my job is meeting and getting to know the amazing cowgirls who come into the store.  I met Kathy when she came in to talk to me about the barrel races she wanted to get going and I couldn’t wait to help out in any way possible.  From then on it was like we had known each other for years.  So anyway, here’s how our interview went . . . .

Kim:  My first question to you cowgirls is how long have you been riding?

Kathy: I started way back in 1968-69.  My dad brought home a horse.  He was just that kind of person always bringing something home and one day he brought this horse home.  That’s how I started, I rode him.  And my dad brought some mules home—didn’t like them very well, but we rode them down in Southern California by San Bernardino .  We moved from there to Hisperia and that’s where I really got into riding when we got more horses.  I got more into the Roundy Round which is your Western Pleasure and then I went to work with a lady who had stallions.  She had Lucky Dad which was a really good Quarter Horse stallion.  They went from Western Pleasure, reining classes and they showed for years.  That’s where I learned most of my riding was from her.

Ki:  How old were you then?

Ka: When I rode for them, I was probably 12 or 13.  They got into the English end of it, Hunter Hack and Jumping.  My very first blue ribbon was in a Hunter Hack class.  From there I went to First Level Dressage.  I’ve done that.  Then we went to showing.  They had POA’s (Ponies of America—little Appy ponies) and with one of her daughters, we used to do exhibits of riding over fences with no bridles, no saddles (as she chuckles).

Ki:  You are really an accomplished horsewoman.

Ka:  I’ve been doing it a lot of years.  We’d just put a little wire around their neck and be in the arena at the same time doing our patterns and stuff.

Ki:  It is so interesting.  I get to meet you incredible cowgirls and all your stories are so unique.  It is fascinating.

Ka:  It’s neat how each person comes from a different way—how they change and what they’ve done.  It’s pretty interesting.

Ki:  What I like to ask is how you feel when you ride?  How does it make you feel?

Ka:  It is probably the most relaxing part of the day.  Seeing what you can do as a rider to improve your horse.  I’m riding a young horse now—I’ve broke a lot of horses in years past—this horse, she learns so fast and it is so rewarding.  No one is out there to bother you.  You’re out there by yourself.  It’s enjoyable.  I don’t think you can really put a label on it.  It’s beautiful.  It gives you peace.

Ki:  That’s what makes you want to ride?

Ka:  Oh yeah.  People can go buy horses.  When they’ve got the money, they buy the broke horses.  But it is more of an accomplishment when you can take your horse especially when you’ve watched them being foaled, raised them, broke them, and made them into a barrel horse.  That’s what’s exciting to me.

Ki:  And that’s what you do now?  You’ve been a barrel racer for . . .

Ka:  At least 24-25 years.  Just locals, though.  But thank God American West came along because that gives the average rider a place to compete.  Like when you go to the professional rodeos, you have to be in the top 5.  But American West is open to all riders, all ages, and all levels.  You don’t have to have the fastest horse to have fun doing it. You can have the slowest horse and still make money and still do good.  You can feel like you’re still a part of which has always been really good—barrel racing.

Ki:  Now you’ve started your barrel races on a monthly basis.  Tell me about that.

Ka:  I used to do this quite a few years ago.  I used to be the president of Douglas County Junior Rodeo and we would do barrel races with that and the rodeo.  I’ve done it for years, put them on, we used to call it “TGI Friday”.  Things changed and so we haven’t done it for a while.  But now we’re back, bringing it back to Gardnerville, bringin’ the girls out and havin’ fun.

Ki:  And you call it?

Ka: “Rip N Tuck Barrel Racing”.  That’s what we used to call my ranch--Rip N Tear Quarters.  It’s funny how we got the name Rip N Tear.  We used to have the cleaners in town and a friend of ours would come in.  He had this old shirt with rips and tears.  I couldn’t throw something away if it had rips and tears in it, it wasn’t my shirt to throw away.  So, he was teasing us and would say “All you do is rip n tear stuff and still send it out”.  I thought, Rip N Tear Barrel Racing –you rip n tear around a barrel.  That’s how I came up with the ranch name.  And now, I keep it going forward into the barrel races.

Ki:  I was out there for the first one. What was really interesting to me was that a lot of the gals just ride for times.  It was really neat to see how this was an avenue for them to get out and work their horses.  It wasn’t the competitive portion of the races but how they apply that to their race.

Ka:  In the beginning of the barrel races they can do that. It is called “Time Only” and they use that to get the horse conditioned to the arena, to see where the mind of the horse is at, also to see where they need to work if they do get to the competition. “What do I have to fix?  What do I have to work on?” That’s why we have “Time-Only” before that hard run comes.

Ki:  How many gals did you have?

Ka: This time we had 21 girls in the open but we had a lot more in the times only, we’ll have a lot more at the next one.

