Boy Howdy!
This is
TRICIA
BUTI
Powerful paddler and Amateur Champion, world ranked cutter is what we call in Hawaii a real panilo.
I didn’t know this, but time in the saddle ( literally ) translates to an amazing new stand up paddler. It wasn’t until I had the pleasure of meeting Tricia Buti who came to Maui real recently to take a SUP coaching session with me; did I learn that to be able to manage the power of such an amazing animal, a cutting horse you have to have incredible balance to look so graceful while you herd a head of steer.
Both sports SUP and cutting horses require balance, courage and strength. Learn more about this courageous gal from the great North West who has been through quite a bit. With determination and a strong will, she is now doing more than every and feels that SUP has helped her in the saddle.
I told her there would me no herding me, but I’m always open to learn new things. She opened my eyes to a whole other world as I watched her on the water, so strong, so focused with a special fire in here eye. Get ready world and the state of Washington! Meet Tricia: ( in the photos of her below, she mentioned this day was a brisk 40 degrees)
By: Tricia Buti
As a competitive horseback rider, being in sync with my horse with impeccable timing is what brings a big score and the win. Cutting horses have an innate ability to read a cow and mirror its moves, with very little help from the rider. In cutting, the horse and rider cut a particular cow out of a herd. Once the cow is moved out front, the rider then puts their hand down and is no longer able to cue the horse via the reins, and can only use their feet to cue their horse, and their seat to signal stops. The horse then mirrors the cow and keeps it from returning to the herd. Perfect sync results in high scores.
In this highly specialized sport with many amazing equine athletes to compete against, you cannot become complacent and expect to be a repeat winner. After many successful years on my 19 year old quarter horse Lil Lighting Rod (Rodney), two car accidents in a four month span destroyed my core, my center of balance, and my ability to sit square in the center and ride as my horse needed me to for him to perform at his highest level.
After physical therapy, yoga and countless hours getting my strength back, I was feeling ready to ride and win again. The 2012 season started out strong for me, and I continued training and conditioning both my horse and myself. After a trip to Maui and learning to surf, I was hooked on the board, the energy of the water, and the amazing feeling of improved strength I felt. Living in Washington, which is not exactly a place for surfers, I looked for an alternative and I found SUP.
My body responded very quickly to the balance challenge on the SUP board and my core strength from paddling improved as well. By late summer, I was still on top of the standings in cutting and felt stronger every time I rode in the herd. SUP improved my back and core strength, I learned to relax on my board which in turn improved my balance, and I translated that over to the saddle. The more relaxed and balanced I am, the better I cut.
Here’s a snapshot of the North West in Washington State of where Tricia lives. Mount Rainer and then a beautiful bald eagle!
The paddling strengthened my body and also helped settle my mind in competition. Trying something new on water was a bit frightening at first, but with every day on the water I improved and that built my confidence in everything I do. I finished the 2012 season on the top as an Amateur Champion and was ranked in the world standings.
2013 brings excitement and high hopes for me in the cutting pen. My horse is strong and ready, and I have been out early on the water, thanks to a wetsuit since it can get chilly in the mountains of the Northwest where I live. Now with the instruction Suzie gave me, I feel even stronger, paddle more efficiently, and am ripping it up on the water. In cutting I have my trainer, my mentor, who guides me and we are always working on improvement in the saddle. On my SUP, I now have Suzie as my mentor, and I hope to race this summer on Puget Sound.
THANKS SUZIE! Here’s to 2013…..
