A Crowley woman is one of just 20 in the nation up for National Horse Trainer of the Year. The award designed by Greatmats recognizes someone who shows service to the community and integrity in their work.
Our local nominee is Rachel Bertrand, who was born on a ranch just South of Crowley and says she has never known a life without horses.
“My daddy needed a cow hand so he threw me on a horse and said let’s go and don’t fall off and so you learn,” says Bertrand.
Training horses to do everything from farm work to barrel racing to behavioral changes, Bertrand believes she’s guided by the animals and a higher power.
“I feel like it’s my calling and I feel like I’m doing the lords work to tell you the truth. That’s how I learned to train is from the horses and from the lord,” she adds, saying her professional successes over the last three decades come from a skill she had as a child.
“I never question whether something can be accomplished or not. You have to first try. The first thing is when I meet a horse I make a connection with them and that’s something unseen,” says Bertrand.
To break and train a thousand plus pound animal is dangerous but rewarding. Bertrand says though she doesn’t do it for the recognition she’s glad this nomination is bringing awareness to the honest and passionate people in the horse training community.
“Well I’m already pleased that somebody noticed honestly and I think everybody that’s been nominated earned his way or her way to where she is right there and I think everything you do opens a door or closes a door and I hope it opens a door of opportunity,” says Bertrand.
To vote for Bertrand for the 2018 Greatmats National Horse Trainer of the Year award, click here.
