While the wheels of the horse industry have been turning, trainer Lonnie Cruse of Santa Fe, Texas, has been quietly producing multiple World and National Champions as long as anyone can remember, focusing on Appaloosas like his dad, Darold Cruse, did before him, as family tradition.

“We’ve been in the Apps all our life. My dad was a trainer when we were growing up, and he showed Apps, so we took to showing Apps, too, and I met my wife, Debbie, at the App shows in 1975,” explains Cruse. “It’s a great breed with a lot of super people involved.”

Cruse’s career began in Phoenix at first as an aside to his daytime job of working in the concrete industry, with him coming home at night to train the horses. The love he shared with his dad for the Appaloosa eventually became a calling he could no longer turn away, and he switched to training professionally full-time, quickly earning a reputation of being an ally to the horses in his barn. Success soon followed, and his first ApHC National Championship was in 1999 in Senior Western Riding with Used Tobe A Dandy. Cruse went on to earn 155 National and World Top 10 placings – 63 of which were Top 5 placings with ApHC, which does not include his clients’ abundant accomplishments.

Perhaps it was no surprise then that the name of Lonnie Cruse was suddenly and prominently uplifted recently as a nomination for the Trainer of the Year Award for the Appaloosa Club of America. Cruse was then officially announced as the 2013 Trainer of the Year at the ApHC Year-End Awards banquet held at Appaloosa Nationals in June.

“We were thrilled to recognize Lonnie Cruse as ApHC Trainer of the Year for 2013. Not only is he a great competitor, but a genuinely nice guy and a true sportsman. He is very deserving of this honor and we appreciate his lifelong contributions to the Appaloosa industry,” says Keri LeForce, Appaloosa Horse Club Show Manager. Although Cruse says he was humbled by the honor, his words and the words of those around him exemplify a man whose description checks every box of the award criterions.

The award, only given to those who make a living training Appaloosas and who are active at the Appaloosa National and World Championship Shows, was founded in 1993. Trainers who win the prestigious award are nominated by peers and chosen by a committee for their horsemanship, good sportsmanship, friendly attitude, promotion of the Appaloosa bred, and for being well-respected in the equine industry.   One of the honors in receiving this award is the gift of a bronze bust of Chief Joseph, leader of the Nez Pearce tribe. The recipient’s name is also engraved on the original bronze that is on display at the Appaloosa Horse Club Museum and Heritage Center, in addition to its temporary exhibition each year at the National Appaloosa Horse Show and World Championship Appaloosa Horse Show.

When asked why the characteristics celebrated by the award are so important to the industry, Cruse explains that positivity goes a long way for everyone. “I think it’s important to be happy with what you’re doing, and we are happy with the horses, and life in general. Unhappy people are hard to be around, and we try to stay positive in everything we do, whether it’s training the horses, or just helping the customers. We like to stay honest with our customers, treat them well, and try to earn their respect.”

Cruse attributes his success to hard work, his clients, and their great horses, but his clients have much more to say. The trainer’s habit of thinking about horses as a family affair became an integral part of Cruse’s style of training, as attested by his clients.

“We’re very much a team. It’s all about everybody supporting each other, and keeping each other going. I think because I’ve been such a longtime customer, I think of myself more as family. I know they think that, too,” says Lesla Andrews, a client of 14 years, who also won High Point 35 & Over Non-Pro at this year’s Appaloosa Nationals.

So just like family might do, when Cruse’s dedication to the Appaloosa beckoned Cruse, his wife, Debbie, and daughter Carissa, and his son, Colton, to move from Phoenix to an area near Houston eight years ago, most of his clients went with him. According to client LuAnn Bickford, who together with daughter Tristanna Bickford, has ridden with Cruse for 18 years, it was only natural to follow because of the commitment of Cruse to his clients and their horses.

Bickford and her daughter came to him as very novice riders who eventually became National and World level competitors.

