38 SIDELINES JANUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
Wyoming, known as “the equality state,” is gaining recognition
as a western Mecca for hunter and jumper training and sales,
thanks to Colts Unlimited in Sheridan. Hilary and Charlie Carrel
each draw on a lifetime of horsemanship with thousands of horses
to their credit. Plus, their show results put them into the top echelon
in both Quarter Horse Finals and USEF standings.
“I learned a lot from my father, Jack Carrel – he could train
anything,” said Charlie. “He specialized more in ranch, roping and
cow horses, but I learned a lot about jumping horses, because
my father was in business during World War II when they trained
Remounts. If you could take Remount horses to the sales and
jump a course and rope a steer, they became offcers’ horses and
were worth way more. My dad’s horses were always top sellers.
I learned early on how much you can and can’t ask of a horse.”
With that foundation under his belt, Charlie started training for
the public straight out of college. He discovered that there were
a lot of great show jumpers out there, but they didn’t have time
to bring along their young horses. “I found I was really good at
starting horses and that I could watch good riders and learn,”
recalled Charlie. “I asked a lot of questions too. That was the
best way to become a show rider myself. The vast majority of my
Colts
Unlimited
and
clients today are trainers.”
Hilary grew up in Colorado and started riding when she was
little. She did Pony Club, Quarter Horse Shows, Little Britches
(rodeo for 8-13) and High School Rodeo. From there she went into
the USEF shows. She hunted 20 seasons with “nearby” Arapahoe
and also rode to hounds in Virginia, England, Scotland, Ireland
and France. She trained for a short time with Bill Robertson, who
had been on the USET, but mostly she learned by the seat of her
pants. As a matter of fact, Charlie and Hilary met at Indio, outside
Palm Springs, California.
“I was impressed that Hilary could ride green as well as made
horses really well,” said Charlie. “She’s a complete horseperson
in all the rings – hunters, jumpers, equitation – and she can ride
in the hunt feld. I set fences for her; she sets fences for me. She
tries to pick apart my weak points; I try to pick apart hers. We train
each other. We have a phenomenal working relationship.”
The Carrels have 35-40 horses in training on average. They
have some help, but essentially they’re hands on, 24-7. They take
12 to 17 horses to each show, and competitions keep them busy
a week to 10 days every month. In the winter, however, they stay
home and do a little local show one weekend a month.
“Colts Unlimited is very unique – there are no other hunter/
jumper stables or shows near us,” said Hilary. “There are some
event barns within a two-hour drive or 120 miles, and there’s a
nice barn in Jackson Hole, but you have to travel eight hours to
get to Denver (Colorado).”
Starting young horses is relatively easy at Colts Unlimited. The
Carrels don’t believe that young horses need shows: they need
to be started and taken into the hills. This same program applies
to veteran show horses in need of a refresher. The horses get ft
away from the monotony of the show ring and often experience
amazing attitude adjustments.
The Carrels take the National Western Stock Show by storm
with Hilary on Finalist (left) and Charlie on Kates Squad Car. The
National Western Horse Show features Quarter Horse, Paint,
Draft, Mule and USEF classes for hunters and jumpers.
Photo by Howie Schatzberg
The Carrel Family: Seth, Hilary, Charlie and Isaac
Their
Unlimited
Talent
Continued on page 40