MEET RUSTY REA
Growing up the son of horse trainers, Rusty spent most of his childhood on a horse. He took that opportunity to study horses and how best to communicate with them. Rusty quickly learned how easy it is to reach success when the rider is matched with the right horse, and is given the right tools and motivation.
Through his youth show career, Rusty showed in Reining, Western Pleasure, Trail, Western Riding, Horsemanship, Showmanship and Halter. Through that time he qualified horses for the AQHYA and AQHA World Shows and placed at the All American Quarter Horse Congress multiple times.
Rusty spent his days at school and helped his family take care of a full barn of horses at night during the week, and then traveled across the country to horseshows on the weekends. This allowed Rusty to develop a terrific work ethic that serves him well today.
Rusty reached success in one of the toughest Engineering programs in the region, the University of Louisville Speed School, where he held a 3.4 GPA, only to realize he was not answering his true calling. The only one in the classroom wearing boots and spurs, Rusty decided he would rather dedicate his life to working with horses and people as a horse trainer.
He made the bold decision to start all over with a transfer to Middle Tennessee State University to major in Equine Business. Rusty quickly joined MTSU’s intercollegiate riding and judging teams. There Rusty became High Point Rider in his region each of his four years in IHSA competition. In 2000 he became the Reserve National Champion in IHSA Open Reining.
Following his passion has served Rusty well. In 2005, Rusty decided to move back to Kentucky and train professionally. Every day Rusty works and communicates with horses and people from all backgrounds, finds small successes, and even helps a youth rider with their calculus homework every once-in-a-while. His horses and riders are already realizing success with even a few Congress placings.