Wes Wetherell Quarter Horses

Written by: Teri Freeland

Fate has a way of gently nudging you. If you don��t listen, it will take control.

Nudge #1: I remember several years ago, my daughter, April, became acquainted with a friend of a friend and fellow horse lover on Facebook. During their conversations, Haley would tell April about this trainer named Wes Wetherell in Purcell where she kept her horse. April would get off the computer and tell me that some day she would like to take her horse, Red. I half listened and said, "maybe someday"... silently hoping that she would forget this idea. Over the next couple of years she would mention the subject in passing and again I would half listen.

Nudge #2: Then she met this girl in her French class. She came home from school telling me all about Jessica and that her horse was in Purcell with this Wes Wetherell fellow. I remember thinking, "There’s that name again". Jessica and her mom were kind enough to invite April to a weekend show in Wichita where April met and became acquainted with Wes and Dana. She came home wanting so badly to take Red to Wes to see if there was anything he could do with him.

Fate takes control: I thought, "I am never going to get out of this" so I agreed to go meet and talk with Wes and Dana. We took our unbroke horse to Purcell to see what Wes thought. He was very kind and gently told us that Red wasn"t a bad horse... he just hadn"t ever been taught anything. He agreed to keep him for a while and see what he could do. He really did work miracles with Red. Not only was he working with Red, but he was teaching April. With each lesson, her confidence grew. Wes kept gently reminding us that Red would not be a show horse and a recurring leg problem was keeping him from being ridden. What to do? April loved this horse and had come to love being out at the Wetherell Ranch with Wes, Dana and all her new friends. Decisions needed to be made.

One day right before Christmas 2009, Wes and Dana came to me and said they had a plan. The next day, we headed to Purcell wondering what plan they could possibly have. Wes met April at the doorway of the barn with the scruffiest little horse I had ever seen. (How I wish I had a picture!) He told April he had just brought this 3 year old horse in from the pasture and to ride him around while we talked. At the end of our conversation, April was the owner of a potential show horse. Red had a new home in the lush pasture and all the hay he could eat. Her dreams were coming true! Wes is working with April and Benji. They are learning together and make such a cute pair. He’s not scruffy anymore!

Thanks Wes and Dana for giving me the opportunity to watch my daughter’s confidence blossom over the past year. Your kindness, patience and encouragement have meant the world to us. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for these two as they work together and her dreams continue to unfold.

~ Teri Freeland

Written by: Jessica Everhart

Horse: Hot New Career

When I first came to Wes, I have to say I felt kind of bad for him. Poor Wes, he had to try and train my paint horse that knew reining for pleasure. With all of Wes‘s talent, Herman was not pleasure bound, and the decision was made to move to quarter horses.

I have to admit, I was spoiled and wanted to win, and when I first got my quarter horse, I DID win. I won a LOT. I was lucky, though. I was relying on my horse to do everything for me, instead of working for it. I‘ve been with Wes for a year now, and he taught me a better way of thinking.

Wes taught me that you may win, but winning means nothing if you didn‘t ride to the best of your ability. He taught me that I need to do the work myself, that I am the pilot, and I decide the outcome of my horse‘s performance. He taught me how to win, and also how to lose. I know now, after being with Wes and Dana, that you cannot win everything. Also, winning is not everything. The bond you have with your horse and your own personal goals are, though. Wes and my horse, Jethro, have both taught me how to set goals for myself. Realistic goals. My first goal with Jethro was to make it around the ring. Check. My second goal was to place in a class. Check. My third goal? To make it to world. I was lucky enough to state qualify for AQHYA World. Wes may not know it, but when I learned I had made it, I cried. I had always watched the AQHA Amateur Show, every year, and this was just as good in my eyes. I had made it! My last goal of that summer was to make it to the semi-finals at world. The entire time around the ring, I didn‘t breathe. And I didn‘t make the cut. My heart was broken, and of course I cried, but Wes told me I shouldn‘t cry. I had made it that far after only owning Jethro for a few months, and that I should be proud. That same year, I placed ninth and tenth out of 121 horses at AQHA Congress in the Pleasure. Talk about happy tears, that night!

Maybe my world dreams didn‘t come true, but after a year of owning Jethro, I have learned so much about myself, how to work hard, how to work with other people, and how to be a good sport. Thank you Wes, Dana and Jethro. You guys have helped make me a better person in the arena and in every aspect of everything I do. Couldn‘t have done it without you. :)

~ Jessica & Jethro

Written by: Sandra and Keller Stewart, Tuttle, OK (Parents of Kilee Stewart)

Horse: Prince Rolena & new partner Rockin Rolex

Fate must have brought us to Wes Wetherell Quarter Horses. For some reason he took a young girl in with two "untrained" appaloosas long after he had shown his last appaloosa!!!! That first year was trying, not only because we had a young daughter that was beyond frustrated with her first "green" horse, but also because her dad was on his way Iraq to fight a war! Wes didn‘t realize that he wasn‘t just taking on a new client, but an entire family that was desperate to find a trainer that not only had the experience but the patience to work with a young girl that had potential but no confidence!! He excelled as her trainer that first year, as well as taking on the role as mentor and father figure while her dad was overseas. We didn‘t just find a trainer, but both Wes and Dana welcomed us in as family!

By 2006, and of course making the switch and buying a quarter horse, Wes had this young youth qualified for the World Show! She had won many circuit awards in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Lousiana. She did phenomenally well considering she was just a "novice"!!