Ki:  You’ve had to push the next race back?

Ka:  We cancelled it because of the equine virus going around.  I’ll let you know when that is.

Ki:  Barrel racing is your favorite thing to do. And you have two daughters, one is into barrel racing?

Ka:  They both were. The horse I’m riding now is technically my older daughter’s horse but I told her that she can’t ride it because she was giving her bad habits.  So, I told her you’re not having this horse till I can get her (the horse) all ready to go.

Ki:  Will you run anytime this summer?

Ka:  I’m hoping to. 

Ki:  Your goal is to work with your horse and get her out there to race?

Ka:  I haven’t raced myself in about 8 years now.  I want to get back out there and prove to myself that I can still do it and compete. Get back in with my friends who are barrel racers, have a good time, and get my younger daughter back out there when she get’s home.  Both of my daughters have won saddles. 

Ki:  We have the barrel races through the summer twice a month.  With a double header in September?

Ka:  The 24^th and 25^th of September, we’ll have that along with a double header in team roping.  We’re working on getting Lacey J Dalton for that weekend, too.

Ki:  One thing I love about you cowgirls is that you never make me feel stupid.  I’m just getting back into riding and learning a lot.   When I ask y’all questions, it’s great.  You take the time to explain things.

Ka:  You can never stop learning.  I don’t care how long you’ve ridden, how many horses you’ve ridden, who you’ve ridden under, you can never, ever stop learning.  And once you do that, you better hang up your spurs because you learn from everybody--everything.  If anyone was to ever put someone down, I would be upset.  People are people.  You have to help people.  If someone doesn’t know something, give them a little tid bit.  I’ve been at a gymkhana or a barrel race before where I’ve seen something wrong, and I’ve asked if I can adjust it for them—just to help them.  Because if you don’t help, that’s just not right.  It keeps ‘em safe, I’ve seen too many people get hurt out there.

Ki:  For the most part, the cowgirls I’ve met have been really great. It’s cool.  Now at Ruby Rose we use the motto of “Embrace Your Cowgirl Spirit”.  What does cowgirl spirit mean to you?

Ka:  Probably the outdoor freedom of life itself.  It’s just you, the horse, and the outdoors.  No one can take that away from you.  It’s peace and tranquility.  Even with all the rough times, I just want to be with the horses.  Just talk with them because they listen.  No matter how rough the day is, they listen.

Ki:  I’m really thankful that you are doing this for me.  I totally admire you for what you are doing.  I know you have had some big challenges in the recent years.  You’re strong!! You’re doing it.  You’re putting that energy towards something that not only means something to you but it means something to a lot of other women.  I think that is a really good thing.  All you cowgirls are real.  I’ve been in this business a long time—all my life—but this has been the most enjoyable for me.  You cowgirls are real, very compassionate great people.

Ka:  The girls that I’ve run together with for 25 years, we’re still friends, still runnin’ together.  It’s nice to still always have those friends that you can count on.  It’s great.  A lot of people are a dime a dozen, but at least in the horse world, you have honest friends.

Ki:  Thank you so much!!!

Ka:  Thank you!

This interview with Kathy went on for a while longer because she is so interesting and knows so much.  I truly enjoyed our conversation and I deeply admire her.  We relate on a lot of levels with challenges each of us has faced.  But she’s doing it—being strong and doing for others!  What an inspiration!  She’s just an amazing woman.  Now I am proud to say that we are friends! Thank you to all you cowgirls out there!

I LOVE MY JOB!!!  Have a fantastic day—and a fantastic ride!!

Kim

I Am So Thankful!

