2013 AQHA World Champion trainer, Ryan Cottingim and his girlfriend, Amanda Gately are excited to announce their new training partnership, Ryan Cottingim Show Horses. The couple, who specialize in all-around horses, have just opened their new facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
“Both Ryan and myself have worked under the wing of two great professional horseman, Tommy Sheets and Robin Frid for a lot of years and felt it was time for us to take what we have learned and mold it into our own thing,” says Gately who grew up showing paints in Washington State. “We had a window of opportunity open for us. We both really felt like there was a need for a western all around trainer in the Nashville area. We love the weather and found a great barn. Everything just fell together so easily it seemed meant to be.”
“Ryan and I are excited to announce that we are accepting training horses at this time. We have a strong all-around program that varies between so many different disciplines,” Amanda says. “Fortunately for our program, we are both stronger in different areas which allows us to be at a higher success rate in a bigger variety of classes. We also are lucky to have one another for daily help, having a good set of eyes always watching helps us stay on top of how things look. We all know that sometimes just because it feels good doesn’t mean it looks good!”
Their facility which is centrally located about 35 miles south of Nashville has fifty, 10X14 stalls equipped with lights and a fly spray system. The barn also has a large tack area with multiple tack rooms as well as a wash rack area and laundry area. Their farm has a 55×275 indoor arena, a 200×300 grass pad, and an outdoor arena that is 150×250. Each arena has a viewing area for the owners or parents to watch or they can sit in the temperature regulated office with a viewing area into both the indoor and outdoor arena. The office also has a full-sized bathroom with a shower, living area, and small kitchen area where clients can enjoy a hot cup of coffee or put their lunch in the refrigerator.
“Ryan and I are excited to announce that we are accepting training horses at this time. We have a strong all-around program that varies between so many different disciplines,” Amanda says. “Fortunately for our program, we are both stronger in different areas which allows us to be at a higher success rate in a bigger variety of classes. We also are lucky to have one another for daily help, having a good set of eyes always watching helps us stay on top of how things look. We all know that sometimes just because it feels good doesn’t mean it looks good!”
As far as Cottingim’s background, he grew up showing at 4-H and open shows. From there, he attended the University of Findlay where he graduated with a bachelor degree in their western equine program and stayed there two additional years as an instructor for the equine program. At Findlay, Ryan had the opportunity to study under great horseman and women such as Clark Bradley, Dan Husk, Steve Brown, and Cindy Morehead. From there, Ryan spent five years in southwest Ohio where he owned and operated a small training and lesson business catering to novice all around customers. For the last eight years, he worked for Tommy Sheets Show Horses were he had the opportunity to ride and coach Congress and AQHA World Champions in multiple events.
“I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a lot of talented horses and great customers,” Ryan states. However, Ryan says that his proudest career accomplishment happened last year when he won a 2013 AQHA World Championship in the Senior Trail on the late, great trail mare, MWS Sevens Are Hot.
As far as Gately, she went to school in Duvall, Washington where she started working for other trainers straight out of high school. Amanda’s mother, Kim Gately is an APHA trainer from the Seattle, Washington area, so she grew up showing all around events in the paint horse industry. In the fall of 2006, Gately went to work for Karen Qualls in Chino Hills, California as an assistant trainer. In August 2007, she moved to Pilot Point, Texas to work for Robin Frid for another six years also as an assistant trainer. It was at Robin’s that Gately had the opportunity to show at her first Congress and AQHA World Show in both hunter under saddle and trail. Then, in December of 2013, Amanda moved to New Albany, Indiana where she worked and showed horses for Tommy Sheets.
As far as Gately, she went to school in Duvall, Washington where she started working for other trainers straight out of high school. Amanda’s mother, Kim Gately is an APHA trainer from the Seattle, Washington area, so she grew up showing all around events in the paint horse industry. In the fall of 2006, Gately went to work for Karen Qualls in Chino Hills, California as an assistant trainer. In August 2007, she moved to Pilot Point, Texas to work for Robin Frid for another six years also as an assistant trainer. It was at Robin’s that Gately had the opportunity to show at her first Congress and AQHA World Show in both hunter under saddle and trail. Then, in December of 2013, Amanda moved to New Albany, Indiana where she worked and showed horses for Tommy Sheets.Gately has numerous accomplishments that stand out in her show career, but she says her recent accomplishment of winning the Junior Hunter Under Saddle at the Dixie Nationals on Woody Bea Detail is one that stands out in 2014.
“2014 has been an exciting year for us,” Gately says. “As far as future goals, we hope to build a strong all around business for ourselves. Like I said earlier, we have worked for two of the best all around trainers out there, and hopefully everything we have learned from them will carry over to our business and we will be able to be just as successful.”
If you would like to find out more about Ryan Cottingim Show horses, please call Amanda Gately at (206) 393-2874 or Ryan Cottingim at (513) 594-5960 for more information.
CLICK HERE to view slideshow of their facility, 3041 Spring Hill Duplex Rd. Spring Hill, TN, United States 37174
