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 24th and 25th 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
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