AQHYA World Champion Barrel Racer Chloe Fruth of Maple Lake, Minnesota was known as a fighter. She celebrated her sweet sixteenth birthday party on February 5th before passing away less than two weeks later from a brain tumor. Even into her last breath, she fought to survive. This young girl also brought the same tenacity and competitive spirit into the show arena.
“Chloe was such a selfless girl ever since she was little,” her friend, Taeler Nichole Carr told GoHorseShow. “She never expected anything in return for any of the gifts she gave or the tasks she performed. She fought so hard all her life to be the best person she could be and she succeeded. I just don’t understand sometimes how God picks who he does, but he really does take the best and he must of had a bigger plan for her.”
Fruth was first diagnosed at age four with a rare form of Leukemia where she subsequently endured two and a half years of chemotherapy before it went into remission. It reoccurred at age seven where she then underwent a complete bone marrow transplant. Chloe was cancer free for eight years before she unexpectedly developed a brain tumor this past August.
“Chloe never complained and asked why me. She was such a humble, respectful and grounded young lady,” says Chloe’s mother, Staci Fruth. “She wouldn’t have made it as long as she did without her horses. She had no time to worry about her treatments because she was too busy showing her horses.”
Fruth adds, “Her barrel horses were quite hot when she was healthy, but they always knew when she was sick and took care of her. Barrel horses don’t run fast for money, trophies, or fame. They run their butt off because they love their owners, and all of Chloe’s horses loved her.”
Right before Chloe became sick again last summer, she was a freshman in high school and was planning on going to medical school. She maintained a 4.22 GPA and loved books. “She always called herself a book hoarder because she had over 1000 books and was an avid reader,” her mother fondly says. “She always was a perfectionist and worked hard for everything she received.”
Chloe’s mother stated that her daughter took care of all her horses. “She did all of her own work, cleaned her own stalls, and rode her own horses,” she says. “She was always focused on her horses and honing her skills.”
In 2006 at the age of ten, Chloe won the Youth Barrels at the AQHYA World Championship Show on a talented and well-known barrel horse, Cashyerchexatthebar (Bailey) that the family bought from Wrangler National Final Rodeo competitor, Kassie Mowry. Chloe also competed successfully on the National Barrel Horse Association and the International Professional Rodeo Asssociation show circuits.
In 2007, Chloe was invited to be a part of the Macy’s Glamorama in downtown Minneapolis which is an event held every year to raise money for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF). That year had a western theme, and they wanted Chloe to be an honoree. “The event organizers kept calling us but I kept telling them that we were busy showing in Texas and didn’t have time to come up to Minneapolis, but when Chloe found out that the duo Big and Rich were performing, she decided she wanted to go,” Staci remarked. “So we came home and had a dress made and she attended the event. They raised over $400,000 and everyone was asking Chloe for her autograph. She had a lot of fun that night.” (Pictured right Chloe with Big N Rich)
During her multiple hospital stays, Chloe’s mother recalls a time when a nurse named Lori Ellison gave Chloe a trophy to reward her for getting through all her cancer treatments. With this one act of kindness, Chloe decided she wanted to pass along this gift and give all children a trophy when they are finished with their treatments. The Children’s Hospital and Clinic of Minneapolis ran with the idea and now all the children receive trophies.
“It is amazing how the children react to these trophies,” Staci says. “Some kids never have or will ever get a chance to win a trophy and it is the world to them.”
With Chloe’s passing, the Fruth family has decided to start the nonprofit, Chloe’s Courage Fund (CCF), which also represents Chloe’s initials. “We want to take the trophy program national. I owe it to her to keep it going. I’m sad she won’t be here to help us because it is hard to believe she didn’t make it,” Chloe’s mom says fighting back tears. “There was always something amazing happening around Chloe and I always couldn’t wait to see what she would do next. I’m saddened that we won’t be able to do the trophy program with her, but, I know she would be happy that it is part of her legacy.”
To Donate to Chloe’s Courage Fund you may send a check to:
Arrowhead Arena
9859 Clementa Avenue Northwest
Maple Lake, Minnesota 55358
Photo © KC Montgomery
