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Young Rider - Holly Gutterson
This article is from the January 2021 Horse Deals magazine.
Age: 18
Lives: Orange, NSW
Education/occupation: Just finished year 12 HSC at Kinross Wolaroi School.
How would you best describe yourself? Very laidback and easygoing. I am very goal-oriented and determined to achieve the goals I set for myself.
Family history with horses? My mum has always had horses and showed in western events, I got the bug from her. Other than my younger sister, no one else in my family rides.
What age did you start riding? I was two when I got my first pony, a Shetland called Tigger.
Tell us about your first horse. Tigger is a great pony, I learned to do everything with him by myself. He taught me so much and I did literally everything with him. I still have him today, he is 30 now and growing more stubborn by the day.
What was your first competition and how did it go? Pretty funny probably, I was about five on Tigger in a western pleasure class with a bunch of big horses just doing our thing! I went from Tigger to my mum’s 16hh show gelding, Spider. He was a gentle giant and just looked after me and let me have fun.
What is your favourite class and why? I love them all! But if I had to pick from the show program showmanship and horsemanship would be my favourites. I love the relationship you need to have with your horse and the precision required to do a really good pattern. Cutting is definitely my new favourite.
Tell us about your partnership with FB Cee I’m Lazy. In 2016 after showing in USA, we were looking for a new horse for me, Abby was a four-year-old western pleasure horse by One Lazy Impulse and her breeder was recommended. We ended up buying two horses by the same stallion, both four years old, but the other a gelding we called Lord. Neither of them “youth” horses but they both had great temperaments.
Abby is very talented we have learned all the youth classes together. She is now an amazing allrounder. Our latest challenge is western riding, a technical pattern class involving loping on a loose rein with lots of lead changes at specific spots. It is a difficult class and we competed first time at NSW State Show just before COVID. This was a massive personal achievement for me and her. The past four years I have done everything with her myself with only lessons and I am proud of that.
What are some of the highlights of your success?
• Taking Lord and Abby to my first Quarter Horse Nationals when they were both only four years old. I had only had them both for five months and winning High Point at both the pre-show, and the Nationals, was a major highlight. Coming back and doing it again the next year was incredible.
• From there, the highlights have been the experiences. Travelling to USA with The Appaloosa Team and competing at the World Show in Fort Worth Texas.
• Then being chosen as the youngest rider on the AQHA Youth World Cup team to travel to Texas USA again two years later – what can I say. This was, without a doubt, the best experience I have had in my entire life! It changed my direction and opened so many opportunities for me that I will always be grateful for.
• A third YWC team selection and a chance to represent Australia again, this time in the Netherlands in 2020 was surreal. I really set myself some personal goals to kick here but unfortunately, that trip was not to be because of COVID.
How did you get into cutting? As part of Youth World Cup in Texas in 2018, I was selected to compete in the cutting event. I had to have a crash course and with my first ride on a cutting horse, I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do. After competing in Texas I was hooked!
When we got home, I talked to mum about it and she thought I was mad! Eventually I convinced her to look for a horse. We didn’t know any cutting people, but Trent Smith helped me out and we purchased Jimmy Fescue from Jackson Gray. Jackson assured us Jimmy would be a good fit for a keen starter to the sport, while still being competitive enough and he was right! He has been perfect.
I enjoy the finesse and precision of western pleasure and the variety of showing in the all-round, but I just cannot describe the buzz and the adrenalin that I get from the cutting. It is like nothing else compares.
Which horse has taught you the most as a rider and why? FB Cee Im Lazy (Abby) for sure! You can never take her for granted. She is just a princess. She is intelligent and loves to do a great job. She is a high achiever, but she likes to do things her way. You can never force or bully or hurry her. She has taught me patience and a lot of respect, if you treat her right she will give you 150%, but even then, sometimes she just reminds me who is in charge. I would not be the rider I am today without her. She has made me cry and smile more than any horse I have ever ridden. She definitely makes me work for it every stride, but when we are in sync, she is a dream.
Ampleur Li’l Leaguer, or Lily, was my show horse before Abby. She is my heart horse, and she really got me going on this journey and gave me the confidence to believe I could do anything.
How do you cope with the nerves and demands of competing at a high level? AQHA Youth World Cup in Texas was the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done. Being on a horse I didn’t know, with the team relying on you and the livestream being watched by everyone at home, I nearly couldn’t breathe. I just held my head up, smiled and gave it everything I had. Competing in this competition made me reflect on how far I had already made it as a rider, and the endless opportunities it would provide for me in the future. I was so proud to be representing Australia, and I just wanted to give it my best shot while I had the chance.
I get nervous every time I show no matter how many times I have done it. It is weird, in the cutting all that fades away. The only thing I think about is the cow and the horse, and how crazy it is that I’m there, I have never felt like that before and I just love it.
