114 SIDELINESMAY 2014
FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
ByAnnGlavan
ForColorado trainerTracyeFerguson,helpingstudentsachieve
success at the highest levels of the sport is about more than just
takinghomeablue ribbon. Throughout her career as head trainer
at her ownMeridianRidingClub inGolden, Colorado, Tracyehas
instilled in her riders the importance of looking past the tricolor
pinnedon their bridleat theendof ashow, andher ridingprogram
has given her students something to take with them beyond the
show ring.
“Riding teaches thesekids to thinkof life in thebigpicture, rather
thanbeing reallyselfishabout themselves,”Tracyeexplained. “It’s
not just them and a piece of equipment. I’ve been doing this long
enough that I now have students coming back to me who are
adults now, and they have their own families, and the one thing
they all say is what riding gave them andwhat my program gave
themwas the ability to really think through the big picture in any
life situation.”
While Tracye is a big believer in teaching kids to be less
focused on themselves, she is also adamant that riders take full
responsibility forwhat happenswhen theywalk into theshow ring.
Blaming the footing, the farrier or the weather isn’t going to get
you very far with her. “I really ask them to take full ownership and
responsibility for their success,” Tracye said, “rather thanblaming
the horse or the trainer or the judge.”
Tracye says riders who have thismentality can accomplish far
more in their riding than those who lack it. “I think if you do that,
really take full ownership and responsibility for what happens on
top of the horse, someone that’smaybe not a natural talent but a
hardworker will go farther in this sport than someonewho has all
the talent and nowork ethic.”
The phrase “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work
hard” comes tomindwhen speakingwith Tracye. Having been a
professional in the industry formore than30years, she’scertainly
no first of May when it comes to training students and horses at
the ‘A’ show level of competition.Havingbeenapart of thehunter/
jumper world for so long, Tracye offers a unique perspective to
hopeful youngprofessionals today, andwarns themnot to try and
skip steps on their climb to the top.
“I think hands down the biggest mistake that’s made now-a-
days isyounger kids think theycan just step right inandbe the top
trainer and the top rider, without going through thebuildingblocks
The
Big
Picture
Tracye shows aFirst Year
GreenHorse in 2001.
All photos courtesy of TracyeFerguson
Tracyewith student LaurenSciullo—winner of the2012CHJA
PonyMedal Finals.
e
Colorado
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