Yes, I feel so blessed.  4 years ago I had a dream of having a cowgirl store.  I researched and observed what cowgirls wore and what manufacturers seemed to be the best.  My husband and I traveled to the western trade shows.  He was and still is such a trooper supporting me in every way imaginable.  And then we opened our store 3 years ago. 
What an incredible "ride" this is.  Right now I sit here having my morning coffee and I can't help but get super tingly all over because I absolutely love having Ruby Rose Cowgirl Clothes.  And what I love most about it is I have made so many wonderful friends.  Because we have become so busy, I am not able to be in the store as much as I used to.  But you incredible cowgirl friends are worth all the work it takes to make this dream come true.  Right now as I write I have tears running down my face because I am truly touched that y'all like what we are doing.  I promise that I will continue to work my damndest to find you the best products I possible can.  I will support whatever causes I can, too.
My husband Nathan and my sons Sean and Aaron are so wonderful to me.  Here I am in a household of men (well, the boys are mostly away at school) but they listen to me with all my stories of who came into the store, how they're doing, what is selling and what isn't selling . . . on and on.  They have been there for me when I am so tired or don't have time to do all the things I used to do for them.  But they never complain.  I love them so much.
And now I look at our Ruby Rose Cowgirl Clothes website and see how far we've come from when we started with it.  We are sending product to South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, California, Idaho---this is just unbelievable.  What about the photos that my Sean has been taking?  He has captured the true cowgirl spirit of our REAL cowgirl models Natalie, Andi, and Loagan.  I am so proud of him.  Then there's our models--they have been such troopers.  Never have they told me "No".  They look so beautiful wearing the clothes and accessories.  And they seem to have fun when we get together for the photo shoots.  I just bring a ton of stuff home to the ranch, put it all in a room, and tell them to wear it how they would.  Sometimes I suggest something else but they do it--and help each other at the same time.  I'm just there to smooth the fabric, hide a tag, hold a hat, grab a water, or whatever.  Sean really has fun with them and I think that makes them relax.  Result--fantastic photos of these truly beautiful women.
There are so many people who have made this dream come true.  My mom is always there to stop in the store with lunch, to make a deposit, or just give me a hug.  My sister Susan is always there to help, too.  My right arm, Natalie, who I couldn't do this without.  Sometimes she thinks I am pretty crazy but never complains or says "No Way".  And you should see her on a horse!  Wow!   My friend Darlene brings me a Starbucks to get me through an afternoon.  And now Beth has come on board at the store and added her special touches to everything.  Judy is super helpful, too.  Tony who works here at our ranch has made so many things for us, awesome horseshoe furniture and racks.  Charlie who has taken us to the next level in all of our marketing with such an honest and compassionate approach.
What about our Cowgirls of the Month?  Paula, Kathy, Michelle, Kate, Darlene, Natalie, and Loagan are cowgirls I truly admire.  What an inspiration they are to me!  If I could ever become half the horsewoman these cowgirl are, I would be thrilled.
Yes, I am so very thankful to everyone who is making this incredible dream such a wonderful success.  I vow to work as hard as I possible can to provide the best service, products, and experience I possible can.  From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank all of you for all you've done to make me so very happy and honored to be a part of your lives.
Have a wonderful day!
Your friend always,
Kim

New Photos of Our Spring Fashion!

We are so excited that we have so many fun new cowgirl fashions to show you!  We are trying to upload them onto our website as soon as we can!  Check out this Fashion Gallery!!  And the coolest thing about our models--THEY ARE ALL REAL COWGIRLS!!!

Finally, My Interview with Paula!

I quite honestly don't know where the time has gone, but I have finally posted my interview with Paula.  I truly enjoyed talking with her.  She is truly an inspiration to me!  Please read on!

Interview with Paula Donnatin, April Cowgirl Of The Month

 

Ruby Rose Cowgirl Clothes April Cowgirl of the Month Paula Donnatin

I am so happy to announce our April 2011 Cowgirl of the Month, Paula Donnatin.  As I have told you, one of the things I love most about my job is the opportunity to meet some amazing cowgirls.  Paula is one who is at the top of the list.  I met Paula along with her daughter, Haley during the first few months of opening my store.  I have to admit that at first I was intimidated by the two of them.  I remember saying to myself “Who are these women?”  Then I realized they were two cowgirls who were full of energy, loved barrel racing, and two of the sweetest women I had ever met.  Since then, I am proud to say that we have become friends.

I chose Paula as our Cowgirl of the Month because she really impresses me. She is an excellent horsewoman, and a wonderful mother and wife.  Her family means the most to her along with Tilly--her 13 year old Corgy, and her horses Julz and Mel.  Paula and I got together for a chat and here’s how it went:

Kim:  Paula, how long have you been riding horses?

Paula:  I really can’t remember when I started to ride. I was real young. When I was 4, I was in my first parade in North Hollywood California. My mom used to exercise and work thoroughbreds for the racetrack for a really nice man named Jute Smith. He had a stable in north Hollywood called Sunset Stable where my brother and I would go to ride. We would go in the parade and represent the Sunset Riders. When I was 5, we moved to Las Vegas and started hanging out at the roping arena.  I saw barrel racing, thought it was pretty cool.

K:  How old were you when you started barrel racing?

P:  When we moved to Las Vegas and would go to the arena, I saw a gal that caught my eye named Sammy Thurman, she was from Fallon, Nevada. She was pretty amazing. She roped and barrel raced really well. She was one of the gals who set the foundation for barrel racing. We were lucky enough to have her come to our arena. She was a big inspiration.  I never really talked to her much.  She was kinda scary. She was tough. But I thought WOW, I want to do that. I watched Sammy a lot, learned a lot of things. So when I was 7, I started competing. Kept doing it and now I’m 58—been doing it for quite a few years.

K:  You and your husband have these two amazing children who are professional atheletes.  That’s pretty exciting. 

P:  We’re just really fortunate. They’ve loved their sports since they were little.  We put them into activities, and they just kept up with it.  And they’re really lucky that they’ve been able to keep doing it, physically, financially.

