Julie Slater Bio

I grew up, and learned to ride, in Germany. Dressage and a Jumping were my first two disciplines. My family moved to the States in 1980, and after graduating High School in 1983, I moved to Wyoming, where I got immersed in the cowboy culture. I spent a few years being a wrangler and camp tender for a couple of Guiding Outfitters in Cody. There, I learned about packing, managing horses in the wilderness and had a start in riding colts.

Cowboying in Wyoming

I was married in 1986, and spent a few years being a stay at home mom. In that time, I had opportunities to day work on the ranches my husband was employed with. In 1990 I began starting colts for other people. We lived in Thermopolis, Wyoming for the majority of that time. You can follow some of that story looking at the pics on my Facebook Album “Growing Up Cowboy“, which chronicles my kids growing up on ranches and cowcamps.

Most of that time was spent cowboying, but I did get to show a few mules at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. I won the Green Mule class in 1994. In 1996 I won the Green Mule, English Mule, and Side Saddle Mule buckles. In 1997, I won another buckle for my good Trail Mule at the same show.

Riding pens at LCF on Siette

After getting divorced, I took a computer related job in 1997, and moved to New York. I enjoyed working in the computer field, but the drive to ride a horse was too strong. Soon, I was starting colts and riding problem horses for a couple of warmblood barns in the southern NY area.

My kids and I missed the rural area, and I moved them back west in 2000, taking a job in a feedyard in Dighton, Kansas. There I started riding colts for clients again while cowboying, riding pens and pulling calves.

I spent about 10 years working as a feedlot cowboy (with an interlude as a county sheriff’s deputy and dispatcher). During that time I became involved with IPHDA, which is an online show club. The basis of the classes when they were starting out was reining, and the training process involved in making a nice reining horse.

Riding OTB in a IPHDA Vshow

I won the IPHDA Overall Buckle in 2009 with my good OTB mare, which gained me a nice saddle. I showed the same mare in the fun FQHR shows, and gained a few first places, and then qualified her for the EXCA World Championship in Hamilton, TX. I didn’t get to go to that championship, but was honored to have gained the spot.

In 2011, I showed a different mare to the IPHDA world title, Smoochie2. That nice mare did very well for me at several EXCA races and foundation shows, although as a paint, she had to enter the All Breed Division.

While I haven’t won any championships lately, my good Smoochie3 mare placed 13th at the EXCA World Championship for my daughter in 2013. This year, she placed 4th for her new owner Rick Peniston. 

Smoochie2 at a Cowboy Race in Benton, KS

My current project horses are Sunny (10 yr old QH), Kettricken (3 yr old QH), and Cheyenne (6 yr old App). Cheyenne recently scored a 72.00% at Basic 4 for a NAWD Show. Click here for the Video. 

Judges Licenses:

I currently hold judges licenses for IPHDA , CT2V and NAWD and used to hold one for EXCA. While I don’t ride client horses any more, I love to teach and have done well teaching over the internet. If you would like to have me be your “eyes on the ground”, send me a video for review. I will send back corrections and a plan for further development. Lessons are $20 per video. Contact me for more details. 

Julie Slater
slaterhorsetraining@gmail.comPOBox 302, Dighton, KS 67839

Credits

1995 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Green Pleasure Mules – 1st Place

1996 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Green Pleasure Mules – 2nd Place

1997 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Green Pleasure Mules – 1st Place

1997 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), English Pleasure Mules – 1st Place

1997 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Side Saddle Mules – 1st Place

1998 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Green Pleasure Mules – 2nd Place

2001 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Green Pleasure Mules – 3rd Place

2001 – National Western Stock Show (Denver), Trail Mules – 6th Place

2002 – Kansas Dressage and Eventing Association Horse of the Year (Second Level)

2009 – International Performance Horse Association (Level 3) – 1st Place (Score 76 by Judge Clint Haverty)

2009 – International Performance Horse Association Finals – High Point Of Show, Saddle Winner

2010 – Extreme Cowboy Race World Finals Qualifier

2011 –  International Performance Horse Association Finals – High Point of Show, Saddle Winner

Students

2005 – Lane County Fair Grand Champion, Nick Slater and Whimpy

2005 – Lane County Fair Reserve Grand Champion, Hannah Slater and Shakey

2006 – Lane County Fair Grand Champion, Hannah Slater and Pony

2006 – Scott County Free Fair Reining Champion, Katie Roemer and Blue

2007 – Lane County Fair Reserve Grand Champion, Kayla Borell and Pony

2007 – Lane County Fair Grand Champion, Hannah Slater and Dubby

2013 – EXCA World Championship, 13th place, Hannah Slater and Smoochie3

2016 – EXCA World Championship, 4th place, Rick Peniston and Smoochie3