http://ourvalley.orgLittle did Tracy Roberts know when she was very young that her love of horses would one day put her among the elite in the nation as far as breeders go and set her on a career path that she would never have dreamed would happen.
In December Roberts, who lives in Craig County, Va., and breeds competitive cutting horses, will be catapulted into the spotlight across the country when two of her yearling horses will be sold in Texas at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western Bloodstock sale.
“This is something I have aspired to for 20 years,” said Roberts. The cutting show and sale will be broadcast live via satellite over the RFD channel. “I will be proud to have them announce on national TV that the breeder is from New Castle, Va.”
Cutting is a western sport that originated in America and is the only sport with horses America can claim as its own. It is based on the need of the cowboy to isolate a cow from a large herd, to be doctored, branded or weaned. Today the American Quarter Horse is the equine of choice for the job and is bred for intelligence and athletic ability.
Roberts' claim to fame will be two foals she raised, named Red Mollie and San Creek Cat. Red Mollie will be sold at the Invitational Sale which begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 9. Out of 6,500 entries chosen or “invited” out, Red Mollie ranked 26 out of 65, according to Roberts.
Her second yearling stud, San Creek Cat, will sell in the Preferred Auction Dec. 12. That sale features a number of select horses, as well.
Both equines are the offspring of a mare Roberts purchased as a yearling filly from a friend of hers, Carol Rose, who is one of the top breeders in the country. That great mare’s name is Sannie Olena. As it turned out, the horse not only had royal bloodlines, she was an athlete and proved to be a winner in national competitions and earned an impressive money record in winnings.
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