Since that day in 2004 when Wes and Dana welcomed Kilee into their barn, her show career has taken off!!! Her confidence is now at a level that exudes her beauty and ability to take on the best! Wes‘ wealth of knowledge and experience continues to guide her in her riding, not only as his client but as she rides for the Oklahoma State Equestrian team as well. His guidance has matured Kilee into a very smart, patient rider that strives to make the best of each and every ride that her horse can give her. We will start the 2009 show year with a new horse!

I am confident that with Wes‘ direction, Kilee and Rocky will once again be a pair to be reckoned with! As Kilee‘s parents we owe a debt of gratitude to Wes and Dana Wetherell for continuing to play a very important role in making our daughter‘s dreams become a reality! Best of luck in 2009 to TEAM WETHERELL!!!!

~ Keller & Sandra Stewart, Tuttle, OK

Written by: Karry Williams

Horse: RR Career Change

Dear Wes and Dana,

First off I want to say thank you so much for all the help and hard work with the training of Quincee, Rio and me.

I first met Wes when I took my paint mare to him for training, in the beginning it was going well but Wes knew that little mare did not have the potential to be a "show horse" and would never take me where I wanted to go, so after many frustrating shows I was at Wes‘s taking my weekly lesson and Dana rode out in the arena on this big beautiful gelding, he was the prettiest horse I had ever seen and I said to Dana that I wanted the horse she was riding she said, "I just bought him for my next project yesterday but you can get on and ride around." So I did and by the weekend I had bought Rio. Under the watchful eye of Wes and a year later with Rio, incuding several wins, we are just getting better.

Wes and Dana are truly wonderful people. Wes cares about his clients and horses, and I am looking forward to a rewarding 2009 show season with him. Again thank you so much your the greatest!!!!

Karry and Rio

Written by: Shelley Presley

Horse: Artful Doll

Dear Wes and Dana,

I just returned from the OQHA awards banquet, where I picked up my Novice Amateur HUS Championship buckle and my Reserve Green Under Saddle certificate. I went to put it in the study and realized every award in there we owe to you and Dana, from Western Pleasure to Horsemanship and HUS. When we first began showing at Quarter Horse shows, frankly we did not know what we were doing, with your help we were able to purchase prospects that you turned into wonderful show horses. We have learned so much while being in your barn and have had a great time doing it. Thank you both for everything you do for us.

James and Shelly Presley

Written by: Nichole Chirico

I have known Wes and Dana for almost 8 years, now. I met them at the 2003 AQHA Congress when they stalled with my previous trainers, who happen to be good friends with them. A few years later, my journey competing nationally as a youth ended, when I moved from Illinois to Oklahoma. I was now a full-time college student and a part of an equestrian team. I was once again horseless and had just finished up my first year at school, when Wes called me and came up with the idea that I should hang out with them at the barn that summer. I decided that I wanted to be riding horses every day, and staying in shape getting ready for my school season rather than sitting around in Illinois doing nothing.

That summer I fell in love with a 3-year-old gelding that had been hanging out in the pasture with some of the yearlings and 2-year-olds. One day I came up with a brilliant idea, and five minutes later I had a halter and lead rope in hand and was headed toward the pasture. Wes started laughing when he saw me bring in this horse and I told him I wanted to ride him. Wes, having too much trust in me, allowed me to follow through on my crazy idea and ten minutes later I was loping around with the biggest grin on my face. Without me knowing, Wes came up with his own brilliant idea and called my mom. He told her about this 3-year-old gelding he owns and how well I got along with him. Sooner than I could realize, I was the proud owner of a beautiful gelding named Bubba Hot. A week later I had him in the show ring (for his first time!) and had received points in every class I showed in! That fall I took him to school with me, so I could continue riding him daily, while competing year round on the equestrian team.

Throughout those 2 years Wes let me stall with them at horse shows they go to and teach me what I need to be doing at home when I prep him for horse shows. Then I got the phone call three weeks before school ended. Dana was sick and in the hospital. We all decided that I would move back to Purcell for the summer, so I could help Dana around the house and of course continue Bubba’s training under Wes’s guidance. That summer really brought me close with Wes and Dana. I was spending my mornings at the barn and my afternoons with Dana. They taught me how to drive the truck and trailer, for the shows where we needed 2 trailers and they allowed me to bunk with them at the horse shows. (I also have to thank Wilson Wetherell for allowing me to take over his space in the trailer.) Wes would stay up with me at 1:30 in the morning, because that was the time my class was getting ready to show and then get up at 5 in the morning to get all of his clients ready for the showmanship and western riding. Wes and Dana have seriously become apart of my family. Without their love and guidance I wouldn’t be where I am. If I am ever stuck in a dilemma, I know I can go to them for help.

Within the few months my horse has been in full-time training with Wes, he has become the horse I never imagined owning. He has only been to 10 horse shows in his life, and we have already won multiple circuit awards in the amateur all-around, have received awards for high point all-around amateur, and have been placing amongst some of the top horses in the country! Wes has found his true talent, the western riding, and in the few times (3 to be exact) he has shown him in the western riding, he has been receiving pluses on his lead changes and placing when the classes have more than 25 in them. I couldn’t be more excited to see Wes continue to show my horse in 2011, he has done an amazing job with him, and this is only the beginning. Next year we are aiming to qualify for the Amateur World Show, and I know with guidance and training from Wes and encouragement from Dana, anything is possible!

Nichole Chirico