K:  Your son Charlie is a professional skate boarder?

P:  Yes, he loves skate boarding and has been doing it for a long time.  He has quite a few sponsors to keep him going.  He goes to college and works.  He’s been able to meet some great people in the skate boarding world.  He’s also a great photographer and filmmaker.  He’s talented—he’s got it!

K:  He sounds like a real nice young man.

P: We’re so proud of him.

K:  I know your daughter Haley from shopping with you in the store.  And now she’s a professional barrel racer.  Tell us about Haley.

P:  She graduated from college in December.  In January, she jumped into it, got into some big jackpots in Texas and Oklahoma. She’s been doing pretty well.  We’ll see what the season brings.  This is her first year.  We’re fortunate she’s pretty talented, too.  She loves what she’s doing and has the opportunity to pursue it.

K:  Now, did she see you barrel racing and just say “I want to do that Mom.”?

P:  Yeah, she always saw me.  When my kids were little, I hauled them around to barrel races with me.  They couldn’t help but be a part of it.  Then Haley started competing when she was about 7.

K:  That’s like you.  That’s great.  Does your son ride also?

P:  He pleasure rides.  They’ve both been raised with riding.  They’re both really supportive of what I do.  And my husband rides, too.  He is also very supportive of what I do.  It’s great.

K:  I thought that was so special when you told me how one weekend both you and Haley were getting ready to run races, you were in Winnemucca and she was in Texas.  You were coaching each other on.  It was great. You two have a really close relationship.

P:  We like to be at races together but for now, we can’t.  Hopefully soon.

K:  I’m always curious about how it makes you feel when you ride.  When you get on your horse, how do you feel?

P:  It’s what I know how to do best.  It’s a freedom.  It’s just a great satisfaction when you are getting what you want to achieve out of your horse. 

K:  You train your own horses to barrel race?

P:  Pretty much.  I usually always get “stuck” with it (a chuckle out of both of us—we both know how much she loves it).  Haley does it, too.  It is a great feeling of achievement when you start one that is totally green and then they start moving on one step at a time and pretty soon they bust a move.  Then you see you’ve achieved what you’ve been trying to get across to them.  It’s a really good, satisfying feeling.

K:  I bet.  I’m excited about watching you.  At Ruby Rose, we have a slogan which is “Embrace Your Cowgirl Spirit”. I like to ask you cowgirls I have come to know and admire what that Cowgirl Spirit means to you. 

P:  Cowgirl Spirit for me is doing what you want to do.  It’s a freedom that’s in riding, in competing.  And I am thankful that I am able to do that.  That gives me freedom. That’s a free spirit.

K: That’s great.  And you ride everyday?

P:  Pretty much—I ride at least 5 days a week.  I’ve been rehabilitating my horse for the past 90 days, but normally I’m working at it all the time.  And I can’t wait to do it.   I say, okay I’m gonna work on this, I’m gonna work on that.  You get something you’ve been trying to achieve figured out.  Horses learn by repetition so you have to do it over and over.

K:  Any advice for young girls who want to get out there and barrel race?

P:  I think the best thing is to start with a good foundation yourself.  Learn from someone who knows what they are doing.  Like with other sports, there are a lot of mechanical things.  Start out the right way.  Don’t get bad habits created by trying to figure it out yourself.  Get advice from people who have done it for a while because I kind of learned that way, trial and error at times.  Heck, back then hardly anybody knew but now with technology barrel racing has gotten so perfected that it’s easy.  Read a book, look at films, but get it right the first time.  Don’t blow your horse out because that’s so easy to do. Take your time.  Get it right the first time.

K:  Take the time, get the right training, do the research.

P:  Yes, do that from the beginning because it is so hard to change something that has been created when you are working with an animal.  Try to get it straight the first time.  Make it as easy as you can on yourself and on your horse.

K:  You just have this great passion for riding.

P:  I absolutely love it and I hope I can do it for a long, long time.  I have some girlfriends who are in their 70’s and are still going at it.  I just hope I can do that, too!  Physically—mentally.

K:  Well, it seems to me you take pretty good care of yourself.  You run, you exercise.

P:  I want to stay on top of it, I don’t want to get behind. As you get older and you’re running barrels, a lot of girls kind of get behind.

K:  It makes sense that you need to stay in shape, too.  Not just horse.  Your core, your legs, arms.

P:  You do!  And it’s not for everyone. It has to come from within—it’s a lot of work!  It’s not just something where you put a pair of boots on and go.  There’s a lot involved.  I’m out there in the wind and the snow and think to myself “What am I doing?” And I keep going!  It doesn’t make sense sometimes especially barrel racing, but it keeps me going!

K:  Thank you so much!  You are truly an inspiration!!

P:  Thank you for picking me.  I am honored!