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!
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