“We have horses in Houston and we travel back and forth to work with our horses and to show when we can,” says Bickford.   “Lonnie will take calls at any time of the day and night if a client needs help with an issue with their horse. He is always ready to tell you when you need to improve at something and turn right around and tell you what you have been doing that is really good.”

It’s not only Cruse’s friendships of mutual respect and honesty with his clients that made him worthy of national recognition, however. According to his clients, his respect for the welfare of the Appaloosa horses in his barn is beyond compare.

“Lonnie’s approach is very unique,” says Bickford, who explains that Cruse’s methods have taught her about ethics, courage and believing in herself. “When you deal with clients you have to balance the client’s wishes with the abilities of the horse. First and foremost of importance to Lonnie is that the horse is ready to move on to new disciplines or movements. Will he keep the horse in sound body and mind? Can he tie the client’s abilities with the horse’s abilities? When all these pieces come together, the client and the horse can start showing or competing in the event(s) they are ready for. As they mature and come together as a team, they can add classes. This philosophy has meant the world to me. It is not about showing every weekend.   It is about being ready to do whatever it is you want to do with your horse and being successful in that endeavor.”

Andrews agrees, emphasizing that Cruse’s methods have a huge impact on the horses themselves, which in turn, helps the industry and the people involved.

“Lonnie is so good with the horses, and doesn’t push them beyond what they can do at that time. It’s about keeping them sound and healthy and happy, so we can do the all-around, which is the basis of our barn. We have some pretty amazing horses that have been doing this all their lives, and they love their jobs. He doesn’t push them, or hurt them, and he teaches them to love their job which I think is very important. His daughter’s horse is 15 and we lost count on how many world and national titles he has. I’ve shown to over 20 national and world titles with Lonnie, and if he starts to see them waiver, he backs off a little bit. I’ve had young horses with him and I’ve had seasoned horses, and every single one of them wanted to work with him.”

Bickford adds that another way Cruse achieves this overall mindset with horses is by letting his experience guide his decisions, as well as communicating with clients.

“I truly appreciate that when a horse of mine needs a break, or needs time to come home and be out in pasture for a bit, or we are asking something of the horse that it’s not ready for, Lonnie always discusses this with us, along with all the options he is aware of so we can make the best decision for our horses and for us. This is invaluable.”

To Cruse, the dedication is all part of their 24-hour day with the horses they love. Their hard work has earned the family their share of titles, too. Lonnie and Debbie Cruse both won trailers at Appaloosa World and Appaloosa Nationals respectively, and their son Colton followed in their footsteps by winning a trailer at Appaloosa Youth World Championship Show in 2006. Daughter Carissa, not to be outdone, was awarded seven trailers, as All-Around Non-Pro Horse and Rider at the Appaloosa National Championship Show in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, and at Appaloosa World in 2011, 2012, and 2013, showing Mistys Leading Man.

This year, the Cruses were particularly proud of Colton’s titles at Appaloosa Youth World: World Champion 14-18 Bareback Equitation and 16-18 Trail, second in 16-18 Horsemanship, and second in 14-18 Western Riding.

Nonetheless, they still try to get away at least once a year as an entire family, with cruises being their vacation of choice. It’s probably hard to imagine Cruse and family in that scenario, considering their reputation as diligent workers, especially for clients like Andrews.

“Lonnie is so deserving of this award. He works so hard – he’s the first one there at the show every day, the last one there, and he never sits down. Ever.”

For Lonnie Cruse, there is no question when it comes to working hard and doing the right thing, living each day as the person described in the Trainer of the Year description. He reveals his secret is simply using consistency in his training, which he says is the biggest factor.

“Consistency matters with everything, including not changing things up when we’re going to show,” he tells.

Other than that, true to his humble nature, he professes that he has gotten to this point not only on his own, but also because of those surrounding him.

“It’s just working hard and having great horses to ride. The greatest thing in all this is the horses and clients that stick with you.”