What is the secret to your success? Being dedicated and inspired, always striving to be better, but above all my mum, for letting me chase my dreams and being there for me no matter what. But at the end of the day, you just have to put in the hours of work, listen to advice and develop a relationship with your horse.
Horses really keep you humble no matter how good they are. I always try to remember the losses, more than the wins, because that is where the learning comes from.
I love the saying that “success is never owned, only rented, and the rent is due every day”. My main goal is to keep learning every single day, and I aspire to be the best horse person that I possibly can, any wins are always just a bonus.
What have you learnt from your experience competing in the Youth World Cup in previous years? Teamwork, communicating with different people and horsemanship. It is character building and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow as a rider and a person. Having only a few days to get to know and show horses that aren’t necessarily fully schooled show horses was a unique challenge. Riders from 19 countries all over the world were at that event, and we all had lots of time to socialise, the energy was electric, it was just the best experience ever!
How did it feel being selected to represent Australia for a third time in the 2020 Youth World Cup? I actually felt very honoured and privileged. The AQHA is a great association supporting Youth World Cup and the whole concept of YWC is so inspiring and so unique, it is just an honour to be involved. Missing the Netherlands was really disappointing, because I am too old now to compete again as it only runs every two years. I would love one day to be involved as a coach, or a mentor.
With COVID-19 causing competitions to be cancelled, how did you use your time? I competed at NSW State Championships in March and then COVID hit. I was only planning on doing big shows in 2020 because of HSC study. When it was obvious they were all being cancelled we decided to turn the competition horses out, rather than put wear and tear miles on them. I was missing riding and the opportunity to take on a couple of younger unfinished horses came up, and I jumped at it.
I probably studied more because of COVID, but I have enjoyed the low-pressure challenge of taking my time with these horses. I didn’t have to worry about missing out.
Share a typical day in your life. We feed and turn the horses out first thing before 7am. I am more of a night owl, than a morning person, but if a show is coming up, I will run showmanship drills with Abby or trot Jimmy in the mornings. It has been school all day, and then in the afternoons I will ride one, two or three horses depending on where we are going. Then we rug, feed and stable.
After dinner, I will study through until about 11pm, then do it all again. Now I have finished my last year of school, my routine will change I guess. I’m hoping to spend a lot more time developing my skills and learning on younger horses.
Who’s your idol? Probably the Australian Cutting Trainer John Mitchell, who is now in USA. I was lucky enough to visit Slate River Ranch in Texas and get a few lessons there through Youth World Cup. He was an Aussie YWC rider himself. He has an ethic I can relate to.
So many people have helped and inspired me. Pauline Stuart-Fox has been a huge help and inspiration to me. The late Tom Chown from the USA has been one of my favourites to have lessons from. Courtney Norbury helped me get Abby western riding, and Trent Smith helped me get into cutting. I have been lucky to spend time and get lessons through YWC with Trish Wettenhall from Triandibo, and Robyn Frid and Linda Long in the USA. I idolise all of these people.
I have never had a “trainer” or had my horses away, so I owe a lot to everyone who helps me. The last 12 months I have got to know Jo McConnel, who is one of the most positive, inspirational and genuine horse people I have ever met. I feel lucky that our paths crossed, she has helped me a lot, particularly with learning the cattle events.
What is your advice for young up and coming riders? It’s easy to get caught up in what other people are doing, or what horses they have, but just concentrate on your own journey. Stay focused on your own achievements, and always reflect on how far you have come. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or to try something new out of your comfort zone. No blue ribbon can ever replace the experience of believing in yourself, and loving your horse enough to just give it a go.
What is it like having a younger sister competing alongside you? Frustrating! We fight a bit, she is feistier than me, but I’m glad she rides. It is certainly challenging at times. She helps me out a lot with looking after the horses, especially when I am away or studying.
What are your future plans? I was planning on heading to a trainer in Texas after my HSC, but COVID has put a stop to that for the time-being. But it is definitely still on my agenda. I am just deciding if I will head straight to University, or take a gap year. I really want to spend time learning cutting, and enjoy my last year showing as a youth. I still have some things to accomplish with Jimmy and Abby, and I have some young ones I want to get shown. Getting a few horses to Q21 is high up there.
What do you like to do outside of horses? I love the beach and surfing, though I’m not very good! I like hanging out with my friends, they ride too, so that usually involves horses as well. I haven’t had much time for anything else, but a good movie or a country music concert is up there. Since I have turned 18, a trip to the pub or going out on a Saturday night is a good time as well.
Can’t live without? Horses of course!
Music: when I am riding, or we are travelling to a show there is always music pumping out.
My Toy Poodle, Daisy: she has been my constant companion since I was seven years old. Food, family and friends are also high up there.
3 things we don’t know about Holly Gutterson...
1. My ultimate dream for as long as I can remember has been to own a ranch in Texas
2. ‘Spirit’ is my favourite movie ever
3. I have a fear of frogs
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