When Rusty Green, of Pilot Point, Texas, was named reserve champion in the Congress Masters Two Year Old Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure Saturday night aboard Whatilikeaboutyou, his $5,880 earnings for Capital Quarter Horses LLC pushed him to a career milestone that only one other rider has achieved – winning one million dollars in lifetime earnings in National Snaffle Bit Association-sanctioned events. He joins Gil Galyean as the only other rider to achieve this career mark.
Rusty’s mother, Mary Green, had a love for horses that she passed along to her son. As a result, from a young age, Rusty helped his mother with her Western Pleasure and halter show horses. They were often found competing on the tough Texas Open Show circuit.
Rusty has worked for individuals including Gordon and Sandra Childress, Shorty Parks, Steve Heckaman, Ed Mulick and Carl Yamber. He was also greatly influenced by horsemen Dale Livingston, Shane Dowdy and Brent Tincher.
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Rusty credits earning his judge’s card 20 years ago with greatly influencing the way he has trained and presented horses in the show ring over the years. His heart lies in working with the young horses and preparing them for futurities.
“When you start a young horse, their potential is so unlimited, and their talent is not capped,” he said. “I love the fact that you just don’t know how far they’ll go.”
Just a few of the great horses Rusty has swung a leg over include Potential Diva (pictured right in 2002), Roses Only, Radically Fired Up, Classic Coupe, Invite Mefor Cookies, Surely Im Good, Blazinmytroublesaway, Suddens Leadin Lady, RA Undisputed, Talk About Lazy, Shez My Kind Of Rain, Go Figure, Dark Jasmine, Snap Krackle Pop, Whatscookngoodlookn and NSBA Horse of the Year, Rock County Kid.
He has also been part of a few horses’ careers that people may not realize – including Acadamosby Award, Dont Skip Zip and Skips Shy Sequel, for example.
Rusty was inducted into the NSBA’s prestigious Quarter Million Dollar Club in 2008. Rusty and Katie Green married in 2009, and it is perhaps no surprise that Rusty’s earnings continued to steadily rise after this talented couple began training horses together. Also in 2009, Rusty won the Congress Masters Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure aboard Certainly Inspired. In 2011, he won the Reichert Celebration Three Year Old and Older Maiden Western Pleasure with Assheswalkinaway.
Rusty is a firm believer in mentoring the next generation of horsemen. He expressed his appreciation for the great assistants who have worked for him and have gone on to be successful in the horse industry today.
He has noted that he has been blessed with great customers throughout his career. He credits Steve and Susan Thompson, Stanley and Susan Scott and Ray Arnona for their belief and trust in him with their horses.
Another long-time client has been Blair,
Susan and Hillary Roberts, owners of Capital Quarter Horses LLC, with whom Rusty and Katie Green have seen success with such horses as Only Ever After, Only A Breeze, Whatscookingoodlookin (pictured left), No Doubt Im Trouble and NSBA Horse of the Year For One Night Only.
In 2015, the Roberts family and Rusty and Katie Green jointly announced that they would combine forces at the new Capital Quarter Horses, LLC, facility in Pilot Point, Texas. The new venture will combine the Roberts family’s breeding operation and Rusty and Katie’s training operation at a newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility. Construction is almost completed, and move-in is slated for the end of the year. Rusty and Katie will continue to accept outside clients in addition to their work with Capital Quarter Horses LLC.
Congratulations to Rusty Green, NSBA’s newest Million Dollar Rider!
Photos © The American Quarter Horse Journal, Impulse Photography, Jeff Kirkbride, KC Montgomery, GoHorseShow, NSBA, Shelby Layne Ridgway, Don Trout, Silver Dollar Circuit and Kirstie Marie Photography.
View a slideshow below of pictures of Rusty over the years.
